It’s always been about price:performance.
Ifixyour.com did a Bill of Materials (BOM) analysis for the Apple iPad 64 GB wi-fi only - it was less than $300; yet retails for $699. Ample profit there, huh?
Now, we had a much of ‘me-too’ companies who made shoddy tablets, with ~1-10% of the app support; and wanted the same price point. They had their butts handed to them by Apple’s iPad (Hello Blackberry Playbook, HP Slate, Folio, Motorola Xoom). Shoddy construction, OS that simply should never have made it past QA, little to no application support after the sale. Think of a flea-market next to a high-end designer store (all for the same price); how would you spend your money?
But, if you make a product that is useful, and can get the price down substancially below that of the iPad; you may have something. Who is going to pay the Lexus price for a late model Kia? If I pay the iPad price, give me an iPad.
But, if you have something that does 90% of what I will use the iPad for, and can deliver it for half the price - you have my undivided attention.
I’m still holding out hope HP will release more $99 touchpads and I’ll somehow manage to get one.
Will the Amazon pad use electronic ink like the Kindle currently uses?
This will be a huge Christmas item. AMZN stock probably a good buy.
Fox Business is reporting that the initial price for the Amazon Kindle Fire will be $199!
This sounds good.
This has already been done. I have a $250 Barnes and Noble Nook Color rooted with Android 2.3.3 and Cyanogen Mod 7. I can run whatever I want on it. Barnes and Noble knows all about it and even sells book on the Nook counter on rooting their machine.
Kindle rocks... I use mine everyday.
But I am surprised that they went in that direction. Not so long ago, Amazon’s CEO was saying that they did not intend to go in that market. Also, he was saying the touch screen wasn’t the best for reading books (you lose definition).
Looking forward to see read the reviews.
I believe this is just the first wave....See my last post.