Re: USB input devices-- Second Sight

[Mike Kent <Mkent01@viking.cris.com>]

Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:

>> While I'm not asking to be gouged, it only makes sense that specialty
>> cards with very low production volumes will cost more than even more
>> capable cards with production lots in the hundreds of thousands.

>      In the case of the Apple II market, a small manufacturer-- say an
> individual or users group-- has the advantages of low labor costs, low
> capital costs, and very little competition. 

I'll agree that user/hobby groups can underprice a retail manufacturer,
but right now the Second Sight card isn't made that way.  It's made as a
for-profit product by a for-profit business entity.  That's where sales
volume kills us II owners.

Perhaps when Sequential ends their production of the card someone like Joe
Kohn or Tony Diaz could be convinced to secure the rights to the card.
I'm not sure who else would be capable of ensuring production.

I'm afraid that when Sequential ends production of the Second Sight and
the RAMfast those cards will join the ranks of the Apple II historical
file.

>      Still, if the idea is to create a significant base of SS
owners > ready to buy for-SS games and other products, then, practically
> speaking, the board is over-priced. A card which offers new display
> formats on a new monitor is not the sort of thing one buys in the hope
> of being among a few elite owners.     

Perhaps it's a chicken-and-egg scenario, but I just don't think there ever
was enough software waiting in the wings where Sequential could subsidize
its hardware with software sales.  How I wish I were wrong, but...

Mike