Unfortunately, it’s not an academic issue. The possibility of rapid obsolesce is real. I just yesterday purchased my 5th printer. It was going to be an A1, but this particular issue is what pushed me to purchasing something else. And the irony is that my bias was toward remaining in the bambu camp. Well, I still am, because I still have my X1C, but I mean future purposes remaining in this camp also.
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If someone else comes up with a printer that surpasses X1C in terms of ease of use, reliability and quality (and does have a better customer support), at a reasonable price, i won’t have any issues to go that way, no regrets whatsoever. I’ve bought the X1C because at the time, no one else offered anything similar or better, that checked out most of the check boxes on my “must have” list. So, I won’t stick with BL, if they fail to keep their flagship updated and improved. That doesn’t mean that I’ll sell (or give away) my X1C, as I’ve already invested quite a bit of time and money acquiring spares for it and tuning it to my own needs, and I plan to keep using it for as long as possible. However, I won’t shed a tear if BL will fall behind the competition, or if gets brought down (or acquired) by Stratasys. And after tasting the “core xy”, I would definitely not go back to “bed slingers” ever again, no matter how many incentives they would be offered with. Nevertheless, it’s obvious to me that if BL doesn’t provide its existing printers with regular updates and improvements, they will lose customers and market shares…eventually, going under, a notable “blip” (similar to a footnote) in the history book of 3d printing.
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Snapmaker has actually done this really well for their Snapmaker 2.0 machines. Even after they released their “Artisan” (aka 3.0) they keep releasing the same improved printing/laser/CNC modules for the older 2.0 platform. They also backported their vibration compensation (input shaping) used for their IDEX platform (J1) to Snapmaker 2.0, allowing for much higher printing speeds.
I own a Snapmaker 2.0, and if they just didn’t bother making backward compatible modules for 2.0 after releasing Artisan, I would most likely not have bought anything from Snapmaker again. But they have, and because of it I have spent a decent amount of money on their new modules.
Looking at my A1 Mini, I already see some improvements that I would love to see on my X1C, like the quick-swap nozzle, partial bed leveling, and improved nozzle cleaning. If BL released “upgrade kits” I will buy them for sure. If they release an entirely new flagship printer and do not backport any of the improvements, I will keep using my X1C as is until it’s no longer serviceable and simply evaluate the best value printer on the market when it’s time to replace it.
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100% agree. The advantage to bambu of releasing those upgrades is that they keep their customers, which means they continue selling them filament and whatever else.
Well, I waited two years, and I deemed that long enough. I don’t see any evidence that the cavalry will be arriving, as I’ve seen no stated intentions of ever doing it.
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We know that, and I suppose that BL’s top brass knows that as well… yet, almost three years after their launch of the X1C, they still haven’t come up with any upgrades or real improvements… except for the ocassional firmware tweaking and patching. So the question remains: is it worth waiting for the much expected newer and improved printer? Personally, I have my doubts… but at this point in time I think the competition has still a long way to go until they will be ready to launch a printer that would leave the X1C behind, but there are clear signs that they are catching up relatively fast. And after X1C, they are fully aware that consumers won’t settle for anything less than what the X1C offered. It will be interesting to watch how things will eventually evolve with both the competition as well as with the lawsuits.
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Most of my career in software development, I have worked on what the “top brass” deems most important. Surprisingly often, it’s not what the existing customer base wants or benefits from…
Depending on your sales team, selling an entire new system will look better on paper compared to an upgrade. Hence getting new customers is more interesting than keeping existing customers (on paper or in a stakeholder report sheet).
Of course I am very far from a sales person/accountant, so I may be completely wrong and everything considered it is more beneficial to get new customers than it is to keep existing customers. My experience is based on medical devices costing more than a million dollars rather than consumer hardware, so the market is completely different.
In general, you are absolutely right about the quote I use. Just a little addition, an all-rounder never outperforms the specialists. The question of whether the X1C wins depends on the discipline you choose. If you want to have one Printer compete in all disciplines - then yes. And in a few disciplines he will also win against other specialists.
All the comments here really touched me. I really appreciate that something like this can be discussed here without hugh comments to convince someone of his opinion. One man’s joy, another man’s sorrow. That is how it is and always will be.
But it’s just a short post. Thank you, everyone. I’ve read all the posts. Now, I’ll just read along again 
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I had to work for a company with high (sales) expectations, providing sensors and testing equipment of the custom kind.
We had an awful lot of products that worked as advertised but that could have and should have worked far better/more reliable in the long run.
The customer feedback was on par with that and who could blame them ?
You pay hundreds of bucks for a custom high temp sensor and every 6 to 8 months you you have to replace it…
Or a ‘counter’ to get the correct length for a fine thread that keeps loosing count when the humidity level went too high…
Why do I tell you this horse manure in a post about new printers ?
Because what my company did and what they probably still do do today is what most big manufacturers with a good market position do.
Ride the dead horse until you HAVE TO provide better, like when the competition gets too good with their products.
And while there would be plenty of time to create something new from scratch usually it all starts from what you already had.
A few changes here, an improvement here and there and then just add some new parts and features to call it day while the real work is done by the electronics.
Take Apple - they are well know to take over faulty parts from one generation to the next, often doing so over 3 to 5 generations.
Dell does the same for many of their laptops and computers.
The stay on top with processors and GPU’s but what’s around is often only changed to make these new gadgets work.
Bambu has a huge potential here to make a real difference.
Sadly the difference will be provided by those on high salaries but not the customer feedback or needs.
Create a product for a problem the user does not have without it 
We saw how better electronics gave us more speed, accuracy and much better slicing options.
But we already reached the limit of what our stepper motors can handle and what those flimsy processors can calculate on time.
If you ask me then the next step should be towards consistent flow rate printing, non planar slicing and extruder/hotend systems able to keep up with those higher print speeds even if a 0.8 or 1mm nozzle is used.
Just my five cents though…
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I guess that means we’re effectively riding a dead horse too. 
We may just not realize it yet.
Well, if it’s any consolation, I can’t yet point at some other company and say, “See! They’re doing it right.” I guess it’s just endemic in how this industry works… until maybe someday maybe some company does it differently. 
Anyhow, the result is that I now own one printer each from most of the major brands. I guess you could say I’m fully diversified. 
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“A dead, yet still running horse” I’d say, as in my opinion, there are still no competitors capable at this time to give BL a real headache, though, as I’ve already said, some of them do appear to be catching up on X1C. It might take them a while to come up with a similar or better 3D printer, but it’s obvious to me that with the X1C, the genie is out of the bottle, and that there is no more going back from here. Stratasys might (and I emphasise “might”) take down BL (or might force its way into the BL executive board, as a shareholder), but neither controlling the IPR for 3D printing, nor controlling BL’s exec board, would save it from going down the drain if no product innovation and reasonable priced availability are brought to the market. In my view, X1C has drawn a reference red line that cannot be crossed back, nor ignored. Those manufacturers that chose to ignore this line, or chose to put out printers below this line are, in my opinion, doomed not just to fall but also to disappear. (My 1 (euro)cent 
)
Here’s the thing: I don’t at all regret buying my X1C when I did at the price I did because it delivered in better ways than other printers of that era just couldn’t do. Both speed and quality. And the people who bought it right at the beginning…this wasn’t their first rodeo. They could immediately see the advantages precisely because of all the problems and limitations they had already suffered through and endured with a Prusa, or Ender, or whatever. But if a tornado suddenly landed today and wiped out everything I own, and I went about re-building from scratch: would I make the same selection today for the same amount of money today? It’s still a great printer. If anything, it works better today than when first released, thanks to firmware and software improvements. I’m not saying I wouldn’t, but I can’t say for sure if I would. Would you? The printer hasn’t gotten worse, but the landscape with its mix of trade-offs has changed. And I’ve changed too. At the time I wanted the one printer to rule them all, and the X1C was that printer. But now I see advantages in owning multiple printers, each with different specializations. That kind of luxury wasn’t all that affordable 2 years ago, but for the same money now it is. I really do look forward to whatever Bambu comes out with next: I hope they blow all our minds yet again. I’m totally rooting for them to release the next incredible thing. With all the development time having elapsed, it will be disappointing if it’s something humdrum and not something fantastic and totally amazing.
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I hear and agree with you. On my side, I do hope BL comes out with another good printer, but I’d be really disappointed if they won’t provide continuous support, addons and improvements to the existing ones.
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Its a 100mm x 100mm resin printer. Just kidding. I do hope they eventually copy stratasys(lol) and do multicolor resin.
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You and everyone else. But if it doesn’t come to pass, I hope that clever people figure out a way around the obstacles to offer third-party upgrades, such as:
Consider supporting these efforts when they arise if you want to see more of them.
If nothing else, help spread the word! And encourage others to do the same. It costs you nothing, but can help just as much, and possibly more.
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I’m already on their notification list.
People and companies rarely or never change their actions. Even Criality, as soon as they were allowed to go back to normal, than they immediately become lazy again and the marketing will again taking over without restrictions… Action is in the blood and in the heart. All paths work but the only question is which path you choose as a customer. so @user_3026326371 Every customer has to know that for themselves… and I have no more pity for the customer than I do have for the company. If they follow them, they also have become old and fat. You are absolutely right, but the world is not a pony farm. First I point the finger at myself - if I buy from the wrong, I’ve made a mistake too! You left them and that was the right decision. Good companies = good employees = good customers. Which also works: Lazy companies =…=… or Stingy companies=…=… and so on… and as they treat others, so they will treat me as a costumer, as an employee and so on… Visit the toilet of the simplest employees and I will tell you how the products of the company will work…
@neverdie I want not by really disappointed if they won’t provide continuous support, addons and improvements on existing Printers. But I will be upset becouse deep down I expect it any day.
If one thing has been proven, Bambulab continues to develop existing ones with minimal effort. If they optimize something that already exists, then only under extreme pressure of many costumers. They also only move when there is no other option left (If you look closely) e.G. A1 Bedplate issue, getting the X1C offline and so on. And if they chance is given, they will go back immediately to there old way as soon they can do so… Action is in the blood and in the heart. And even a company how is doing god - a new CEO and the way will chance anyway.
May everything that concerns software is handelt a littel different, but only if it’s aimed at the mass market. So Markerworld topics are right at the top of the list - But if it comes to existing Printers, was the noise reduction upgrade come to the P1P and P1S at all? I don’t know, I haven’t followed it…Or in simplest terms: Once you’re a customer, they are gone - unless you’re in an area where they’re hunting for new customers. And this they do with new things in the most unexpected application and leave the old things behind. Let’s just take the A1 mini - but that’s just an example.
@BambuLab By the way, why do I have to register to Makerworld to unsubscribe from Makerworld spam emails? Putting you on a few global spam lists is much easier than to register on Makerworld to unsubscribe. Of course, if just one person notes you to this lists, than it`s not a big deal but may other will get the same idea since it is spam sending unasked the best model of the week. Especially to persons how do not have even an Makerworld account. As I said, in the toilet of the lowest-ranking employee, you can see how the company ticks - don’t expect more conscientious behaviour in other tasks or management levels as this toilet looks like… And if you don’t keep your toilet clean - then it’s just a temporary visit from me.
I tend to agree with you that it’s likely a better choice to buy a new printer with latest features than spend as much on upgrading an existing model. Although, I don’t really see where any of the competitors have anything that surpasses the current X1C. While competitors are scrambling to catch up to X1C, Bambu Labs is working on the next new system that will likely set a new benchmark in 3D printing and raise the bar for everyone else to catch up to.
I think you mentioned that BL isn’t supporting the existing X1C line with upgrades, such as the quick change nozzle, instead they are working on the next new offering as though that’s a bad thing. I disagree and I think your argument above actually proves that’s a good thing by provided the next best model to upgrade to.
It’s pretty typical for R&D to focus on innovating for the next model instead of upgrades to an existing platform that will always be limited when compared to a redesign with latest tech. Thats why Apple releases a new iPhone every year instead of an upgrade kit.
I disagree. Every so called “new” Apple model is very much the same thing as the previous one, except for the version number and a few improvements on cameras, some other small stuff changes here and there, and, obviously, the software updates… That kinda makes it look like patching up, adding on and replacing bits and pieces with improved/updated ones …which brings us back to X1 (and possibly P1) getting improved parts and patching. It’s true, generally speaking, that R&D are seeking to develop new products, but not always (and not necessarily) succeeding in their approach.
Well, I half-way agree with you. There may be limits as to just how upgradeable a thing is until it’s time to just start over with a new thing. For example: for decades now I’ve always built my own PC, starting with the motherboard and building up from there. Why? Well, it’s the hope that it’s upgradeable. And it is, to a degree, but only for a while. Eventually faster RAM comes out that it can no longer support. A new version of PCEI comes out that outstrips it. Better CPU’s are released with a different pin-out that’s no longer compatible. So, I maybe get one upgrade out of it. And then that’s as far as I can take it, all because ultimately it can’t jump out of its own skin.
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I’m prepared to have my mind changed about this. It may be that it’s because when I started in 3D printing, everything seemed to need upgrading, seemingly all the time. But the advantage of the non-upgradable approach is that it’s a known quantity. When the time comes and you want to upgrade, you sell the old machine to somebody who wants that known quantity at a mutually agreed price, and you move on from there. Nobody wants to buy a one-of-a-kind Frankenstein, like an an Ender 3 that’s been upgraded to run with linear motors. No, the people who want an ender 3 want that, for cheap, and the people who want a Peopoly because it has linear motors and a box frame want that and not something with a tortured past that started life as an Ender 3. Just cash on the barrel. In and out. It’s frictionless. So, why fight it? Sell the known-quantity as soon as you can before it loses more value, and then roll those funds into the new better thing. I think maybe I’ve talked myself into it.
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