Because people would still be willing to pay more once they know what it is they are getting.
Okay, say I want to buy a device for mining, and I want it to remain profitable for at least a year. That means I am looking for a device with the following features:
Sure, Avalon
could have some extra awesome feature, but unless that feature increases mining (maybe it sees the future so it knows which nonce it will be without hashing?) or reduced power (maybe it includes 16 100W solar panels to keep the unit online for free?) then the unit is not going to be superior than a boring competing unit which does the same mining for 1/4 of the power.
Quoted for future reference. A sampling of a BFL supporter before the review.
I 'll ask you later on if you are still thinking along the same lines. (Don't worry, I know it won't make sense to you until later.)
So after this insider info, how much will you order from the second batch?
And please define "until later" please, if you are allowed to.
No, not an insider, I know just slightly more than you. It is just one detail that can make or break companies.
Think about what happened prior to today and what really messed up the ASIC companies in general.
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Travel back in memory to September 2012.
bASIC has the 36Gh/s system.
BFL has the 40Gh/s system.
Avalon has the 60Gh/s system.
Avalon begins their project in full swing and starts accepting orders.
BFL takes them seriously, makes a promise to overclock their ASICs by 50%. Raising it to 60 Gh/s.
Problems occur with the BFL single because of the raised specs. Plastic (no surprise) is not good for removing this extra heat. Problems occur with the BFL chips being very close to overheating (without any thermal control. with thermal control it would have continuously throttled the GH/s.)
They miss their October Delivery date. They keep it virtually a secret as to what happened. November, then December, then January, and soon to be February 2013.
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bASIC raises their speed ratings up to 72Gh/s. Causing a redesign of the entire PCB system. They were slated for a November release at 36Gh/s (if I recall correctly). A 100% performance increase.
November turns into December, then January, and eventually February and March 2013.
Again, this causes customers to lose confidence and eventually the company collapses.
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Avalon opens their orders in September 2012 for 60Gh/s systems.
They take on orders and cut their shipping estimates from February 2013 to January 2013. After some optimization of the software their miner runs on, they estimate a raise of customer devices up to 66Gh/s. No apparent hardware changes occur.
They are on time. People complain about Avalon not having shipping information readily available and the low rate of speed for building the devices. Avalon cites some issues with customs at a Shipping broker.
Unreleased features to be reviewed by a third party...kept secret until the reviewer is done or customers receive their units.
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As you can see, the ones who have to worry alot are the competition. They messed themselves up by trying to over compete. One folded due to people losing confidence. The other is rebuilding over and over again to try to remain competitive.
What happens if one of those unreleased features makes them (BFL) an noncompetitive
lemon?
Inaba/Josh can boast all he wants. At the end of the day its all about the customers. If they don't have a Plan B....well, bASIC...here we go for round 2.
!!!