Would you pay €226 for a minimig?

[ollygd]

Guys Guys Guys! Am I to believe what I am reading here!? How long have we waited for this hardware??? How long do we expect the legacy stuff to last??

Does anyone believe in their right mind that there is a true business case for developing MiniMigs - other than to loyally serve an enthusiastic, but nevertheless minute community of followers?

These units are a BARGAIN! Think about it - the guys at ACube seem to have a legitimate business to pay for. Staff. Overheads. Their own Salaries. Kids. Mortgages. Yet despite all of this, they have decided to develop this wonderful, but entirely useless piece of hardware, just so we can keep playing Lemmings for another decade or so! Does anybody really think they are making a "killing" (as somebody put it)?? So they sell, say 200 boards - tops - and make 100 euros profit each. That makes them 20000 euros. Not even half a reasonable salary for 1 such professional who has the capacity to pull off such a project. Hell, they would probably just meet their annual rent demands with that kind of income.

We need to SUPPORT this company. If you can't afford one, then that’s fair enough. Don't attack the pricing though!! You will only put off potential buyers - and we all know what that will mean. Another busted Amiga company. To be honest, not only should we be snapping this kit up at full price, but we should also be donating ANY spare cash to Amiga causes!! People rabbit on about "waiting for prices to fall...." yet too few actually cough up to support those few brave folks who stick their necks out for us. Do you think you will see this thing in Curry’s? Or BestBuy? How are prices expected to fall, IF NOBODY BUYS THE KIT IN THE FIRST PLACE??  Does nobody here except Comm00 (sorry did I spell that right?) understand business? This is a tiny little company - not an international electronics behemoth! Get REAL people - or we will always have nothing – except for something to complain about. Plus, those who swear by soldering their own units – if you enjoy it great. However, if you clock up the time it spent you to do it (plus the cost of replacing any fried hardware) – do you not think that time was worth at least $100? You were probably charging yourself $5 per hour. Tops. I would like to think we are a community with a cause, not just a bunch of negatives.

Yes, I will be purchasing MY MiniMig - at the end of the month ;-) (As I am a touch into my overdraft!)

[ollygd]

Everblue wrote:
....I will probably end up buying it anyway, as  support, for the novelty.....

Good Man!

Thats the attitude. If we all think like Everblue, we will have more and better projects coming along - more often!

[ollygd]

madsjm wrote:
I would buy it. I will buy it. :-)

Everybody - I apologise! The people who will contribute to the sucess of the Amiga platform, had simply not posted anything on this thread yet. It's easy to be put off by negativity - but good going madsjm!

Rise above everybody! Think OUTSIDE the box and to the future. We need business! And good business at that (and lots of it) ;-)

[ollygd]

Krusher wrote:

ollygd wrote:
...

Rise above everybody! Think OUTSIDE the box and to the future. We need business! And good business at that (and lots of it) ;-)

No I will not unless the price is right, which is not. €150 including shipping would be fair enough. Ok, I know, this is a first batch, limited in quantity, but most people have limited resources on money to justify a hobby, which it is. A hobby.

Yes I am aware the Amiga is just a hobby, but that is irrelevant. Would you have everybody pay 226 euros and help ACube to thrive, or would you have everybody pay 150, and run them into the ground? As I said, if you can't afford one, then thats fair enough. Build one - seriously. However, it doesn't change the fact that 226 for a MiniMig is still a reasonable price, given the fact the the success of ACube is so very important.

If we want ACube to survive, then we have to pay. But perhaps we don't? It would seem that some feel this way. It would also seem that people want it cheaper because *they* cant afford one - or are being cheap. If that is true, then to be honest - I do understand. However, at least SUPPORT ACube and potential buyers with words of encouragement. If people buy, then prices WILL come down. Think of the whole picture! This project needs to live. Consider how few will be sold. ACube staff have to eat! (They certainly wont be moving to Barbados any time soon)

[ollygd]

Krusher wrote:
I want to buy one and support Acube, but I have to eat too you know  :lol: And while I applaud Acube for taking the risc of getting on the Minimig bandwagon, it's not if they where forced to it. I guess I'm not an early adaptor. We'll see what's going to happen. Exiting days for Amigans? YES!!  :-D

Heheheh! I know - for all my feelings on this - I'm not rolling in cash myself. I just really belive in getting the people who can buy - to buy. Then prices will come down, and new projects come along. I personally belive a real drive and a unreservedly positive community attitude will see us through. Unfortunately, given our rather insignificant position, nothing less will do I fear.

[ollygd]

Krusher wrote:
.....And while I applaud Acube for taking the risc of getting on the Minimig bandwagon, it's not if they where forced to it. ...

I just wanted to comment on this though as I may have read your previous post too quickly. I do understand your point of view here, however, if we do want new, professionally made kit, then somebody *had* to do it. If we don't - then fine, I'm sure ACube will vanish into the Amiga history archives along with everything else. No harm done - but if we *do*, then we MUST support them, as they are the only ones doing it. If someone else starts up - then they should get equal share also.

If we hold ACube in contempt for charging too much, then what hope does any other setup have? No they didn't have to do it. I don't even know the guys but I want them to be fed and well so they can develop and sell more Amiga kit! I don't want them to be worrying about their bottom line. I want them to worry about getting the next gadget out by their next deadline. Selfish, I know, but true.

[ollygd]

tokyoracer wrote:
Even with a fully populated mini with a decent casing I still wouldn't pay that. £120 topps maybe.

Well then our hopes of new Amiga hardware are probably already dead - if feelings like this constitute the majority of the community. Sorry to be so blunt, but I'll call this now. I would, however, dearly love to be proved wrong.

[ollygd]

From that viewpoint, I understand your reasoning. However, if they only made enough profit to keep their business from hitting the deck, would you still say it was robbery?

[ollygd]

Bless you, arnljot

[ollygd]

@derringer3

Well don't buy it then. My argument is that there is a price for manufacturing a product that only 500 people are going to buy. Whether it's overpriced for you personally is irrelevant.  It costs money to develop and the price you pay now is that price.

If you care as to whether the Amiga platform has any future, then you should care very much about a fledgling manufacturer's bottom line, as we, as a community do not have the luxury of a saturated market and billion-dollar manufacturing plants. Quite possibly though, you do not! And that is fine. Why should you? It's just a hobby after all.

I really feel that even those who choose not to buy now because of this "high price" quoted by ACube, should not discourage others from doing so. There are plently of people who I am sure will buy, and they will be the ones to drive the costs down.

If you were smart, you would not slag off this offering, but encourage. Then buy the next model. If you were smart.

[ollygd]

.....Unfortunately in the post Commodore Amiga era there has always been a temptation for unscrupulous developers to take advantage of the users due to the almost "monopoly" that exists.....

This is v true. However, we still need an enthusiastic market to encourage other suppliers to set-up, or we will truly be stuck with a monopoly. As of now - we have no choice - but one thing is for sure - we cannot all keep sitting on the fence as we have for the last 20 years!