I bought the soft case for it, RTB-Z3, just from the part number listings without being able to find a photo anywhere. Just did some more Googling and finally found a picture:
http://www.datatec.de/Rohde-RTB-Z3-Option-Spektrumanalysator-RS.htm
Looks a little more "floppy" than the Rigol case for my 2000 series. Velco closure too instead of snaps of some kind. Should do the job though for normal amounts of transport.
E75 seems a lot for a plastic cover - pretty sure Keysight include a hard front cover - My 3000 came with one - not sure if the 2000 does.
As for the notion that this introduction price sets a new "retail price" going forward. It does not...
The beginning of this video starts with the RTB2004 being removed from the soft case. Just a quick shot, not a real good look at it.
I don't want for anybody to take this wrong, but I'm fascinated by amount of people who are prepared to cache out 2000+ USD for something that they only saw on a Hollywood trailer on Youtube.
As for the notion that this introduction price sets a new "retail price" going forward. It does not...
I don't know. It may be their intent to go back to the original MSRP but I'm not sure that will hold for long. They have set an expected price for this scope now and rational or not, price sensitive consumers are not going to be willing to now spend 3x as much for the same scope anytime soon. At least those in the "prosumer"/hobbiest/professional home use category who are aware of this scopes introduction and this introductory price. It may be a nice scope but from what I've read so far I see no reason to believe the full featured version will be able to out-compete other $5-6K scopes.
I believe there's a concept in economics that says once a lower price is established - it's difficult to significantly raise prices again. Sure, they will be able to sell scopes at the original MSRP - but how many? How much market penetration will they see? Especially with other scope makers ramping up their offerings.
This is kind of the opposite of UPOD (under promise, over deliver). There's gonna be a lot of people out there very unenthusiastic about paying 3x more for this scope with those included features or buying a bare bones scope for the same price as what a full featured one was temporarily available for.
We'll have to see how this plays out. I think it might be a year or two before we know the answer as to what price the market will bear for this scope.
Unless you think everybody is going to adjust their pricing because of another manufacturers 200 unit promotion, I don't see the reason for the baseless speculation that they'll never be able to sell them now.
Does anyone know if you can use this scope with a USB mouse ? Might save the screen from getting grubby and I am much more productive with a mouse than a touch screen.
Regarding the glossy touchscreen, I guess it should be possible to add one of those 'protective screen' for tablets, that have matte finish and leave less fingerprint traces.
Does anyone know who makes the BNC connectors in these R&S scope? Surface mount connectors, accessible to the user, are usually a mechanical disaster, but this slotting arrangement looks like it might actually be robust.
Only thing that bothers me is the release. It seems obvious that R&S had some sort of issue close to release. They didn't get scopes in the hands of a few reviewers on-time, and it seems that they didn't have any production units actually ready to go (i've still seen/heard no actual production scopes in anyone's hands... btw Mike, is yours beta firmware too like the many other screen shots I've seen?), even though their marketing materials said they did. I do understand, though, they "had" to get to market this month, because of all the other competition. And as much as I "want it right now", if they did find an issue that they can fix and make it better before its in my hands, awesome (as long as we're not talking months from now).
Seems Farnell UK are now offering a "deal". They offered me the promo bundle for £3175+VAT. Not quite the same bargain the US got. I wont be buying it.
You know you're getting a 4ch 300MHz MSO with arbgen and decodes, 3 year warranty and a worldwide support network - is there even any option from anyone that gives you that (without hacking) for $2K?If you can live with 200MHz there is an alternative for the same price and available worldwide. Some pros and cons ofcourse but all in all pretty much in the same ballpark.
Seems Farnell UK are now offering a "deal". They offered me the promo bundle for £3175+VAT. Not quite the same bargain the US got. I wont be buying it.Friend of mine just received the same offer. Nowhere near the US deal, but as the latter appears to have finished, still not a bad deal.
I'm told they have about 12 units available.
In deed. in these days of the global market.. the old techniques just dont' cut it any longer. I'm NOT goign to pay a 50% premium just becuase i am in New Zealand. End of story.
And if you set the price with a promostion you better be ready to sell it again at that price, cause you've just set the expectation. and you know whwat.. I have plenty of choices now of what i'll buy.. theres plenty of good scopes that will do the job for me.