scott.smith posted:I have been reading about the Lion Chief 2.0 and correct me if I am wrong; is it basically TMCC that adds Blue Tooth as an option? I think calling 3 options as Lion Chief is going to confuse the marketplace even more. People seem to confuse ProtoSound and ProtoSound 2 with MTH. This Lion Chief thing is worse. Lionel has Legacy, Lion Chief, Lion Chief Plus and now Lion Chief 2.0. This is going to confuse the market even more. What do you think?
Scott Smith
LionChief in the beginning was a bridge between the tmcc/legacy world and the conventional world. Plus a way to get controllers in younger operator hands. Which I think it did very well. But that’s besides the point. Lionel has made it public knowledge that the legacy hardware is in the later phase of its life due to components no longer being available to produce it. It was also publicly noted that the tmcc components are still readily available and is a stable techonogly for the time being and the near forseable future. So obviously they can’t abandon legacy features we all love and enjoy. Does it make since to totally reinvent the tmcc handheld to control the extra features that would be left out? I honestly wouldn’t think so. Why would we waste capital on another hardware redevelopment. When we can let the tech companies bare that burden for us and put the money to good use elsewhere. We already have a successful app that in it’s infancy most likely over delivers more features than most operators use. It’s an excellent platform to build on and that’s exactly what there doing. LionChief 2.0 might not be a full replacement for legacy but 3.0 or 4.0 might be just that. I personally loathe that idea I really love the legacy controller. Unfortunately it’s the world we live and in and as a dedicated hobbiest and consumer of both Lionel and mth both I understand their need to move in this direction. It might be confusing right now but the future is much clear before long the app itself will be most likely be standard for all products and the feature set only limited by what you feel like spending on traditional or full on scale models. Even that gap looks to closing with traditional sizes model getting more and more features. It certainly could seem confusing for sure. But I think they are headed in a healthy less confusing direction. I’m not sure how well accepted it will be but I guess time will tell. This hobby hates change but it’s gotta happen. I hope more stay on the ride than get off altogether.
