[Cancelled] OpenProducts to take over Excito B3 product line

[Gordon]

Or maybe they have a lot of 1 Tb discs

You can get even it cheaper here:
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications ... dbEiB8NaPw

Customs could make that less of a bargain though for EU customers. Don't be surprised if it turns out that buying directly from Excito is actually cheaper than this alternative.

[RandomUsername]

Who are IOCell? Is that a white label product or something?

[Ubi]

they're the same dudes it seems

http://www.iocellnetworks.com/contact/

[johannes]

No, IOCELL is an old distributor we had in the US some time ago. They are not anymore, but obviously they still have some stock. I'll ask them to update the contact information, it's not correct that we are their swedish branch, that does not make sense.

[RandomUsername]

Will OP be continuing to maintain the update repos and Easyfind service? Will this change be invisible to users in that regard?

[johannes]

Will OP be continuing to maintain the update repos and Easyfind service? Will this change be invisible to users in that regard?

Yes.

[DanielM]

No, IOCELL is an old distributor we had in the US some time ago. They are not anymore, but obviously they still have some stock. I'll ask them to update the contact information, it's not correct that we are their swedish branch, that does not make sense.

And also the dot on their map is not in Limhamn, rather somewhere in Germany

/Daniel

[gonk]

And also the dot on their map is not in Limhamn, rather somewhere in Germany

/Daniel

Excito has been in Hyllie the times I've visited them.

[DanielM]

And also the dot on their map is not in Limhamn, rather somewhere in Germany

/Daniel

Excito has been in Hyllie the times I've visited them.

Haha... So even the address was wrong on that page... Well, anyway I don't think you'd see the difference between the dot being in Limhamn or Malmö on that map scale

/Daniel

[pa]

Dear all,

During this summer OpenProducts and Excito has been working on a deal whereby OpenProducts would take over the responsibilities for the B3 product line.
Over time it has become more and more evident that OpenProducts do not have the resources needed to maintain both the B3 and at the same time continue our ordinary day to day operations. Trying to do so would most likely end in bad attention on both the B3 product line and OpenProducts other development efforts.

So it is with a sad heart that we must announce that OpenProducts have chosen not to proceed taking over the responsibilities for the B3 product line.
We still think that the B3 is a wonderful product, still with a lot of potential, and we think it deserves better attention than what we can provide at the moment.

With deepest apologies

Tor & PA, OpenProducts

[Ubi]

Considering that resources are something you can just buy, this all reads like marketing speak meaning the B3 line is not cost-effective in the long run. As Excito itself seems not to keen to maintain the product, and the people who know the product best do not see a profitable business, this does not bode good news for the future of B*.

It would be interesting to know what the actual bottleneck is.

[Cheeseboy]

My guess is this:
We have a product that is marketed as an easy-to-use home appliance that any Windows, Mac, or Linux user can set up and use without fuss.
The fact that it can do so much more that being a NAS, and that the majority of owners use it for so much more, and you cannot make it do what you want without a fuss: causes a problem.
It will have to be maintained. It has to be supported. Endless requests for new features are coming in. Not like some NetGear or D-Link product where there might be a new firmware every other year.
Ergo: Cost and effort/revenue ratio does not make it a sound business any more.

Just my 2 cents. I'm really sad to see it go.

[Puma]

Dear Tor and Pa,

This is dissapointing to hear....
The Bubba server series are indeed wonderfull products that deserves to be maintained / developped.
I was and still am convinced that OpenProducts could do this (you did it before....)

I am sincerely hoping that it gets some attention....maybe you can reconsider...

I agree with Ubi that excito has not been active lately and this surely cannot be the main reason to decline.

Please do reconsider and if its only resources lacking I am willingly to accept that risk.

Puma

[gonk]

So it is with a sad heart that we must announce that OpenProducts have chosen not to proceed taking over the responsibilities for the B3 product line.
We still think that the B3 is a wonderful product, still with a lot of potential, and we think it deserves better attention than what we can provide at the moment.

Thanks for the update despite it being really bad news.

Instead of concentrating on what will not happen it would be much better if you could share some news on what your plans are for the future.

[Ubi]

This is not for PA to decide. The ball is now back in Excito's court, and I think many would appreciate a response from that end.