Got a T50 motherboard!! But what to do next?

Message

RMSMajestic · #1 Post by **RMSMajestic** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:48 am

OK good news to those of you who are in the States and Canada.

After long long long time (long enough for your T4x to become fossil), finally, after long long long negotiation with aq5200, he shipped one board to me. which I took it with me all the way here to Virgina.

And I have to say that it's not the guys at 51nb don't want to sell the boards abroad. A lot of extra cost is involved, for example, each transaction exchanged to RMB will result in about 35 USD extra fee and postage and returns can be extremely annoying. Guess that's why aq5200 didn't even ship the boards out within China. (Normally he ask people to ship the machine to him and he does the installations). But in a short sentence, the cost (including risks) to the 51nb folks for selling abroad is actually much higher than 100GBP (or 150USD), might be as high as 250 GBP or 350 USD. (Although if you guys ask me to sell it, I will only ask for the cost which I got it for)

Due to the outrageous imbalance in supply and demand (at least 1:50), I don't wanna put it on ebay and be called as a "Greedy b******". So, I think maybe a monthly rent tour around USA (possibly Canada) is the best option. Cos in this way most people can experience the motherboard.

Or, I can accept exchange this motherboard plus another 500-1000 USD (depneding on the specs) for a brand new W701, or exchange the motherboard for brand new top(rear) and bottom(base) covers for 15" standard screen T60

Any better suggestions? Please post

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Poll ended

#2 Post by **RealBlackStuff** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 6:54 am

This would would be perfect for (and should go to) our one and only T43/p guru: ajkula66 alias George!

ajkula66 · #3 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 7:22 am

RealBlackStuff wrote:This would would be perfect for (and should go to) our one and only T43/p guru: ajkula66 alias George!

I'm truly honoured by this title, but doubt that I'm rich enough to grab the planar in question...

Norway Pad · #4 Post by **Norway Pad** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 10:53 am

I would definitely be interested in one of these boards still, but won't make any attempts to grab this one board that's available here. Particularly not of it can be used in a way that benefits more users.

I negotiated with a member of N51for a long time to buy one, and made it clear that I would cover all associated expenses. Still it didn't work out.

Neil · #5 Post by **Neil** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:16 pm

When we first started hearing about these, I thought I wanted one, but now enough time has passed that I have completely lost interest.

ajkula66 · #6 Post by **ajkula66** » Tue Dec 23, 2014 1:49 pm

Neil wrote:When we first started hearing about these, I thought I wanted one, but now enough time has passed that I have completely lost interest.

The entire experience - or lack thereof when it comes to these planars actually popping up for sale - has been somewhat of an anti-climax.

I would want the board, but...in all fairness, OP is likely to walk away with a ton of $$$ if he throws it on feebay. Not something I'm up for. The days of me participating in bidding wars of any kind are long since gone.

If the folks in China ever change their minds about selling these abroad, I'm still in the pool for a couple of pieces at a reasonable price...

RMSMajestic · #7 Post by **RMSMajestic** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 12:55 pm

ajkula66 wrote:
Neil wrote:When we first started hearing about these, I thought I wanted one, but now enough time has passed that I have completely lost interest.
The entire experience - or lack thereof when it comes to these planars actually popping up for sale - has been somewhat of an anti-climax.

I would want the board, but...in all fairness, OP is likely to walk away with a ton of $$$ if he throws it on feebay. Not something I'm up for. The days of me participating in bidding wars of any kind are long since gone.

If the folks in China ever change their minds about selling these abroad, I'm still in the pool for a couple of pieces at a reasonable price...

lol at "feebay"

I'm not interested in getting a lot of $$$

If I really wanted a lot of $$ I'd have already put it on fe-ebay XD. Besides bringing such board all the way to the states isn't really that profitable.
Anyway, if you'd really like the board, vote and ask your friends to vote the third option, I'll just sell it at the cost price.

I don't think that the folk in China will ever change their mind and sell those abroad, I've tried to help my friends selling X61 T9600 and T9550 motherboards and that's just too much of a hassle.

ajkula66 · #8 Post by **ajkula66** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 1:08 pm

RMSMajestic wrote:

I'm not interested in getting a lot of $$$ If I really wanted a lot of $$ I'd have already put it on fe-ebay XD. Besides bringing such board all the way to the states isn't really that profitable.

Well, I don't know. I'd suspect that the board - being one of two known examples on this continent, and the other piece is not up for grabs - is worth a good deal of money and could likely net you a W701 in working order, or thereabouts.

That's obviously just my opinion...

Anyway, if you'd really like the board, vote and ask your friends to vote the third option, I'll just sell it at the cost price.

Thanks. However, I'm not going to vote that way nor am I going to ask anyone to do so. That's simply not the way I go about things in life in general, and I'm way too old to change in that respect.

I don't think that the folk in China will ever change their mind and sell those abroad, I've tried to help my friends selling X61 T9600 and T9550 motherboards and that's just too much of a hassle.

Their loss - the folks in China, that is - more than anyone else's in my opinion. The market *does* exist. A reasonable profit margin *is* obtainable. But it is what it is.

Saucey · #9 Post by **Saucey** » Wed Dec 24, 2014 2:03 pm

If only we had a way to embezzle money from someone in the US to make our own production line from reverse enginerring it....

Norway Pad · #10 Post by **Norway Pad** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 9:20 am

RMSMajestic wrote:I don't think that the folk in China will ever change their mind and sell those abroad, I've tried to help my friends selling X61 T9600 and T9550 motherboards and that's just too much of a hassle.

That's the part I have some difficulties understanding.. If someone outside China is willing to simply pay enough, one should think the guys in China were willing to accept some hassle in order to sell them a board. At the time I was willing to stretch up in a high price range to get a hold of one of these boards, and I think I made that clear. However, as time has passed by, and particularly after I got the Frankenpad going, I am no longer willing to pay silly money for a board, as the T50 undoubtedly has its limitations. But I am certainly interested in some boards still if they can be bought easily and reasonable. As George also states: The market is definitely there.

So I guess we all see things differently, and I should refrain from judging others by my own values, where (most) things are up for sale for the right price. Maybe their ultimate goal isn't to make any business or profit off of their efforts. If your hobby gets too serious, it gets too much like work, and is no hobby anymore.

Frobe70 · #11 Post by **Frobe70** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 11:48 am

How many boards can be produced and sold as "prototypes" before the manufacturer is required to provide documentation for EMC certificates and other approvals?

ajkula66 · #12 Post by **ajkula66** » Thu Dec 25, 2014 12:01 pm

Frobe70 wrote:How many boards can be produced and sold as "prototypes" before the manufacturer is required to provide documentation for EMC certificates and other approvals?

Given that manufacturing is done in China by a group of hobbyists, as many as you'd like.

It's not like these were ever going to be offered in stores...

priono2000 · #13 Post by **priono2000** » Sat Jan 03, 2015 1:35 am

This T50 board is still prototype so there is many bug or issue should be solve.

I'am prever to waiting until this board being mass production (if possible)

I'am using T43 for work and mostly for typing and browsing and I'am feel this old machine is still fast(using Win XP).

RMSMajestic · #14 Post by **RMSMajestic** » Sun Jan 11, 2015 4:24 pm

Norway Pad wrote:That's the part I have some difficulties understanding.. If someone outside China is willing to simply pay enough, one should think the guys in China were willing to accept some hassle in order to sell them a board. At the time I was willing to stretch up in a high price range to get a hold of one of these boards, and I think I made that clear. However, as time has passed by, and particularly after I got the Frankenpad going, I am no longer willing to pay silly money for a board, as the T50 undoubtedly has its limitations. But I am certainly interested in some boards still if they can be bought easily and reasonable. As George also states: The market is definitely there.

So I guess we all see things differently, and I should refrain from judging others by my own values, where (most) things are up for sale for the right price. Maybe their ultimate goal isn't to make any business or profit off of their efforts. If your hobby gets too serious, it gets too much like work, and is no hobby anymore.

Well I guess they are not that into profit. The domestic market in China is enough to consume all thr boards produced, so comparing to taking the risks and sell the board abroad, they might not want to sell them abroad

As far as I've heard, HOPE himself has invested tons of money on the T50 project, he will need to sell probably hundreds of those boards to balance the cost. So even if you are willing to pay 3 times the money, it might not be that significant at all.

Another possible reason is that they are not satisfied with the boards themselves and they certainly don't want anything bad for their name

Also it took me a huge effort to pursuade aq5200 to ship the board instead of me shipping the machine to him and he change the board. It's even much of a hassle domestically and could be 10 times worse internationally. I still has a Japanese buyer who owe me 2x Elpida DDR2 4GB DIMMs and a Crucial M4 64GB.

All are my guesses based on my experience, I don't really understand why they don't ship the boards abroad either

but I know the market is here and I'm on your side. I sold my T41 before I actually got the board. Maybe next time I go back to China I'll have more RMB available for purchasing the boards (T50 and X62) and ship those to you guys.

Norway Pad · #15 Post by **Norway Pad** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:26 am

Another possible reason is that they are not satisfied with the boards themselves and they certainly don't want anything bad for their name

At the time, that struck me as a possible reason too. I think Hope at one point had plans for actually shipping me a board, as he described how he would ship it to me installed in a T4x chassis. But suddenly the communication stopped, and I chose to not be too insistent about it, as it in the end was his boards and his choice who he wanted to sell to. Anyway, all honor to the guys who invested so much work (And apparently money) into this and made it as far as they did.

Btw, RMS, what did you end up doing with your board?

shawross · #16 Post by **shawross** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 4:25 am

I would have purchased two T50 motherboards and was similarly disappointed as others were.

Hope and his team had their reasons and obviously the project would have been disappointing for them as well.

My Shells only had the XGA screen and even though this would not have stopped me buying the upgrade I am in retrospect not too disappointed.

On the brighter side the money I saved I used to purchase thinkpads X301 , X201 and X61 all in great condition.

RMSMajestic · #17 Post by **RMSMajestic** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:18 pm

Norway Pad wrote:Btw, RMS, what did you end up doing with your board?

I took RBS's advice and decided to sell it to George. But next time when I have one/some T50/X62, I'll let u know.

Norway Pad · #18 Post by **Norway Pad** » Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:56 pm

Yes, let me know in case that should ever happen. My offer to pay the value of the board and to cover associated costs still stands.