Part of my displeasure is the additional waiting, but I'm kind of used to that as there's usually always something new that I'm waiting to be released. I'm a bleeding edge of technology guy so this kind of thing is not unexpected. By the way, I also ordered a PSP from Japan when it launched there last December as I couldn't wait for the US launch.

What gets me is when companies, especially large ones that should know better, mishandle situations like this. While delaying the launch until suitable stock was available would have caused me a longer wait, it would have been a far better business decision. A lot of folks probably don't care much about this aspect, but I do.

This product type faces many challenges to being successful in the marketplace without having launch supply problems. Proper product management includes putting together a marketing and distribtuion strategy that maximizes the product's sales potential. Thusfar, Nokia has stumbled. It is by no means a lost cause, but every day that goes by without it being rectified, the situation gets worse.

Let me just throw out a few roadblocks to the 770's potential success:

- See my marketing challenges post a while back
http://www.internettablettalk.com/fo...=1143#post1143

- The holiday season is rapidly approaching. They really need to fix this supply issue or risk losing a significant number of such sales. The price point is enough to make it something that some would reserve for a "special occasion" type purchase. Ideally, the marketing would have been in place a while back to maximize this buying period but obviously, that hasn't happened.

- Gates and Intel are pushing a handheld sized version of the tablet PC. Apple is rumored to be working on a handheld of their own. While there would be various ways to compete with either or both, Nokia would be far better served to get the 770 out and firmly established to make the other guys play catch-up. If and when those others materialize, the fight will be much tougher.

- Nokia has in the 770 a type of sale that they aren't as used to. Rather than having carriers subsidize the cost of expensive handsets and allow them to easily move many millions of units, they have to sell the 770 in a traditional retail environment. That's a challenge for them and requires a change in thinking.

If they can get broadband providers on board to offer 770s with new service signups, that's great, but it's still not the same thing as the cell phone business where a cell phone is a necessary ingredient to using the service. There are many devices customers can bring to use with broadband service.

These are just some of the challenges they have in making the 770 successful. No need to pile on top with launch confusion and quantity shortages.

Jeff