Product life is starting to take the p*ss...

[Richdog]

This isnt a whinge about how Ive got no money so cant afford to upgrade, thats not the point here. The point is the rapidly decreasing shelf-life of the latest kit, namely graphics cards. For instance, the GeforceFX 5800 has JUST been released, admittedly late, but no sooner has this happened than we find out NV35 is to be released later this month! I pity those who have bought one already, as the NV35 promises to deliver an average of 2x the power so I hear.
Also, the 9800, newly released, very soon to be superceded by the much vaunted R400, again delivering a lot more thrust. Although I'm all for rapid increases in technology that we all benefit from, I can't help feeling that the people who buy the latest cards are being slightly cheated, after all the heady joy of paying a bazillion for the latest behemoth starts to pale when its big brother comes out a month later, making your new buy merely "middle of the road"! Maybe its just me, but I think product releases should possibly be regulated so we the end-users can have a fair chance to feel like we have spent our hard-earned spondoolas wisely, and not that weve made a hasty, ill-timed decision. Just an opinion...

 

[gururu]

the 9700pro was out for eight months before the 9800pro reached shelves. I thought that was pretty good.
I think Nvidia ruined it by setting the bar for the 6 month product cycle. That's what competition does though, and I guess I wouldn't want it any other way.

 

[Boogak]

No complaints here, that means better products in the low to mid-range spectrum which makes up the bulk of video cards sold.

 

[Intelman07]

What do you expect technology changes fast you can only have the latest hardware for about a month. (if you can aford it)

 

[Auric]

Who cares about having the latest? It's about value and bang for the rupee. The only reason one could have to be miffed is if the product plummets in value shortly after purchase. That rarely happens because of the planning involved and the fact that every company is pretty much bound by the same practical constraints in developing new kit (time, cost & technology). If a consumer thought they were getting short changed in such an unusual instance imagine how the company must feel. It all comes down to competition, profit margins and what the market will bear.

 

[FearoftheNight]

I think ATi annoucned they are having longer cycles.

 

[FearoftheNight]

I think ATi annoucned they are having longer cycles.