The newest batch of S7 looks to be it could be undervolted for better efficient power usage. The A6 needs a controller, worse efficiency and less hash rate...I just don't see how the avalon would be a better choice. Maybe its a bit quieter...but once you're into this league of miners id think you would have a room dedicated to miners and power hookup.
If I can add to the negatives list:
1) Claimed MOQ of 10 from blockc (but the order screen will accept an order of one).
2) No tolerances on the efficiency
3) Blockc is not just the US distributor but the "global master distributor (ex China).
On 1 it could be an error. With stating they will only ship ten there is no guarentee they will ship an order of 1 or if they will do a refund of purchase.
I keep hoping to see the underclock. I see a picture above anyone got one that had tried any underclocking? Even a hint of what they can do would be much appreciate.
One thing I was considering is obviously Avalon know how to build a product and get it to market. Once you have successfully done this on a large scale with a particular product you have the perfect view of your audience. For example, bitmain obviously knows how much they can get away with charging and still sell out of miners every time they put a batch up for sale. This latest batch from bitmain should be priced lower imo and that is why Avalon were high on the 4.1 and will be high priced on the 6. Both companies know they will get it. Delivered to my door for the 4.1 was well more than it should have been, especially considering the price of coin when it hit the street.
As you alluded to, I do make last minute purchases. Fortunately 'fun' is still the biggest concern. But at some point other things will take a priority and people will not continue to gamble. Right now I still see product moving so fast out of bitmain it wouldn't appear they have anything to worry about except making the product consistently good, and most importantly work on their customer service and RMA policies. They have so many pies in the oven they cannot lose. Avalon is easily mining away with data centers, and while not as big as bitmain to the majority of this collective group here on bitcointalk, they are huge in china.
The way they set up this world dealer is interesting. I know we setup another business besides the main business when we began a different product line. That company has the same officers as the "main" one, albeit structured slightly different on paper it is incorporated. This was strictly for liability and tax reasons, it is very common, most businesses do this.
However thinking through what I have been able to find, and reading the history of products and experiences here on the forum, I think they set up global dealership as another pie.
Bitcoin is reaching more people, obviously more first-time miners than ever before. If people think back to their first purchase just finding a website which was legitimate and sold something which was truly current generation may not have been exactly straight-forward.
Everyone make sure they check with avalon to confirm the warranty if they purchase from anywhere except directly from avalon. The bitmain policy is you must go through China for warranty parts. Colorado cannot help. If you purchase a bitmain product anywhere except their official website you must go back to wherever you purchased the miner for warranty support. It doesn't matter what that dealer tells you. They can tell you bitmain is going to warranty everything, but I am telling you from personal experience if you do not get it in writing from the manufacturer directly, you have nothing because bitmain do not care about reputation.
I cannot say if Avalon does, but the way they answer questions, have been on the forum answering questions are good signs.
What I really hope to see is a competition. If the monopolies in bitcoin continue to grow and default in a state of power over the bitcoin economy it will stifle creativity to a halt. It may seem like an odd concept, but when you are cutting the margins and fighting for a sale it takes you out of a comfortable position. As businesses consider the impact they can have on the economy anytime they want to do so. I mean right now, today.
What will that look like in 1 year, 5, 10?
Every action taken today by the manufacturers will resonate in huge waves over the next few years and on, like dropping a stone in a lake. On some small scale that means every purchase we make and every pool we mine on does the same thing.
Lets try to get people involved in a group buy for a batch of Avalons and get the best price we can. Maybe Phil, or Roadstress would host it and we can get a few of something to make a few waves.
