Hacking R4 vs M3 ... developed by?

[digital_sin]

^^ then why is the M3 firmware exactly like the R4 firmware? even after R4 released the new firmware, a couple of days later the M3 does the same thing with the exact same features?

 

[yuwing]

I'm figuring out which to buy... in theory, R4 would be better choice. they developed the cart, they come out with the software first, they sell it for $5 less. but i've never heard of this company before and i don't want to buy something that won't be support in the future. i trust in m3. it is a battle between trusting a new company vs. old. $5 is nothing to me.

 

[Kaphis]

I think Densen is right on the money..

people care because people who have purcsed M3 feels ripped off...honestly...if R4 really developed the cart themselves and M3 "simply" rebranded the product, I would feel like they just ripped me off....(not that I am blaming them, its really myself to blame for buying into their reputation). What I mean is that I feel tricked...I bought M3 simply because of the support that it promises but instead of that, I am really buying a brand name that is outsourcing their support to R4. By the sound of things, if R4 stops releasing updates...M3 Simply wouldn't either (judging by how the updates are comign out)

Now the above is assuming if the M3 simply is really a rebranded R4

If it is the other scenario where R4 is an OEM version of the M3 so its cheaper but the updates and design are still from M3 then the purchase is justified.

By the sound of the chat log, it seems to be the first scenerio where loyal M3 customers were tricked into buying a R4DS that have been branded a M3

 

[iamwhoiam]

Definitely suggests R4 oems it's product

Firmware release patterns seem to suggest it, and also the R4 seems to have a very slightly more expensive crystal than M3, yet still sells its product cheaper than M3's offering

M3 are simply making money with their name and reputation. Most probably to get a slice of the generation 5 slot 1 revolution (ahem *R4* ahem) that everyone's seem to be releasing

 

[False Hope]

I'm waiting till the next firmware update to see how comes out with it first. Whoever does then im going to buy their flashcart, if the R4 stop supporting their hardware then ill just put up on ebay before the whole knows about it, and get the M3S instead, "simply" put.

 

[odd]

As far as I understand it --from reading Costello's post and also the response of the M3 team/Danny to the almost exact same question-- the M3 team uses another source to manufacture it's products because obviously the company isn't rich enough to have it's own factory. So, the R4 team were sent the specs of what the M3 team wanted them to manufacture, and then the R4 team decided to repackage and sell the product themselves as well. Therefore, because the R4 team don't have to pay anyone to make their product for them, (they are making it themselves) their profit margin is somewhat larger, so they can afford to sell them cheaper.

That would so not fly with M3, would you be happy if some one ripped off your design and flogged it off as their own?

Part of my curiosity is seeing how many people acctly support m3 just for the name. so far it looks like most think the R4 is the real deal, but some seem to cling to m3.

One of the main things that make me think that the m3 is a re-badged r4 is because m3 have "two" products, the "simply" and "real".

The economics of it is that running parallel development is far to costly.

I honestly thing they over ran schedule/cost and needed "gap filler" until they get their "real" product out so they licensed the r4 and dumbed the name down so people will think that their own offering will be better when it finally comes one.

 

[4saken]

Rebadging is a technique used to expand the target market of an identical product (In this case, there are extremely minute differences). While those who enjoy safety will purchase the Simply, one's who have a non-cautious approach on new products will purchase the R4.

I wouldn't be surprised if M3 made R4. (Probably not though

)

 

[ejp]

Look on the other side of this, if it is an R4 product that M3 have simply rebadged you can bet that it's a good solution.

M3 have a bunch of experience in the flashcart game and I'm that they wouldn't be risking their reputation by rebadging a poor product.

You can almost garuntee that if this is an r4 product then M3 will have done a significant amount of testing and evaluation on the product before judging it to be worthy of their badge and reputation - I'd say that this in it's own right identifys the product as good.