The first post you linked to is clearly about the IP:
Good point. But the other 10 posts were about the main 17" screen.
I disagree. I am almost certain that one large touch screen is cheaper than all the buttons, instrument cluster, climate control module, radio/media control module etc.
I understand that, but that does not mean they have to put in a second screen or HUD.
You can still drive the car when the screen is frozen, You can stop the car at a safe place if you wish and wait until the screen reboots.
Elon is playing it safe for the Model 3, making sure all the parts are plentiful in supply and no few parts would hold up production like the Model X.
But many people wearing polarized sunglasses won't be able to see it during the day.
Yes, there is TI's DLP, but it is likely too expensive to use (no car has one yet).
It's not just the hardware screen: now they have to hire developers to code that software, provide it updates (while working with an ancient SoC like in the Model S), make sure it's completely secure because it connects to the internet, etc. Think about the whole cost, mate.
"You can still drive the car when the screen is frozen; You can stop the car at a safe place if you wish and wait until the screen" = lol, that's what we've come to? That's the response you have? At least MP3Mike understands: Tesla needs to fix it.
Nobody worry: if you can't see your speedometer in your $35,000 electric car, just park it. The electric car revolution is here!
I hope Elon doesn't have the same tolerance for mistakes as you do.
Yeah, the DLP stuff looks expensive and now you have to worry about bulbs dying out. No idea what the MTBF is, though. I'm clinging to my pipe dream of transparent OLEDs in the windshield: LG is sourcing the main display, so maybe they'll contribute here, too.
But, this is all just speculation: how else, besides OLED/HUD technology, will "part 2" take it to the next level and how will the cockpit resemble a spaceship?
That only gives for about another 8 months to a year to prophesy and imagine "what could possibly go wrong that I must post so those idiots at Tesla can fix it".
Hey, man, don't you tell us what to do with our free time! I'll speculate and crit-i-cize whoever I want. That touchscreen, though, at 0:48:
Even if the screen crashes or lags, it won't effect the car. One of the first things I tried with the Model S was to reboot the screens while driving. Guess what? Everything keeps working. No big deal. Music and Nav will stop, but that is hardly safety critical. Every essential driving system in the S is rock solid, and works without the screens. The 17inch screen may occasionally lag when you open the controls window, but that isn't really a big deal. Never had any lag on the instrument cluster in the 3 years I've had my car.
A screen may be a new way to to display information, but all of the gear that feeds info to the screen is basically the same in all cars, whether it gets displayed on a screen or a dial. Nothing to worry about. Can't wait to see what they come up with for the next part of the reveal.
Of course it doesn't affect the car. That would be recall-worthy. It's all about experience, though: do you trust a speedometer after looking at that video above? Sure, it's the atrocious browser that's the example, but it's iffy nonetheless, especially on a $70,000 car.
Again, of course it all works without the screen and of course there is no lag on the instrument cluster: you have second screen that holds all the vital information. But, from what we know about the 3, that's not true.
All of Model S lag issues are due to a 6 year old Tegra SoC being burdened by an increasing list of real-time tasks with each new software update. Try running the new Android Marshmallow on a tablet from 2010 and tell me how that goes. Tesla is not going to do a recall to replace the hardware on tens of thousands of screens just to fix an issue that bothers a minority of users, needing a system reboot only a handful of times a year.
This in no way can predict issues with Model 3 screens, unless you are assuming Tesla is going to use the same old Tegra SoC again. Well, obviously they won't. Intel has come a long way over the past 2 years, with their mobile SoC technology. We have Intel 14nm Skylake-U SoC now that operates at the same power rating as the old Tegra 3, at a lower TDP, and is 10 times faster in computations. I'll guarantee you that the Model 3 (and refreshed Model S/X) will have a new SoC that's going to be 10 times more powerful, or even more.
What...Tesla had a $70,000 budget with the Model S. There is no excuse. The S is amazing and by far the best car in its class. But, that was a major slip-up. And, those buyers were willing to overlook a slip-up like that, just how they smoothed over the 2 cup-holders in a 7-seat car. They're forgiving. I don't think the mass-market is as forgiving.
They hardly upgraded it over the years, but they could've, right? They iterate all the time, right? They went with the Tegra 4, which, sadly, still has issues.
The Model X sounds better, but there seem to
plenty of quality control issues and we are not far along in its product cycle, either. Not everyone cares about a responsive touchscreen, though.
Ironically, you just made the argument as to why continuous software updates can be a BAD thing vs a good thing. Whatever chip is installed in the Model 3 will be top o' the line for 2017. But that same chip will be rather outdated and possibly overtaxed for that same Model 3 5 years later depending on how many software updates and features they add over the cars lifetime.
Maybe they will make the CPUs upgradeable? So when your Model 3 screen starts getting laggy due to all the software updates you can take it in and get it upgraded to the latest one?
But ....that was on their $70,000 car! They should've went overboard, picking a much stronger SoC package. But, they didn't...on their $70,000 car.
Now, we've got all kinds of people claiming, "Oh, yeah, they messed up a bit on their $70,000 on the primary user interaction system. But, don't worry, if it happens on your $70k car, just pull over and reboot the screen. You'll lose music and nav, but don't worry. Now, Tesla's putting together their $35,000 car!"
If Tesla once ever acknowledged the Model S issues, I'd be a happy camper and trust Elon again. But, they haven't, so I'm skeptical.
