VIM2 release date

[Gouwa]

@jcalvarez

PS Hope the new VIM2 does not cost $131…

Regarding the VIM2 link on Gearbest, it’s only for their inside preview, not the true retail price, and the final retail prices will be at:

• VIM2 Basic: $79.99
• VIM2 Pro: $99.99
• VIM2 Max: $119.99

And the promotion price when VIM2 get launched will be lower, the Max model price may be $99.99.

@jcalvarez

We need to understand that hardware, rightly or wrongly, is becoming a commodity these days, and the success of your product depends mostly on the software ecosystem and customer support. People are usually willing to pay a bit more money for a well supported product. Also keeping development alive for older products while designing new ones is a sign of long term strategy and respect for customer investment. There are many companies out there that always solve the problem with the next product, and the only solution is to discard the old one. Customers do not like that. It allows to make a quick buck, yes, but such companies do not get loyal customers in the long run.

Yes, we did agree that the software ecosystem and rightly technical supporting is the key for SBCs.

As VIM2 also specs with Amlogic SoC(S912) which is same architecture with VIM1(S905X), it means that most of the software developement will be common, for example:

• Ubuntu: both kerner Image, uInitrd, rootfs are same for VIMs and only dts and U-Boot are independent, we are trying to build a ROM to compatible both VIM1 and VIM2.
• Android: same Android SDK
• U-Boot: it’s also possible to develop one build to suit both VIMs.

It means that VIM2 will improve VIM1’s software and also technical support(we did know that importance that sw ecosystem , that’s why we didn’t follow on our original planing to develop Khadas Cross(RK3399) first).

Again, thanks for all the feedback from the community!