Not OT, right on topic: Ridiculous prices+rich(?) people=inflation in the market

[GT-Force]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!
The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than this.
Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

 

[Brett]

The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for
these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!<<

Oh noes !!! We all the loosers!!!!




B.

 

[maggot]

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

Matrix Games is asking $70.00 for two of their games. And that's
through digital download!

 

[Lou]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!
The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than this.
Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

We are game addicts. Not buying the latest hardware to play your game at its
max is like a junky saying "ok I wont buy any more drugs until the price
comes down".
Actually I can afford to buy the latest graphics card ,but even though there
is a lot of excitement about the new games like D3 and how good the new
cards are, I am holding off on buying them because IMO they cost more than I
care to spend for something that I don't really need. Well, at least until
my game addictiveness takes over. I keep reading the D3 reviews and actually
hoping its not really that good so I wont be tempted to buy it or new V card
for it until the price comes down. HL2 is going to be very tough to hold off
an upgrade. Hopefully it will be delayed again, oh but by then I might need
a whole new PC. Dam!

Lou

 

[Sham B]

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example
Its all marketing. They know that x% of the buying population will pay $55, and after that, another
y% will pay $30.00, and finally, it will sell for $20.00

Play them at their own game and buy in when you feel good with the price.

Quake 3 Arena goes for $10.99 at Amazon at the moment

S

 

[Blahguy]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

The high prices VGA market is only a small portion of the total market, and
a small percentage of sales.

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!
The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

If no one buys them they will not be produced, as this would be the signal
that the market does not want them.

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

It's market forces - companies have a unique product and they will optimise
their profit. You just said you would do it yourself in the previous
paragraph. Why do you think PS2 games and DVDs are reigion specific? So
companies can charge different prices in different counties as too what they
think the market will bear.

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than this.
Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

I think you are naive. If you think product x is too expensive then don't
buy it.

 

[Cuzman]

" Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now. "


I'll admit that I am addicted to games, but I've made a pact with myself
that I don't buy games when they first come out. That way, I get the
cheaper versions that include patches, updates and add-ons. I still have
many games on the shelf to play that are 1-2 years old, and this regime also
gives me the luxury to afford the best graphics card from that generation.
I'm about to upgrade my Ti4200 to a 9700 Pro, and I have no plans to buy
Doom3 until it comes down a little in price.

 

[Augustus]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

It's always been that way. You want bleeding edge, you pay. Back in early
1998 I paid over $300 Cdn for a new Diamond Monster 3D Voodoo card. I paid
over $200 Cdn at the same time for a decent 2D/3D 4Mb Diamond Viper 330 AGP
card. For those of you who don't remember, you needed both cards in your
system. The Voodoo had a pass through cable from the other vide card. AT the
time, this was pretty much cutting edge state of the art. Total cost, 8
years ago, over $500. Total cost today, at least $550. So how have things
changed costwise, exactly?

 

[Kokoro]

In alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia, GT-Force ordered an army of
hamsters to type:

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact
paying these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics
card. Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than
those days', I still think that especially latest generation cards are
way overpriced. $600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and
quick! The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by
paying for these ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they
will. Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that
I could sell it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it
for any lower, right?

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example
is Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card
prices are already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game
prices now.

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than
this. Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

i dont know, you get what you pay for. When i bought my Voodoo5 it cost
£200, i got my FX5800 for £266 and i got my 6800GT for £245 there is a
difference in prices but its not like its gone up by hundreds

What i have noticed though, over the last few years is that the performance
differences between the low end cards and the high end cards is much wider
than it was. Maybe the prices reflect that?

.....then again ive been watching my little sister lay Alice on my spare
Voodoo3 equiped machine and have been commenting on just how smoothly it
plays, i always thought the little card to be a slow clunky thing.

 

[Kokoro]

In alt.comp.periphs.videocards.nvidia, Kokoro ordered an army of
hamsters to type:

i dont know, you get what you pay for. When i bought my Voodoo5 it
cost £200, i got my FX5800 for £266 and i got my 6800GT for £245 there
is a difference in prices but its not like its gone up by hundreds

okay, i just checked my recipt, including vat my £245 6800GT was actually
£289.... maybe too close to £300 for much comfort

 

[JK]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

You don't have to buy a bleeding edge card if you don't want to, however
if you spend many hours playing games, the cost of even a very expensive
card per hour of game play will be small.

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!

Not really. What would probably happen instead is that cards that are
such hard end won't be made, less money will be spent on R&D, and
even lower priced cards won't evolve as rapidly. Sales of the highest
end cards drive R&D spending, and lead to great improvents even
in low priced cards.

The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

No. Read my previous comments. Without sale of expensive cards, R&D
spending would be much smaller, and technology advances would be
much slower. These advances trickle down to the low priced cards as well
after a while. A low priced card now might is probably a much better
performer than the highest end card of 5 years ago. Even if you don't think
it is worth it for you to buy a very expensive card, be thankful that others
are buying them, as it drives R&D spending and advances that trickle
down to even the lowest priced cards after a bit of time.

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth,

It is worth what people will pay for it. The cost to make it is just the cost of

parts and assembly, but all the high cost R&D that went into it.

why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that.

Many are paying it. If they play the game for 200 hours, that is under 30 cents
an hour.

 

[GT-Force]

I think you are naive. If you think product x is too expensive then don't
buy it.

That's what I am already doing, but my point was not it. My point was the
inflated, overpriced games and hardware.

As you said, if they can afford to sell it for lower, as they are doing in
other countries, why not in US? Because customers are willing to and do pay
more. This is the ONLY reason for these ridiculous prices, I think.

GT

 

[tq96]

edge state of the art. Total cost, 8 years ago, over $500. Total cost

today, at least $550. So how have things changed costwise, exactly?

Several years ago, NVidia's flagship product was the TNT2 Ultra. The price
was about $250. Now it's the Geforce 6800 Ultra @ $500. That's a 100%
increase.

 

[GT-Force]

This is exactly what I was writing about.
GT

Several years ago, NVidia's flagship product was the TNT2 Ultra. The price
was about $250. Now it's the Geforce 6800 Ultra @ $500. That's a 100%
increase.

 

[Andrew MacPherson]

I think you are naive. If you think product x is too expensive
then don't buy it.

That's it exactly. It's also worth noting that games are usually cheaper
than they were 10 years ago, which is probably why so many releases are
disappointing... you get what you pay for. As for hardware, you get an
*awful* lot more bang for your buck than you got in 93 when I bought my
first box!

Ok, every generation of new players starts from a new bang for buck
baseline, but for anyone who's been around the PC scene for a few years
there has *never* been a better time to be buying either software or
hardware.

IMO obviously.

Andrew McP

 

[JK]

Why must you buy the most expensive card? There are obviously those
who are willing to buy it though, otherwise it wouldn't be made. Think
of how much fancy cars, boats, etc. and other hobbies cost.

 

[GTD]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

I must have missed that, cause when I started upgrading my first PC, a
good PCI vid card was 2meg and over $250.

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!
The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

Yea, but that's how the world works: People work hard, to make more
money, so they don't HAVE to wait. That's like saying: I want a new
caddillac, but can only afford a new honda, or an old caddilac, so
it's unfair that they won't sell me a new caddilac at the price of the
honda. You can say it all you want, but those that want the new caddy,
and can afford it, will buy it. Like my Dad used to say: If you want
more money, then go make more money.

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

There's an easy way around it: Get rid of your PC. Nothing in life is
free, and you pay more if you want to be the first one with it. That
or settle for a less powerful one, but you can't really expect
everyone else to do the same for your sake.

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than this.
Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

I don't agree with that, but I'm not sure how to put it without
sounding eliteist or offensive.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

You should start drinking prune juice and KY jelly cocktails right now,
that will make things a lot smoother.
-Felatio Love

 

[Dick Kistler]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

Companies that make the stuff will charge the highest price that people will
pay.
They also will be more complacent because they will have larger cash
reserves.

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!
The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

Not only will you save money if you don't buy, but you will put pressure on
the
companies to offer more value for the dollar. This will drive more
innovation.

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than this.
Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

The argument that the extra dollars go to R&D is purely hypothetical.
At this point, we don't know where the money goes-it may go into
advertising or into the pockets of executives. However I don't think
that high prices drive innovation. More competition and discerning
customers that demand high value for a reasonable price drive innovation
more than than customers that buy the hottest thing available for
the highest price.

Buy your cards and games for best performance per dollar, not just
best performance.

Dick Kistler

 

[JK]

Companies that make the stuff will charge the highest price that people will
pay.
They also will be more complacent because they will have larger cash
reserves.


Not only will you save money if you don't buy, but you will put pressure on
the
companies to offer more value for the dollar. This will drive more
innovation.


The argument that the extra dollars go to R&D is purely hypothetical.
At this point, we don't know where the money goes-it may go into
advertising or into the pockets of executives. However I don't think
that high prices drive innovation. More competition and discerning
customers that demand high value for a reasonable price drive innovation
more than than customers that buy the hottest thing available for
the highest price.

Buy your cards and games for best performance per dollar, not just
best performance.

Even the highest priced video cards aren't expensive compared to other luxury
items. If you calculate the cost per hour of use for high priced cards, it might

be quite low for many people. If someone averages 400 hours a year of
game play, and uses a video card for two years, even the most expensive consumer
level video card would cost under $1 an hour. The highest priced
cards aren't meant for the majority. Cards 1/2 to 1/3 of the prices of the top
ones are very popular though.

 

[Mark Leuck]

Hi,

I just can't help but see that people are not pissed off, but in fact paying
these ridiculous graphics card bills.

I remember the days we were paying $65 for a really good graphics card.
Although I know that todays's cards are way way different than those days',
I still think that especially latest generation cards are way overpriced.
$600?!? $500? Please, even $400?

The reason why you paid $65 for a real good card is because it wasn't a real
good card

I remember putting ram chips in an Oak VGA card, at that time graphics
accelerators did not exist and even that crappy Oak card was over $100

Always remember: If no one buys them, the prices WILL go down, and quick!
The rich, or dumb, pull the prices up, and keep them up by paying for these
ridiculous price tags; and we all loose!

These cards (6800/800) are not what makes profit for ATI and Nvidia, they
always release the flagship products first for publicity then later bring
out the low-end stuff

The companies will milk the bejeesus out of us, if they can, nad they will.
Why would not they? If I could sell something for the most that I could sell
it for,i.e., not for what it's worth, why would I sell it for any lower,
right?

Nobody is forcing you to buy anything

Same applies to latest (especially hyped) games, a very good example is
Doom3. $55 for a game? Good God! No way I am paying that. Card prices are
already inflated, I am not going to help inflating the game prices now.

I just paid $44 at Frye's although the first rule of thumb in retail is
"charge what the market will bear"

Come on people, THINK and ACT! Please...
I thought that the 'computer community' was a little smarter than this.
Let's not be herd by the marketers of these companies.

What do you think? Spell your guts, it's your turn.

GT

Somehow I doubt its anyone but you who isn't thinking