How much did you pay for your empeg? I bought mine 1/13/02 and paid $399 plus $23 for shipping.

All y'all that bought the empeg before the price cuts, are you kicking yourself in the ass(or arse for you United Kingdomites) now?

If empeg could figure out a way to sell their players for $400 and profit off of it, then they'd be rich, or richer. They'd sell like crack.

Long live the empeg.

Lets see here:

$1200+shipping on the 6gb Mark 1 back in early 2000
$1316+shipping on the 20gb Mark 2 in Feburary 2001. (Included a tuner and carying case as well due to the upgrade offer)
$500 on the 60gb bought last month. (free shipping)

Money I have made on the above:
$950 selling the Mark 1 on eBay
$200 selling the 20(now 26gb) to a friend

And even with the fact that price of ownership for me is at $1866, it's still well worth it. I have enjoyed the freedom of having a ton of music at my fingers for 2 years now, and it has introduced me to an awesome community here on the BBS. The only other way to draw me out on a long road trip beyond this group is a bunch of gamers at E3.

Are you *trying* to rub it in?

18GB Empeg purchased in September 2000 for $1599 + tax/shipping
20GB Travelstar drive purchased in mid-2000 for $200 or thereabouts
10GB Empeg purchased in October 2001 for $699 + tax/shipping (missed price protection deadline by a couple weeks.)

So that's about a $2500 total cost of ownership for me. Obviously I didn't get the same "value" that some other people with better timing got, but I don't regret my decisions to purchase. I'm glad I have two Empegs that will hopefully last me a very long time.

However saying "if Empeg could figure out a way to sell their players for $400" is like saying "well, if McLaren sold their F1's for $1000, they could sure sell a boatload of them." Those who managed to get Empegs during the price drop should thank their lucky stars, because the raw cost of each unit is way above what you paid, and the real value of them is probably three or four times what you paid. I have yet to see anyone who regrets paying what they paid, whatever that is.

Yes, I am very thankful that Rio wasn't up to the task of successfully marketing the empeg, else I wouldn't be listening to my empeg right now.

And yes, if they could sell their F1's for $1000 they probably would sell a buttload. Maybe one day they'll decide to discontinue them..........

And yes, I am trying to rub it in.

Oh yeah, and those of you who bought right before the price drop, why don't you just clear the memory, send it back, and buy another? Will RIo not accept returns?

I paid $1199 for my 12GB Mk II about a year ago (plus shipping and duty tax). I would do it again.

I paid $199 for my RioCar during the price drop, which to me, was a steal for a "backup." Even $299 would be a steal for a backup - just for the RAM, new warranty and new remote. To think that some people paid that much for their first player... wow. I can't really relate. I hope you realize that the rest of us don't feel "cheated" (unless we were to buy one a day before the price drop :O ). I think I can speak for most of us by saying we are proud to be early owners.

I never thought the empeg was too expensive for what it was. I just thought that the drive capacities were too low at first. But that was in the hands of IBM and other drive makers - not the empeg team.

I spent over $1800 for a 30 gig over 1.5 yrs ago. I would do it again in a heart beat. This is an awesome product, and awesome team at Empeg. I don't think there's going to to be another product that comes close to the Empeg for quite a while judging by the pressure to make "consumer" grade stuff and the crap that Sony and Pioneer previewed recently (similar in price, BTW).
--Andrew

And yes, I am trying to rub it in.

In that case you can stick your Empeg up your ass. But leave room for that McLaren F1.

There is a 30 day return policy, and you don't need to actually return the product - SB will refund the difference.

Rob

Actually if you bought within 30 days of the price drop you can get a credit for the difference just by waiting on hold long enough at DR. At least it worked for me. ;-)

Yes, I've lusted after an empeg for years, and when they dropped to $800 I bought one... 10 days later they dropped again, and I snatched up another, but I would have been happy paying the $800, and if I'd had the money earlier, I would have happily paid $1400, but I guess I'm not the average consumer.

I heard it said once that the empeg is something that under most conditions would never have made it out of the engineering prototype phase - too geeky and expensive to manufacture, and that's probably true, but I sure am happy to have got one (or two).

And if anyone hears about a price drop on the Mclaren F1 to 1000, please let me know via pager! I'll buy several!

Also, many early adoptors who paid a premium also took advantage of the price drop. I dunno, but I think Rob is keeping religious statistics on this. I bought 4 more Empegs which is creating a bit of a bidding war among my friends, but at least they get to pick screen color and/or tuner as options. This gives them an advantage over what you get on eBay. I'll probably make a few measely bucks for beer, but more importantly my friends are also stoked about the Empeg.

--Andrew

I don't believe anyone who bought an empeg thought that $1200 to $1500 was too much, the latest price cuts have just allowed a lot of folks on a "neo" budget to see what we've known all along.

Some people think that paying $150 for a single disc CD player is too much... For the RioCar to be at the same price range... is nearly sickening! I do think that the $800 price was fair enough. With MASS production, some cost reduction and advertising, it may have made profit. But competeing against the the big boys isn't easy. Only after getting to "know" the empeg team, was I confident investing in a small company. Even if the empeg wasn't there (and thank God they are), the members of this board are making tools and hacks left and right..

Wasn't trying to piss you off, ynot. I wouldn't have said it if I would've known that you couldn't handle it.

But yeah, I would have bought it for $1500, too, if I had had the money, but that's a little high for my budget. The first time I saw the empeg was before Rio took over, and then I forgot about it for about a year, then remembered about it about a week ago, checked the website and bought a 30 gig immediately when I saw the insane prices. But I remembered the empeg website when I first saw it as much more informative and supportive than Rio is now.

Ok, I am one of those lucky ones that got mine on a "neo" budget. I always thought that the player was well worth the money before the price drops and if I had had the money then I would have bought one. But I was very glad for the drop in price because I finally got one (make that two) and I never would have been able to enjoy having one. It is truly a wonderful thing to own.

$699 for a 10 gig back in October
$299 for a 20 gig 1/18/2002.

I in no way feel ripped off. $699 was a bargain for such a great piece of technology. I bought the Empeg as an upgrade to a Neo35 and have not looked back ever since.

The great markdown occured when I was out of town, so with 100 more 20 gig players, I couldn't resist. Now my wife can have one for her car and can stop being jealous.

And yes, I am trying to rub it in.
>

You're a nasty little nit, aren't you?
A slightly more subtle equivalent of "Nyah Nyah Nyah" isn't really necessary, I'd rather just appreciate the luck than ask people if they're kicking themselves.

i was one of those ignorant lucky person who only heard about empeg at the time of the final liquidation. i debated buying 10 or 20 gb and then just decided to go for the 20 for $299. it is cheaper compared to the newer pioneers and blaupunkts coming out. but the main selling point for this unit was the pull out and upgrade feature. no other unit anywhere offered that. even that secure key deal from blaupunkt is a bit flawed but that's another story. as soon as i get this beast hooked up i'll be much happier.

I just found out about empeg last week bought a 30 then a 60 got both fast delifery gave 30 to a friend and my 60 display doesnt work have to send it back but sure looks like a great unit cant wait to use.To bad i dont no dick about computers,Im geting scared reading all the post about kernal and upgrade I thought they were talking about popcorn.

To bad i dont no dick about computers,Im geting scared reading all the post about kernal and upgrade

Well, you know enough about computers to be posting here
Upgrading the kernel or player isn't any harder, trust me! For a full upgrade, download the .upgrade file, and the associated emplode version if different from the one you have installed currently. First upgrade emplode (uninstall old version, install new) if necessary, then connect serial cable, double click on .upgrade file and follow the instructions (essentially unplug and replug power when told)

For a kernel upgrade (say a new HiJack version), just download the appropriate file from the website, connect the player with the serial cable, use Tonys Logo Editor software; select Kernel flash utility on the File menu and point it to the downloaded file. Sit back and watch...

As always, as thorough reading of the FAQ at http://www.riocar.org is recommended.

/Michael

I bought one in Sept/Oct 2000,
at £765, with a few accessories.
So in NZD that cost me about NZD$3400 landed, incl paying 12.5% GST tax. A TON of money. Mainly because of our bullshit exchange rate

But I did get a little back, due to the first price drop.
No regrets, I would spend the same amount in a heart beat if I had to.

How much did you pay for your empeg? I bought mine 1/13/02 and paid $399 plus $23 for shipping.

All y'all that bought the empeg before the price cuts, are you kicking yourself in the ass(or arse for you United Kingdomites) now?

I paid more than $2000 (with taxes) for a 18GB MkII and am proud of it. The only thing I am kicking myself about it that, when buying an upgrade 60GB unit recently, I bought a spare sled and remote instead of adittional complete empeg

If empeg could figure out a way to sell their players for $400 and profit off of it, then they'd be rich, or richer. They'd sell like crack.

Yes, and if cows could fly, we would have to wear very heavy umbrellas.

I paid $2,134.26 on 8/16/00 for a 40 gig player.

Oh well...

- Jon

I bought six of them from 1/1/02 to 1/5/02. 3 30's, 2 12's, and a 10. Total was $1794 + $71.85 shipping over three orders. I'm keeping one 30. The rest, who knows. . .

I paid NZ$2500 for 4Gb #58. Not kicking myself at all as i have had use of it for over 2 years.

Trying to get a mk2 now that the price is down though.

When I signed up in 1997 to buy one, I waited for what, 2 years? Then I bought a Mark I that cost me about $2,000CDN after shipping and taxes. I later sold it for a profit of $500!

Last week, I got a 12G Mark II that cost me $317CDN. Quite the difference in price!

> You're a nasty little nit, aren't you? A slightly more subtle
> equivalent of "Nyah Nyah Nyah" isn't really necessary, I'd
> rather just appreciate the luck than ask people if they're
> kicking themselves

So now you know what sort of consumer the high prices were formerly keeping in the cold! Analogy: Now you know partly why some country-club dues are so high.

The requirements here are quite low -- own an empeg, play nice, show some respect, read the FAQ. It'll take the n00bs a little while to figure that out, but I'm sure they'll settle in eventually.

Among other things, this BBS will be their lifeline for support and enhancements, given the community of developers, engineers and original empeg UK staff who actively participate. As always -- Don't sh1t where you live.

...at least most of the people here who bought at the higher prices could actually afford the higher price in the first place, so the price drop was more of a "oh, how nice, I'll buy a few more as gifts and spares" -- like myself. Then I got rebated and decided to give one away. I guess the nyah-nyah would sting someone who couldn't afford the original price in the first place. Ah well, to each his own pathetic forms of self-validation.

> Long live the empeg.

Hear, hear!

While I agree that 'nya-nya' is a very pathetic form of self-validation (and with most of your post), I don't like your implication that one's ability and willingness of civilised behaviour is related to one's purchasing power. We have self-supporting students here for example, young people with families and other priorities, people from less developed countries... I see from the profile that you cite 'Consultant' as your occupation, same as I do; yet, empeg was very non-trivial expenditure for me - Croatia is wrong country for high consultant's fees, especially for domestic consultants, you see.... )

I've wanted one since I first saw Steve Hartman's video of the MK1, but I couldn't afford it. I just bought a 30gig with am/fm tuner for 520 and have had it since early Jan.

> I don't like your implication that one's ability and willingness
> of civilised behaviour is related to one's purchasing power.

...I was careless to let that seem the dominant tone, my apologies. I was moreso thinking along the lines of "the price generally precludes all but those who are the most serious" with a general correlation between purchasing power and maturity.

I went auto-crossing with the local Porsche club last summer, and while there were pricks there, the ratio was far less than at the general Import Club events I had attended. Same principle, and not black-and-white either, like here.

There are plenty of rich-pricks and poor-connoisseurs alike out there, and I too am closer to the latter -- due likely to my taste in high-end consumer electronics and computing equipment.

(BBS wish: could we have a "add my reply but do not elevate thread" option...?)