[Coco] Re: [Color Computer] Is this a discussion about a new Coco?

[Boisy G. Pitre]

On Apr 18, 2005, at 7:32 PM, James Diffendaffer wrote:
> Look, you are allowed to charge whatever you want.  I'm not saying
> there is some law against it.  If people will pay for it... go for it.
>
> I know what is involved in a design like the IDE board and I don't
> think it justifies that price.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion.  Just realize that, in the 
case of the SuperIDE, there's

1. CPLD which holds the logic for the IDE interface
2. A flash chip which holds DOS ROMs for the CoCo
3. An RTC
4. Additional parts and connectors (CF, IDE)
5. Time spent testing numerous CompactFlash devices and getting the 
board running properly
6. Software that had to be developed to support flashing on the CoCo
7. Professional documentation had to be written and reviewed.

I think when you take the above into account, along with the materials 
(disks, printing, time to assemble, test, etc.), it justifies the 
price.  We are delivering a full product with all of the support 
documentation and software.  Perhaps you were not aware of all of the 
above.

As others have stated, if you feel you can put out an equivalent 
product for less, then by all means go for it.
>
> I said I wouldn't buy something that expensive because I thought it
> was over priced.  It's an opinion and other people have a different 
> one.

It is certainly an opinion, and you are entitled to have it, but it is 
based on a lack of the complete picture, and also takes into account 
the value of YOUR time and effort, not mine or Mark's.

> Look, you may be charging a reasonable amount based on your design...
> but that doesn't mean you didn't overdesign it.
> It's a CoCo... if I want to build a web server, web browser or
> whatever... I can do so with a PC for under $400 (just built a 2.4GHz
> 512MB PC for my parents for that) and it will be far better at it than
> the CoCo ever will.  So... why use a $65 chip???  This computer only
> has a max of 2MB RAM... Just how much can you do with it???  Web
> browsing can involve larger web pages than that!  Ask yourself... does
> this make sense????  Does the superboard include a chip to
> decompress/scale JPEGs and GIF files too?
> I can see sending and receiving email, browsing with Lynx and stuff
> like that.  But those are very simple and with the source code out
> there it probably makes more sense to write it on OS-9.

You are again interjecting an opinion, and you have every right to have 
it.  But whether or not the SuperBoard or SuperIDE is over-designed is 
a matter of perspective.  The designs of our products were driven 
partially by what Mark and I wanted to see in them, and partly by what 
others in the market wanted.  As Mark pointed out, they sell, and sales 
are increasing.  That sounds like we're doing something right, not 
wrong.

> I think it's great if you guys can make some money on the CoCo market
> and at a hobby at that.  It's nice to see someone supporting the
> machine.  But I don't see spending that much on a hobby just so I can
> say "look what my CoCo can do".  That's just my opinion.

Understood.  It's a minority opinion here, and the market bears that 
out.

Mark and I honestly do appreciate the support and business that we get 
from customers who use the CoCo.  Every purchase is a vote of 
confidence in our products and our ability to produce them.  And each 
year, that vote has increased in number, as evidenced by the growth of 
sales.  There are CoCo users who haven't purchased a single dime, and 
that's certainly within their purview.  I just happen to be partial to 
those who have bought our hardware and software.  And while the others 
who haven't may feel the way you do, but they haven't voiced it 
publicly on an open list.  That's because I believe they want us to 
succeed.

As others have, I encourage you to put your money where your mouth (and 
typing fingers) are.  You've thrown around some pretty impressive 
credentials around in your last post, at the expense of Cloud-9 I might 
add.  So be my guest; produce some competing hardware, be it something 
akin to the SuperBoard or the SuperIDE.  Sell it at the price that you 
have proposed.  Include the support software, manuals, media, etc.  If 
you're going to cry foul from the cheap seats, then get out of the 
stands, come on the field, and let's play some football.
--
Boisy G. Pitre
E-Mail: boisy at boisypitre.com
Mobile: (337) 781-3997
Web: www.boisypitre.com



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