Thank you anoobis, you just proved my point (you're in DaClan right, aren't you?)
That sight as I said is very one sided, and
Yeah, lets be fair, it looks ****** sweet!
Exactly my other point. Zalman knows people like you will go after looks over performance, and knows they can over price their stuff. I don't know what your tech level is, but its mainly only the noobs that go after the products like that that only look good and under perform their price level (kinda like comparing building a computer, and buying a simular model from dell [we're talking extreme build-not the cheap ones], you will end up paying an extra 500 just to use a dell case, I have checked because I have some rich friends that wanted to buy a custom xps, and I built a better computer for them for less.) Its all in the image when it comes to marketing, especially computer companies because they know how much money noobs waste on their stuff. While when having performance, looks don'tt matter, its about the price and what the price offers
Ok, just to clarify, I didnt say that I would go after looks over performance, I'm actually about to order a Tuniq Tower 120, I just think the 9700 looks far cooler, than my block-of-flats-a-like. I think your missing the point though somewhat. The Zalman maybe a little more than the others, but there is no denying it, the 9700 is a very capable CPU cooler. If I worked for Zalman and was giving the task of designing a cooler, I would choose function over design every time, no doubt, but if I could make it look freakin awesome, as well as making it do its job well then I would jump at the chance. If people want to pay a little more for a product that looks cool as well then why not?
There is no doubt about it, aesthetics is becoming more and more important in the computer world, I bet 10 years ago nearly all of the people who have posted in this thread owned a computer that was an unattractive beige box, in many ways Zalman have are actually ahead of the game, making a product that performs well and looks awesome, for that I cant blame them for charging a little more, if people want the looks they have the option of paying for them.
Finally: you have to remember, as with everything, people want their computers to impress others, you only have to look at the amount of praise
tool 462 got for his amazing homebuilt wooden case (
http://forumz.tomshardware.com/hardware/Wood-complete-ftopict217098.html), and the amount of people who have their "e-penis" in their sig. Getting 10k in 3D Mark 06 will impress those on Tomshardware forum and other techheads but when it comes to having your real life mates around will they be more impressed by your 3d mark score or your UV lit water cooling system and 22 inch W.S monitor?
I dont believe that because I am willing to sacrifice a couple of extra MHZ overclock to make my system look like it was built by the gods it makes me look like anything like a "noob" (and lets face it, its not as if the difference between the Zalman and say, the Tuniq is going to increase my real world FPS by a massive amount) . Your right in what you say though, the 9700 is likely to attract those who dont know as much about what they are buying, but at the same time it does a very good job, and therefore, I cant find a way to criticise Zalman for it, as there is no 'con' involved.
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