I've flown the P4 since release and had a few thoughts on what they might have done a little better. I'm hoping they correct some of these with the new P5 next year. I love the P4 but these seem like simple things to fix.
Thanks for watching the clip and I'll try and mix it up a little more and use Quad or Bird in the next few clips.
BTW, gimbal protectors are warned against as it will mess up the Sonar and OA (computer vision). The other stuff is all a matter of opinion and price. HDMI would be used by maybe 5-7% of owners, but all owners would be paying for it. Also, there are liability questions involved when including a LiPo bag - like "why didn't they include a bigger one for the multi-charger" and many more. Remember - even automobiles that sell for $30K work on the price of parts to the PENNY. As you know, the LightBridge itself cost more than the total price of the P4. Me? I see the biggest shortcoming of the P4 being that it still requires quite a bit of technical know-how to upgrade and fly. If something goes wrong (and I had a bad SD card from the factory), it doesn't "know" what is bad. It even allowed me to fly it with strange results. I had to try a few times to reinstall FW (and fail) and then guess on the SD card being the problem. Yeah, that's more "nuts and bolts", but in the end that's what will make it more of a consumer product. My iphone didn't come with a case. It was expensive. It didn't even come with a screen protector. But what would really get me going would be if it was unable to take an upgrade and freeze up. If I had to guess, the P5 (or quite soon, the new Inspire - I guess end September) will include HDMI....at a higher price. The P4 is an interesting bird for this reason. Most Quad buyers have expressed interest in spending less and less and so most makers started making birds that sell for less. But some - in fact many - are willing to pay MORE if you get more. DJI decided to give all the folks that were complaining about the P3 something to buy if they wanted top-of-the-line. Now that Part 107 is coming along I think the market in $1200-$2000 birds will be quite active because operators may be able to get some of their investment back.
The gimbal guard is a personal choice but the one I use doesn't interfere with the Sonar or OA. It sits far enough back that it's out of the way and is just there as a last resort. I guess what got me ticked about the HDMI is that this investment will last me a few years and I'm sure that I'll move into FPV by then and would have liked the HDMI included since they have made the upgrade card for a while. I'm sure that their cost difference on the stock card and the HDMI version is negligible and it would have been a nice perk. I also agree with you about many owners tolerating the price point going up a little with Part 107 becoming law on 8/29. I think the market opportunities will explode once the FAA divides the drone segment into "hobbyist" and "Pilot" based on passing that test. I'm studying hard for the exam every day and will take it as soon as its released. I am also posting a few clips over the next several weeks to help others prepare for the test. Sub mu channel if you like so you can stay current on those clips. Thanks for the feedback, it's always refreshing.
