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RetroBlast Video Review: SlikStik Arcade Cabinet
PileOfMonkeyCrap:
Your concerns about stability are certainly valid. Those cams can and wil be ripped out if attempts are made to move or reposition the cab while on carpet. That happened to a computer desk I was moving a few feet one time. Got the pics to prove it. Those locking cams are meant to be assembled once or twice and not moved. Otherwise the torque will rip them out of the wood.
The problem with this review is that it isn't a "Consumer Reports" type of review. CR always BUYS what they review. In this case, Kevin didn't buy the cabinet. I feel that he cannot sufficiently review a $1300 base cabinet because he did not PAY the $1300. In my opinion, no bare cabinet is worth $1300. Why not just got buy an intact, working arcade game with a 27" monitor for $500-$600? Pretty easy to find a dead cab or empty cab that size for under $200. In fact, I've been selling my spare Virtua Fighter cabinets that will accomodate a 27" monitor for only $100.
http://members.aol.com/pileofmonkeycrap/Virtua-fighter2-cabinet.jpg
Marquee is just removed in this picture.
Additionally,for $1300, shouldn't the Slikstik cab come with a marquee light fixture? How about the rear of the cab being finished?
So $1300 for a cab, then $550 for a Slikstik = close to $2000. A person still has to buy a monitor/TV, PC, sound system, etc. Wow! That's big bucks.
This reviewer just cannot answer the question, "Is it worth $1300?" without bias.
Rick
--- Quote from: Frostillicus on October 05, 2003, 05:53:25 pm ---Cool - usually I'm very critical of Slikstik and other 'premade stuff' companies, but it looks like they did a pretty decent job overall on the cab. Did I just say that? ;)
All obvious, old arguments aside (price/lucid design/etc), the screw-together format should appeal to those with no skillz whatsoever.
I do have concerns on stabiltiy when moving - since there aren't any rollers (are there? I didn't see any...) and if you try to move it on carpet, could the torque rip out one of the cams do you think? Just getting the ineria to move it might break something loose. That's been a traditional problem with screw-together furniture.
As for the written review - I look forward to it. I am a big fan of Consumer Reports-esque reviews, and the tradition there is to write no opinions, cold hard facts, and sound as least like an endorsement as possible. Unfortunately they usually do it in a 'comparing product brand X against brand Y' so...you may have to get a Hanaho, too! :)
--- End quote ---
Lilwolf:
hehe, made it with a bunch of replies before the old posting 'not worth the money' comes out.
1) do you know what he paid for it? (good question though... but none of our buisness... we just have to take it with a grain of salt)
2) The review complains about everything you said but the money.
3) The money was mentioned in the written... So you can come up with your own appinion.
4) If I had the money, I would buy one even thought I have one already. Why? Time is more important to me... I have a sitdown cab that I get to work an hour on a week. I would like to actually sit in it...
5) Skills has a 's' on it. I don't know why being able to screw or cut wood would make you L33t
6) He complains about a bunch of stuff. So I would guess that he would complain about anything he finds... Not hiding the (oh yeah... and it wont work... but not ganna tell you because I got me free cab...)
I'm personally curious about how well it would do with other monitors in it... But that will have to wait for others to review.
JackTucky:
Where do the manufacturers think this cabinet will fit in the marketplace?
A DIY'er will build one or buy a real cab because he/she can or doesn't want to spend the money on this kit.
A person with cash who doesn't have time skills to build won't buy this because they still have a lot of work to do, get a PC, get an FE, config, sound, monitor, etc.
A person with real cash will just get one built and complete.
My relatives are all bugging me now that I have a complete cab. Help me build, help me build! You can't say to them, spend the $1300, then we'll start from there. I've told everyone I got complete for around $1000. If this was <$500, it might be a good starting point. You could get a PC, TV, controls and CP for around $500, and be done at $1000.
Meh.
Art
KevSteele:
I know I shouldn't respond to Rick's post, as he's apparently been baiting me on A.G.M., but I will clarify what I wrote in the review:
1. The cab was payment for my writing the installation manual (and creating the installation video CD that will ship with it) for SlikStik. Basically, they had to ship me a cab anyway so that I could write the installation guide, and it seems pointless to ship it back. I don't owe SlikStik anything.
2. I point out the above in the review, so you can filter my opinions about it through that information. I did pay for my cab, just not cash.
3. I sold my MAMEframe to buy the D9200 and the computer that would go into this cab. It was a leap of faith, as I had to do this before I even saw the cab. If it had been a piece of junk, trust, I would have made that very, very clear in the review.
If you want a "Consumers Report" review where I buy all the items I review, then in the future you'll just have to buy my reviews to fund this (just like you do for Consumer Reports).
As I said in the review, only you can decide if the price is fair. I think it is, and I said so in my review.
Kevin "Damned if I like something, and Damned if I don't" Steele
PileOfMonkeyCrap:
I've decided the price isn't fair. I'm just commenting on a public product and a public review and offering my opinion.
Another poster was correct, a *complete* mame cabinet (including monitor/TV, PC, controller, etc) could be purchased for $1300-$1500.
Another person mentioned how much of a time saver it would be. Not really. There's still the PC to load and configure, a light fixture and marquee to add, sound system to install, monitor to install, wiring/connections, sideart, power strips, system power button, etc. Anyone who's built or retrofitted and existing cabinet knows there much more to do after the cab is complete.
An original arcade cabinet is going to be MUCH more durable and sturdy. After all, it *IS* an arcade cab and has withstood player abuse, moving to and from arcades/auctions/warehouses, been converted, etc.
Just a shame with the adundance of original arcade cabs available so inexpensively, that someone would have to buy a piece of furniture instead of a real cabinet.
Rick
--- Quote from: kevsteele on October 07, 2003, 11:59:26 am ---
As I said in the review, only you can decide if the price is fair. I think it is, and I said so in my review.
Kevin "Damned if I like something, and Damned if I don't" Steele
--- End quote ---
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