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Linux version vs Mac version
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First off you have to understand. Blackmagic isn’t charging the difference in cost. The integrators are, and rightly so. We sell the panel and software to the integrators who then put the system together.
That’s why we publish the cost of the panel. No hidden cost. And the panels are the same for both system. I don’t just mean the price, the panels are literally the same.
What you are paying for is more than just the panels and a mark up. The guys integrating this system have to be able to supply parts and support the hardware in these high end installations. All of that takes money above and beyond the COGS.
So it’s easy to look at the system and say “Man, that’s one hell of a mark up.” But remember that these are being delivered turnkey and will be supported by the guys you buy them from. Where as the Macs you can buy off the shelves and get them up and running. If a part goes down you just call up apple and get the return worked out. It’s not as simple for the Linux version
Sincerely,
Joshua
Director of Support
Blackmagic Design Inc. -
Hey Joshua
Building a Linux system is just like building any other PC system. Yes you need to know what you’re doing but many people do and I find it crazy to be forced to have to purchase it through a 3rd party.
Why not give the end user, the one who is paying and using the system, the option?
With BM policy of forcing you to spend $35k with a Reseller you’re basically not changing anything.
Come on this industry needs a shake up and you can easily do this by offering the reseller route as an option.If someone wants to build their own then they should be able to. If they need reseller assistance then I’m sure they will pay for it but why force it on us?
If I were a large company with a huge shared storage and many rooms then sure, I’d hire a reseller to come install and get everything working… but these days more and more independents are stepping up to bat and the industry is changing like that… Look at what RED have done and are continuing to do.
Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com -
Hi, we have covered this issue just a few threads ago.
From the outside the decision to use a very limited number of qualified distributors for the Linux version of Resolve may seem odd, but trust me; some of us here have been building the Resolve on Linux for a few years, and while we have made the construction and installation process considerably more repeatable its not yet at the Mac plug and play stage. We exercise the hardware hard so for ALL our customers to get the real time experience we desire consistency in configuration is key. Few have access to the Nvidia 2200 S4, few know Infiniband, many more cant configure Linux ethernet ports, fibre channel storage or StorNext. We don’t want our customer to get half the great experience. We want you to get the full deal. If we can make this easier in the future we will, for now we know this plan works.Peter
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well I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, building a computer to run a piece of software is not rocket science, sure there are people out there that need help and by all means make money off them but don’t force the people that do know to spend a very large amount on an over price PC
Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com -
[Rory Hinds] “well I guess we’ll have to agree to disagree, building a computer to run a piece of software is not rocket science, sure there are people out there that need help and by all means make money off them but don’t force the people that do know to spend a very large amount on an over price PC”
I second that. I actually had to put a Linux box with infinaband, ethernet ports, and a raid, having zero experience in it, it wasn’t that easy, but it wasn’t that hard either, in a week I got it running. The information is out there online how to do it, and I’m sure it’s not that hard for BM to publish it. Again, I think this is more trying to keep an antique business model alive for a bit more, maybe until some contracts run out…
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You should know by now that BMD don’t follow old business models. We are all about making it work 100% for the best possible price. So just to highlight one issue. Try and order a Nvidia 2200 S4. We know from experience that not just anyone can call and buy one. Our authorized distributors have been checked by Nvidia. They provide the support, cover warranty etc. They have costs to do this.
As I said, when we can make it easier and more open we will.
Peter -
come on Peter, purchasing a product from nVidia isn’t that be a deal. You made it sound like you’re purchasing some highly flammable illegal substance… its PC hardware that in a 5 years will sell on eBay for $100 or be used as a door stop, just like the SGI boxes.
Besides the config I’m referring to doesn’t have the Nvidia 2200 S4, the reseller wants $35k for a single GPU PC which is comparable to a Mac Pro.
Its just software and hardware so I don’t get why you seem to think that only resellers could possible put a Linux station together.
Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com -
[Peter Chamberlain] “when we can make it easier and more open”
I hate to say it…, but, that is when you will start making sales to the members of this forum, most of whom have the expectation of a full and complete post production system for about… what was FinalCutStudio3? $900 bucks or so?
Very very few subscribers here run post houses on the scale of Laser Pacific or Modern or Rushes or Company3 and so on, and the generous lease of something like 6 or 7 grand a month pretty much exhausts the possibilities for a cottage-based freelancer or single-person shop. Given the rates that producers are willing to pay for a few days’ grading (when they even consider it and don’t have their editor do it), maybe this is actually the new business model that really should be considered.
jPo
You mean “Old Ben”? Ben Kenobi?
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Joseph, I don’t think its fair to aim Resolve at the $900 mark as there are a lot of “cottage” freelancers doing amazing work for high profile clients, they are just not a facility.
If Resolve was $20k on Linux and with the Panel its was $50k as advertised and you could bypass the middle men resellers and you could build a single GPU system on Linux for around $65k total.
Not a small amount of change but not too bad if you’re able to make money from the system.
Look at the RED model. They sell a high end tool for a fraction of what others are selling theirs for, they have truly giving the industry a shake up and are just about to blow it out the water with EPIC.
BM had the chance to do that with Resolve but with there reseller policy all they have done is create hype with a lot of hidden extra’s, which is quite confusing compared to what they are doing with the Mac version… its like they are two separate companies, the Linux and Mac.
I think there is something in the speculation that BM have to wait till support contracts run out as this talk about only resellers having the brain power to build a PC is just BS.
Rory Hinds
mine
http://www.minefilms.com -
here it is…
https://www.the3dshop.com/product-view.aspx?i=2321
Took me 30 seconds to find it
quite pricey though…
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