Daniel J. Gonzalez posted:Rider Sandman posted:Scott and his team absolutely deserve credit for jumping in to save the ERR products. However, everyone should heed Scott’s own words that this can’t last forever and 3R/GGD should not be vilianized (in the way Lionel was) when the product ultimately is discontinued for technology turn/obsolescence reasons. That day is coming, and when it does, it won’t be Scott’s fault. TMCC is contemporaneous with Windows 3.1 - a technology Microsoft replaced 23 years ago and wholly stopped supporting 17 years ago. At some point, a replacement technology will be required no matter how much goodwill and effort Scott’s team infuses into the current effort. In the meantime, it’s great Scott’s team can make it work for everyone involved.
Great post, I can agree with you in most of what you said. I may or may not speak for myself here but the root of the issue here isn't the "inevitable death of TMCC", I mean every type of technology dies, like windows 3.1 and the extremely useful Turbo button lol, BUTTTT those technologies were replaced with new, better, shoot even more affordable and durabel technology. What I'm trying to get at, and the reason I think people "villainized" ERR and/or Lionel, which was the same company technically speaking, was because they are saying that the technology is becoming obsolete but not offering a viable replacement.
Look at MTH for example, I've used their PS3 upgrade kits, be it a killer on the wallet and a little harder to install, with great success and that is, and will always be, their product for those with great running engines but want to add some current features and/or you are like me and just like tinkering with stuff, I digress...
If Scott and Lionel really want this to work for the long term, and that's a big IF, gosh knows what they have planned to be honest; Those upgrades, be it to TMCC or LEGACY or TMCC with new components and features or LIONCHIEF Extreme, whatever it will be called, needs to be available. If it's not, it just looks like Lionel is just making it's customers buy new engines VS continue to enjoy our investments by adding a new smaller investment. It's a win win for Lionel to offer the upgrade.
I disagree about one thing. You computer OS Comparison. A toy train goes around a track. The increase of what can be done with techno will be limited. The OS changes in computers correlated to faster hardware and features and integration with a wide variety of devices. The train functions are limited. Therefore, backward compatibility can be maintained with ease. Beside's, receiver chips are not going away any time soon. Nor FETS or optocouplers. Used in a mass number of things. Redesign, for parts non availability is another thing. Happens, all the time. So, it comes down to the expense of redesign.
