Topic: [Announcement] Avalon ASIC Development Status [Batch #1] - page 26. (Read 155278 times)

Posted recently on the BFL forums:


@ Avalon, how that update going? Isn't it your time to shine?

OKAY...When I ordered from Avalon in October, I didn't think there was a chance in hell that Avalon would come out before BFL and bASIC. I now fully expect Avalon to be the first out the gate. Good for you guys.

Here's my take on the big 3.

BFL can talk a good game, but IMO their engineering team (Nasser) probably isn't experienced enough in developing ASICs. I believe they've had several set backs due to errors in design. I think the engineering team (Nasser) is stringing Josh along and not being fully truthful to Josh. Josh is in the unfortunate position of being teamed with people that have a habit of dropping the ball... These type of people like to set expectations high, but rarely deliver on time nor will they deliver a quality product (it will be buggy or not live up to expectations).

Tom seems to mean well, but is either taking on too much by himself or is poorly organized. I do not know which it is. If it's the former, then hiring a competent technical lead/manager will make his life a whole lot easier, though more expensive. Since he doesn't have the technical experience himself to make the best decisions about his products, it's not totally unexpected that he chose his first (outsourced) team poorly. The sooner he hires a technical lead to validate the progress of his engineering team, the sooner he can be assured that he is on the right track. Without the technical validation, he is taking on a big risk for a second time...that would not be acceptable. Fortunately, it looks like Tom is about to hire a new technical lead (assuming his new hire has the appropriate experience).

IMO, Avalon is the team with the true engineers that do things the way engineers do things. That is - they plan, they model, they set appropriate (conservative) approximations, and do not say/report something unless they are very confident in those facts. This is the way competent engineers work. Avalon's engineering team is comprised of academics who pride themselves on technical correctness. This team appears to be the best organized and most technically competent of the 3.

I have orders with all 3 companies, so I'd like to think I'm not really biased against any of them, but with BFL's lates announcement, it's clear their engineering team is a joke (no, it's not entirely due to the chip plant). Unfortunately, my smallest order is with Avalon...due to timing and cost.


So all that said...going forward, I'll still go with the company that offers the best bang for the buck. IF all 3 companies eventually release real (reliable) products, I'll base most of my purchasing decision based on performance, initial price and long term power usage/ROI.

Are the newsletters written up?

I am in the same boat. But lets face it. Most of us were not the first to mine with gpu and that worked out for all involved last year who
got involved later on.

What I'm sayin'.

Agreed & changed, I'm always a "confirm you read this" guy, so thats why I wrote that...
No flaming intended or what so ever.

+1
-1
No need for that as long this will continue the "word-fight" right? No one needs it...

As paid customer of Avalon I was very content BitSyncom/Avalon was not mixing in the word-fight with BFL and bASIC.
However with the latest "update" a turn was made, and I've been honest a bit disappointed about it.

Don't get me wrong, I'm damn happy everything is still on schedule and was happy to see the documents of TSMC.
And I'm very optimistic about the Avalon ASIC, and can't wait to start mining on it.

I do would love if the Avalon-team just for 110% focusses on the development of their product as I know it will be fantastic, and not wastes any time on their opponents.

If only I had paid my order with Avalon...

Avalon has participated in the mudslinging though.

Clearly, and he's lost some customers because of it. At least two of the three major developers of ASIC products for sale in the near future have withheld information at best and lied at worst. Interesting times ahead.

Avalon has been the only manufacturer to remain above the fray and that's in jeopardy as mud slinging ramps up and their own release date approaches. 

BitSyncom,

Just let it go..There is no sense to loose your time for it...just personal opinion.  I do like tom very much indeed but i am wondering why he avoids simple yes/no answer if he had the chips - asked over and over from his own customers in his own forum (as long people like him so much of his openness and frankness)? The second thing i just can not understand as long as he was about to deliver week ago (if the chips were ok), why he is getting the pcb schematics from his engineers yesterday (famous powers of two  - bla bla - it was just a trick to reduce refunds, because by that time he knew that he will not deliver)? If i were him and i was waiting for the chips i wold have schematics revised many times + full populated PCB mounts ago in hands of software developers. It seems that his PCB (Asic board) is not produced yet. Let us say that he had the asics chips OK. How can he promise that he will deliver a couple of days after, when it is obvious that the board did not enter factory yet? What about the software for mining it needs at least some time to be developed also? Or this is just me thinking like that?  What about testing hardware itself (it needs at least a couple of days) and fixing hardware bugs if any? Adding all even chips were ok a week ago makes his delivery in as he stated 15 of January - just my math ..In general tom is not telling the whole truth - personal opinion...That is all

Actually I think the darkest days are in the rear view for bASIC, but time will tell. Recent posts have been far more encouraging and detailed.

I'm surprised he responded at all.

It's too bad the response has no substance.  It pretty much just calls Avalon a bunch of meanies, and says nothing at all about the bASIC (or Avalon) products.

I want to see them succeed (I have orders with bASIC as well as with Avalon), but I have to agree that things look really bad over there right now.

Ahaha, so now us, Avalon are the optimistic ones? I'll address BFL later, but I'm worried about bASIC now.

tom made an interesting response here: https://www.btcfpga.com/forum/index.php?topic=214.msg1478#msg1478


Since when I am a moniker? the BitSyncom name has been around the Bitcoin scene early as April 2011, many public face in the Bitcoin world can vouch, in additional to my name being Yifu G. It also has been in the signature since I started posting for Avalon ASIC, there are only 2 people represent the Avalon Project in public, one is Me, another is ngzhang. Neither of us know you. So, tell me who are these people involved with Avalon you know? This could pose a big problem.

Such as there are people pretending to be working on the Avalon project, and I can't begin the image the potential damage this could cause for the both projects. Either that or bASIC is lying, I'd like some names if possible.

BFL_Josh might just as well have said...yeah we expect Avalon to be first and eat our appetizer, though we're still on track to have a portion of our own lunch at some point.

And yet another series of dismissive comments from a BFL rep (on the topic of Avalon):


"Earliest date to expect delivery January 25th?"

Link: https://forums.butterflylabs.com/bfl-forum-miscellaneous/511-earliest-date-expect-delivery-january-25th.html#post7581

Still as I mentioned before, currently doing website overhaul, but understandably with the recent developments ( ASICs aside ), the mere website has been put into the back burner, but I am drafting up news letters for people with the next round of hardware updates, in addition with the recent paperwork update I gave out.

When does the next update happen? (The one refering to the actual hardware of Avalon?)

And

Any comments on BFL's latest rants about your hardware?

Are you the turtle and are they the hare?

that means some are already done