ORIGINAL: Doug Cronkhite
First off.. do you really think JR has been sitting on the 10X and not thinking of how to improve it? I'd be willing to bet the day the 10X was shipped to the 1st customer they started working on the next thing down the line. I don't have any clue as to when a new radio might come from JR, but I can assure you they didn't just close up shop once the 10X was done.
Secondly.. does the existance of the 14MZ suddenly make the 10X a bad radio? Does the 14MZ do things you need that you simply cannot do with the 10X? I'm sure some people just have to have the latest and greatest toy, but consider this.. The 10X is a time tested and proven radio. I'm not so willing to just throw something new into an airplane just because it's new. Maybe you are.
Lastly, and most importantly, JR is not a reactionary company. They're not going to rush something to market just because Futaba or any other brand for that matter has something new out. When JR is ready to release a new product that they feel is complete and tested to the best of their ability, THEN you'll see it released.
And just to repeat... I have no knowledge of when anything new might come from JR.
Your right Doug JR is not reactionary..... an example would be JR just recently announced their new synthesized trans & receiver modules. Futaba has had a synthesized system on the market for over 10 years, but as we know Futaba didn't offer a radio with enough channels for an equal or more number of years. It seems to me as a consumer, from a purely consumer's standpoint that virtually no radio manufacture is reactionary. Quite the opposite they seem to care very little what the consumer wants. Once they spend the nickle on a new design........ they are bound and determined to sell that product until it all but dies on the vine. Upon death and death only will they then call in a new electronic design expert / consultant, quickly set a few new parameters for design whatever comes about is again it for the next 15 years. We are a very small group of consumers to be sure, and as we all know money is the driving force in any business decision. I'm sure if we each purchased as many radios as airplanes on a consultant basis we would have more say so and more features to choose from.
Notice the choices these days in aircraft! Some times I browse through a magazine and dream of ordering a couple of everything that catches my eye.... then I come back to reality and turn the page, and order the glue. Good radios I'm sure are on the top of everyone's list, shoot I jumped on the 14MZ right a way... even if I didn't really need it..to say nothing of the cost.
Regards,
Lee H. DeMary