Unscientific Poll

[Brian Wood]

I want to thank those of you who responded to my request for information on
Heathkit's current status. It's a long, sad story, and apparently the
current owners are happy with the way the educational business is going and
aren't too interested in reviving the kit business.

I'd love to hear from everyone on the list for answers to the questions
below. It's decidedly unscientific, but I'm really curious!

1. Have you built a kit of any kind in the last year? (Even unbuilt
Heathkits from EBay!)  How much did you spend?

2. If Heathkit-style electronic kits were revived, what would you most like
to build?

3. Printed manuals are very expensive and many companies are offering them
on on CD. If you could save 10% (or $50, whichever is lower) on the cost of
the kit by getting just the user's manual, theory of operation, schematics
and troubleshooting guide in printed form, but had to print the assembly
portion of the manual yourself on your own computer from CD-ROM or even
online via the web, would you order the kit this way?

4. If there were PC boards with surface mount components on them in the kit,
how would you like to assemble them:
   a: Using a provided magnifying glass and tweezers, I'd remove the tiny
parts from the muffin tin, one by one, where I had sorted them, then I'd
glue the parts on the board using provided glue, then I'd heat the parts
using a provided (optional) heat gun and watch it reflow before my very
eyes.
   b. I'd glue the parts on, then I'd be happy to send it to you in a
provided, pre-paid mailer, where it would be reflowed, tested and shipped
back within one business day.
   c. I'd glue the parts on, then I'd like to take it to a local store where
they could reflow it and test it.
   d. I wouldn't even try this.

5. Suppose new company were to spring up that offered kits in the same
manner as good ol' Heathkit but had a different name and a Lucent or Agilent
style tag line (my current favorite is "Moor Co. - Continuing the Heathkit
Tradition", since a moor is another name for a heath in England) would you
be OK with that? Or does it *have* to be Heathkit itself to have real
meaning? Bear in mind that using a tag line like that would require a
license from Heathkit Co.

6. Do you think today's kids can be torn away from the 'Net long enough to
build a kit?


Thanks!

Brian, W0DZ

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