And your evidence for this lies in what? :-P
The fact that when previous models of the Sam ceased production amiga resellers still had stocks of the things for months afterwards. Consider that these are limited production run machines.
I'm not arguing that everyone will be able to afford it, because clearly there will be people that can't. I'm arguing that this community has enough people with cash to spare
In pure numbers maybe (though if I'm honest I really doubt even that). But that market is heavily segmented. You're not taking into account that a significant chunk of your "potential market" doesn't give a rats ass about OS4.
Look at the OS4 centric forums on AW.net and Amigans. These people constitute the hardcore of OS4 support and yet collectively they shat a brick when they got wind of the price.
, and that the amounts of money being spent on old and slow hardware is a pretty good indication
No, it really isn't and you're completely missing the point. Yes, there is some overlap between those who want the classic kit and those who are into the NG gear. But not all. For many people they are buying that old hardware is buying back a bit of their childhood or buying addons for pre-existing classic kit.
OS4 and it's associated hardware might as well be an entirely different platform.
so I'd argue they're better off aiming for the high end, both because there's at least some signs they're attracting people that wouldn't otherwise consider an AmigaOS machine, and because they might be able to survive on far lower total sales (in pounds/euros, not just units) and that the price elasticity in this market is so big that sales are not likely to fall off in proportion to the price increasing.
If the X1000 ever breaks even, by which I mean pays for its own development costs. I'll be very surprised.
Of course, this is guesswork, but it is guesswork that has some basis in how niche markets actually work: They *do* generally have far higher price elasticity; they *do* tend to see a lot less focus on hard numbers and price/performance compared to other factors (people who care mostly about price/performance generally go for the mainstream products instead)
Yeah except the other retro markets I see operate on a much more realistic models, sure rare original stuff sells at a premium, but "new" hardware is sold at reasonable prices. All you do when you produce a ridiculously expensive piece of kit is limit your market, in a market as small and fractious as it is for OS4, beyond a handful like you, the rest of the market leaves you for dead. See the reaction on AW.net and Amigans for details.
No, I'm not. It's the first computer to run AmigaOS4 that's feels like it'll be "fast enough" for me to give it serious use. It's passing a threshold. That's enough.
You may not, but it would be a mistake to presume others think like you. You want it, great.
The XMOS chip
*facepalm*
and the recent hint that it might be possible for them to get Linux running in parallel with AOS4 on the second core are interesting bonuses that rise the geek appeal, but not necessary.
Yeah the key word in that is "hint".
Here's a clue since you seem to be new here: Hyperion lie.
The rest doesn't really factor in. Call it a midlife crisis if you want - I want the X1000 instead of the Ferrari.
Not all of us are suffering from a midlife crisis, some of us don't have the time to do so.
We can argue (based on guesses on both sides, since neither of us have any actual data) about the number of people who'll think about the X1000 like me, but that this market segment exists is clear
If it sells more than 150 units total (assuming it ever ships at all), I'll be genuinely shocked.
And before you jump on this: Consider that Aeon are struggling to even get to the stage where beta boards are being made.
You're looking at this from a utility point of view, but utility does not govern this type of niche market.
For you. For many others they took one look at the price, one look at what it offered, compared it against the alternatives and said no. It isn't just "utility", it's that there are other, cheaper competitive options in this marketplace that are significantly better value for money.
