New subject: Cool find

19 Aug 1999

Back in the '70's, and maybe into the early '80's, the rule of thumb was
to
multiply manufacturing cost by 4 to estimate the minimum retail price of a
piece of electronic gear.  I don't know how to estimate the cost of the
components any better than has already been done here, but I would imagine
that Todd Fischer is collecting orders as a means of estimating the
potential for his product along with paying for tooling and other
non-recurring costs.

I'm relieved that his product is, as yet, vaporware, because I personally
don't see the benefit in having a 22-slot mainframe with a power supply of
the sort describe on the IMSAI web site, just as I'm having trouble with the
notion that people would pay $1k for a box with a front panel and little
else.  Based on the notion that SOME people will, I don't see his price as
excessive for what it might be.  I do have the sense that the WHAT is still
TBD.

There's no shortage of S-100 mainframes from what I've seen.  I see three or
four every year for about $25, which nearly compensates the consignee for
the space they take up.  I have about six which I 'd happily give up.  That
would still leave me plenty.

The original notion I remember seeing was to have the IMSAI "look" wedded to
a current generation Pentium class processor.  I don't see a niche for that,
however.

All we can do is wait and hope Todd Fischer comes to what more of would
consider to be his senses and reshapes his intended product.  It is HIS,
though . . .

Dick

-----Original Message-----
From: CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com &lt;CLASSICCMP(a)trailing-edge.com&gt;
To: Discussion re-collecting of classic computers
&lt;classiccmp(a)u.washington.edu&gt;
Date: Thursday, August 19, 1999 11:24 AM
Subject: Re: imsal 2

...
 > And, could the "mainframe" actually cost
that much?? Switches:
>22@$5=$110. PS=$50. Backplane=$75. Sheetmetal=$250. FP=$100. Maybe I have a
...
  warped idea of
what this stuff costs, but I was expecting a lower number. 
Multiply the above numbers by a factors of 1.5 or so, and you're about
in the right ballpark (though the real factor is much closer to 4 for
the power supply - $50 won't buy anything but a way-too-dinky transformer.)
I did a similar calculation when deciding whether I could sell my "TIMSAI"
as a commercial product, and came up with a street price for it (with
very similar production costs) that would have to be close to $2000-$3000 to
...
 justify the effort.

--
 Tim Shoppa                        Email: shoppa(a)trailing-edge.com
 Trailing Edge Technology          WWW:   http://www.trailing-edge.com/
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