New pricing on Siglent SAG1021I: Does it make sense?

[BillyO]

I've noticed Siglent NA have put the price of the SAG1021I up to $285 USD.

Given that new price, its (meager) specifications and lack of general stand-alone use, plus the fact that the (improvable) SDG1032X is only $74 more, who would ever buy it?

Just curious. 

I predict its obsolescence is nigh.

[tautech]

Maybe you missed the memo that the new price now includes the previously separate SW licensing cost. 
Latest firmware for a # of DSO's has removed the SAG1021I SW license option and is the reason for the price increase.

Given that SAG1021I is both a compact AWG and has an Isolated output, this device has a place with the 6 series of DSO's it can be used with.
With the withdrawal of the SDG5000 AWG's, SAG1021I is now Siglents only isolated output AWG.


However if a bench has the space, apart from not having isolated outputs, SDG1032X is a vastly superior instrument.

[BillyO]

Maybe you missed the memo that the new price now includes the previously separate SW licensing cost. 
Latest firmware for a # of DSO's has removed the SAG1021I SW license option and is the reason for the price increase.

Rob, you know I know this.

Given that SAG1021I is both a compact AWG and has an Isolated output, this device has a place with the 6 series of DSO's it can be used with.
With the withdrawal of the SDG5000 AWG's, SAG1021I is now Siglents only isolated output AWG.

I'd allow that there might be a use case for it, but I think it's a bit rare.  It's just I think they raised the price a bit too much.

However if a bench has the space, apart from not having isolated outputs, SDG1032X is a vastly superior instrument.

At least to me it is certainly worth making the space.

Hey, I'm still a dyed in the wool Siglent fanboy.  I just think the SAG won't exactly be flying of the shelf given the obvious alternatives.  Heck, even the SDG830 is less money and blows the doors off the SAG (except for isolation) for being a more versatile and higher speced instrument.

[tautech]

Hey, I'm still a dyed in the wool Siglent fanboy.  I just think the SAG won't exactly be flying of the shelf given the obvious alternatives.  Heck, even the SDG830 is less money and blows the doors off the SAG (except for isolation) for being a more versatile and higher speced instrument.

There's one capability SAG1021I has when tied to a DSO, that is the ability to more easily control it remotely via the DSO's webserver.

Of course that is only for now until SDG1000X Plus arrives as it will have a webserver too.

[BillyO]

Of course that is only for now until SDG1000X Plus arrives as it will have a webserver too.

That would be nice!.  Too bad I already have mine.

[Martin72]

At the end of the day, nobody is forced to buy it.
If you need it, you buy it, if you don't, you don't.
A free license makes sense in order to boost sales of hardware that is already somewhat well priced.
Whether the resulting price increase will help is another matter.

[BillyO]

A free license makes sense in order to boost sales of hardware that is already somewhat well priced.

Yes, for sure.

[tautech]

A free license makes sense in order to boost sales of hardware that is already somewhat well priced.

Yes, for sure.

We also need remember, no licensing was required for SAG1021I when linked to a Siglent DSO when used with the Bode plot/FRA feature.

Now with licensing costs added into the SAG1021I outlay cost, its AWG features are now available to all DSO models that support it.

[BillyO]

Now with licensing costs added into the SAG1021I outlay cost, its AWG features are now available to all DSO models that support it.

Certainly.  No arguments here, but other than the odd time you might need a floating generator and don't have an isolation transformer it really seems like an uncompelling route given the alternatives.  At least to me, and I am trying my best to see beyond my own use case.  $285 for the SAG1021I or $349 for the SDG1032X, there's a no-brainer if there even was one.

Just my POV and YMMV.

Anyway, just a discussion point brought about because I spend too much time looking at the Siglent site.