Ok, make it a square block of copper or derlin then... :rolleyes: I couldn't give a rat's a$$ what it looks like. The farther away from that alu, I don't care how much plating it's got on it, the better.
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Furthermore, I bet if you made a SILVER base people would buy those too. Why? Because of it's natural biocide properties. If you were to do that, aluminum would for sure be out of the question. I know, call me crazy.
I agree up to a certain level. Once you break that $50-60 price point for a given block, you're no longer in mainstream territory. With the GTX roughly street priced at $75-80, there's won't be much flinching if you increase the price to $99.99 since we're now in the "Enthusiast/Hardcore" territory. At plateau, why not replace the components with something, we prefer. I'm not sure what the purpose of the Alu top was. But I prefer if manufacturers stayed away from any sort activism as Nihksub1 is implying and give the consumers what they want, an all copper, non alu product.
If you're not going to provide us with that, why not let someone else produce an aftermarket top to fulfill our needs. I've bought every practically every Swiftech product for the past 3 years. However, the lack of an all-copper version is disappointing. Of all companies, Aqua Computer even released all copper top replacements for their Cuplex XT DI.
I don't see why you didn't offer it in the first place, or even possibly threaten someone who would improve your design. Especially when you've already taken my $80 for the GTX I've purchased, but refuse to use in my main system out of principle.
Maybe you can't see my point because you don't spend countless hours designing things. If you did, you would think differently.
I designed this, and I have every right to control it.
Like I said, no one stops them from making their own design. It's just too G*d D*mn easy to copy someone else's design. This attitude is despicable.
I really don't think they are arguing against your right to control it Gabe, rather that it wouldn't have mattered if the block was $100. Many people don't want aluminum in their loop, myself included.
If this guy intends selling this for profit, then by all means, go after him.
But, had you made the top out of something other than aluminum, we probably wouldn't be having this discussion right now.
Well I'm glad you posted as I was going to email you before even starting to see what your view on the subject was. :)
I thought you may have taken this stance, but then argued with myself as to why you would mind us designing and fabricating a top for your wonderful market leading block.
After all, the consumer would still have to buy the GTX (which at the end of the day - matters to you to a certain extent) and then the top separate and as you are aware, there are users who will not buy the block as it currently is due to the aluminum. Personally, I have bought it but there are users who won't no matter what their reason. (Trying to not let this thread turn into an aluminum hate fest - just stating the fact that the reason exists as to why users won't buy it).
Obviously Tom already sells the GTX, and could possibly sell more by giving users the choice?
Or what about the top not resembling the current top design apart from barb spacing and the same internal to fit around the pins?
Look forward to your response Gabe :)
:sofa: so the problem is that this guy ripped off your design (the looks) , i agree with youthat this isn't ok, but what if he made it a simple copper square without those "design fins", still a ripoff then? it would be a custom top not following the swiftech designs so i don't see a problem in it (or do you???) :sofa:
True enough, but this remains a matter of principle. You don't hear me objecting to people buying Danny's blocks do you? Principles are the fabric of our Society. They exist for a reason.
If he made a one-off, I could not care less. If he made a big square top, I couldn't care less.
i wish gabe would release an all copper top for the GTX, i mean if these doods can do it, it cant be that hard, and it looks/sounds like there is a market for it, so why not? :confused:
What bugs me is that Swiftech already has my money for having purchased a GTX already and yet finds an issue with someone who's created a top that is an accessory to it.
Is the issue with the design/look of the top itself, or simply the fact that it's something different that other than the top that originally came with the block? If it's the latter reason, how would this be any different than us purchasing a DDC pump and then adding an aftermarket top to it. Just like in that case, Laing already has our money so I don't see why they'd find any issue with it.
All I can say is take the discussion about the top as what we enthusiasts would like to see or be offered in future product revisions/releases.
I'm guessing it's the design, the fin and slope design that Gabe does not want replicating - but I'm not sure which is why I've asked above, but it maybe better to email in private :)
I was going to use the same analogy myself with the DDC pumps and tops, but there are differences. The DDC pumps + tops look different obviously and they improve performance and barb size.
The top I want to design for Tom to put out, will just allow those who are uncomfortable with Aluminum to use what is a very good block. I would like to keep as close to the design of the stock top just because I would like the product to keep it's ID and also the top fin idea looks great.
However if Gabe doesn't want that (which is the issue) then I completely respect that, my intentions were never to "rip" the design because it's easy and neither would I make any profit off it (what ever I do for Tom is free, because I share the same enthusiasm as Tom for people to use stuff that you've personally designed, such as the TC Radgrills which are hopefully being picked up tomorrow).