Summer Ver4's Shipping !

After a long winter not able to ship as many controllers as I would of liked, I'm gearing up for a BIG summer of Panther XL Ver4's !  If you contacted me previously to get your name on the waiting list, your name is still on the list and I hope to be sending you an email shortly !

All ver4's use USB ver4's have the following features:

1) Electronics with newest firmware compatible with XIM3 Xbox adapter featuring joystick and keystick mods
2) Logitech G400 mouse, mouse speed buttons wired into joystick port cover to adjust mouse speed in game
3) New wiring harness
4) New bearings
5) New 3M Bumpcon rubber feet
6) New button layout with trigger, pinky and thumb buttons wired into mouse for best performance
7) Textured ball for best performance
8) Buttons and shell cleaned to remove the "Sticky Button Syndrome" from the rubber coating breaking down
9) Includes resource CD with all setup programs, howto videos and user specific configs
10) Return Shipping via UPS Ground with tracking numbers, international shipping at extra charge 

Prices for Panther XL USB Ver4's as follows

A) Complete Ver4 using a donor Panther XL provide by Steveo where customer sends only payment and gets a complete unit shipped to them - $225 complete

B) Custommer suppilied Panther XL, you ship your Panther XL to me, I rebuilding into a complete USB ver4 fixing and making unit as new I as can and returning unit to you - $200 complete

C) Customer supplies multiple Panther XL's for trade in (at $25 each) and gets one or more than one controller back.  I give $25 for each controller but reserve the right to decline the purchase of used controllers if they are too worn to be rebuilt !

As above, I do not have new parts to rebuild controllers so things like a lot of stick play can not always be fixed !  

The only way to truly fix the joystick slop is to manufacture new Joystick Gimble parts !  If you have access to a 3D scanner or have tools to blueprint small parts for the Panther XL, drop me a line.  Ideally I would like to 3D Print new parts or have them CNC'ed so that they never wear out !

Sorry for not being able to ship as many orders as fast as I would like, hopefully in next few months ALL orders can be taken and shipped !

Panther XL Ver4's are shipping !

The units are going out but the wait list is still long, at this point I am just filling the wait list and not able to immeadiately ship units !  

If you would like to get on the list, please use the form in the sidebar to contact me.

The normal price for a complete Panther XL ver4 with shipping and all options (new bearings, harness, top of the line G400 mouse, mouse speed buttons added to outside of Panther XL) is $225.  I am also taking trades in controllers at $25 each but reserve the right to reject very worn out controllers.   

Panther XL Orders Start Shipping December 1 2011 !

I have confirmed that USB boards will begin to ship to me one week from today, I will begin modding controllers this week and the first batch of 3 to 5 units will go out around December 1st 2011.  I should be able to ship 3 to 5 units a week there after with over 50 users on the wait list !

I have sent emails to the first potencal buyers on list and if I dont hear from them in few days I will move to next users on list !  When units are boxed and ready to ship I will require payment but not before !

Still looking to take in trade in's if you have controllers to trade, I can still give $25 per unit, will need to have you ship controllers first, then I mod one of them to return ship.  When that controller is done I will request payment.  If your paying cash (rather you didn't send cash) or check (certified or money order please) we can include that in the shipment of the trades.

If your not sure your on list or want to be on list the contact form on sidebar how to contact me ! 

Panther XL Orders, introducing the Ver4 !

If all goes as planned I will have USB boards again in November and be able to fill orders.  My plan is to fill orders as I can build controllers, I will build a complete controller and then sell it to whomever is next in line.  I may also have one controller for sale on eBay at a time and if your willing to bid against other users you can get a controller without the wait. 

In years past the problem with the store is I get orders at the most inopportune times for me.  I may get three orders in on a weekend I'm not able to work on controllers.  This makes for a lot of friction between me and my family because I'm trying to get orders out and they need me as well !

I will more than likely sell one complete controller, the package will be called the ver4 because of the new firmware, new mouse, new buttons and new button layouts:

• Panther XL donor supplied by Steveo
• USB ver4 mod with newest firmware (XIM3 Compatible) with Keystick and Joystick modes
• Upgraded wiring harness, robotics grade wires never break under joystick movement
• New bearings better trackball smooth rolling action
• New Logitech G400 mouse twice as fast as discontinued MX518 with mouse speed buttons wired into the the foot pedal port of the Panther XL.  This allows mouse speed to be adjusted on the fly !
• New wiring layout with mouse buttons wired into the joystick trigger, pinky and thumb button for even faster response.  This layout requires two isolated circuits in the joystick portion of the controller and greatly complicates the building of the controller.  
• Controllers setup and calibrated in Keystick mode, comes with custom CD with all configs and  software needed !

I have not finalized the price yet but if USB boards and G400 mouse remain at current price I should be able to sell the ver4 for $225 to $250 complete !  The new features and hardware add significantly more work to the mod and therefore the prices have to increase.  This would be the first increase in price in the 10 years of building controllers.

As always, more to come ! 

Steveo 

Panther XL Store is down, no new orders !

Unfortunately I have to take the Pantehr XL store down because Dave the engineer has landed a dream job with a Japanese Gaming company and is currently away in Japan !  So while congrats to Dave, I am unable to sell Panther XL USB's a this time !

It will be sometime in September before Dave is back in the USA and able to fill USB orders.  While not ideal, summer is the slowest seasson so if it has to happen now is a good time.

As always, more to come !

Steveo