# Vecordious Vacation Variorum

- Show: [The Amp Hour](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour)
- Published: 2012-02-14
- Length: 1h 08m
- Episode: 82
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum
- Listen: https://theamphour.com/theamphour-82-vecordious-vacation-variorum/

## Summary

Jeff Keyzer of MightyOhm.com joins Dave Jones and Chris Gammell to discuss the challenges of hardware engineering, including the disruptive nature of context switching and the potential for internal technical sabbaticals. The hosts critique a spray-on RF antenna product for its lack of technical data and discuss the business models of 3D Systems and MakerBot, specifically regarding the pricing of 3D model files. They also debate the viability of selling electronics kits versus pre-assembled units, citing the MakerBot Cube and EEVblog power supply as examples.

## Chapters

- [0:01](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=1) Introduction: Jeff Keyzer and MightyOhm.com
- [6:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=360) Context Switching and Technical Sabbaticals
- [16:47](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=1007) Critique of Spray-on RF Antenna
- [22:49](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=1369) Top Engineer Reality TV Show
- [34:15](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=2055) 3D Systems Cube and Model Pricing
- [44:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=2694) Kits vs. Pre-assembled Products
- [50:19](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum#t=3019) Jim Williams Book and Analog Community

## Topics

- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Pricing, margins & unit economics](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/pricing-and-unit-economics)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- MightyOhm.com (company)
- EEV blog (other)
- Chris Gammell's Analog Life (other)
- Intel (company)
- Altium (company)
- Google (company)
- 3D Systems (company)
- MakerBot (company)
- Thingiverse (other)
- The Pirate Bay (other)
- Computer History Museum (other)
- Analog Devices (company)
- Linear Tech (company)
- Texas Instruments (company)
- Canon (company)
- Sony (company)
- Panasonic (company)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Episode 293: My pants are here!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2021-01-29-episode-293-my-pants-are-here) (Making It)
- [317: What Do You Mean by Disintegrated? (Repeat)](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2022-10-06-317-what-do-you-mean-by-disintegrated-repeat) (Embedded.fm)
- [462: I’M KING OF THE TURKEYS!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2024-11-15-462-im-king-of-the-turkeys) (Making It)
- [Episode 168: 222](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2018-05-30-episode-168-222) (Making It)
- [Episode 100: Live From Boston!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/making-it/2016-12-09-episode-100-live-from-boston) (Making It)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2012-02-14-vecordious-vacation-variorum. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to The Amp Hour.