06-08-2011, 03:25 PM | #106 | |
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Last edited by rogue_librarian; 06-08-2011 at 03:47 PM. |
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06-08-2011, 03:37 PM | #107 |
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I wish. But truly rugged tech is still really really expensive. People don't seem to want to spend the high premium for ruggedness, and ruggedness won't get cheaper until more people start buying it. The military gets crucified over spending what they do for well-built gear, and despite the fact that drivers walk away from IndyCar crashes at 200MPH, people won't/can't pay to have their personal autos built similarly. Even Panasonic Toughbooks are out of line for most folks. Add to this the theory that manufactures would rather have devices break now and then so that people will buy replacements, and I can't see a way for it to happen in the foreseeable future. Last edited by ApK; 06-08-2011 at 03:43 PM. |
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06-08-2011, 03:50 PM | #108 |
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06-08-2011, 03:57 PM | #109 | |
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When I think "semi rugged" I think "rubber bumpers and clear plastic over the screen" like my Casio watch. For a watch, it's pretty good, but for an e-reader, I'm dreaming of something more substantial, like you can put it in your pants pocket or toss it in your pack with out a second thought. |
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06-08-2011, 03:59 PM | #110 |
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06-08-2011, 04:08 PM | #111 |
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06-08-2011, 04:23 PM | #112 |
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06-08-2011, 04:30 PM | #113 |
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Ooh. I watched the first minute and that was enough to make me smile.
When I first heard him start talking about plastic, I got nervous because it brought to mind CD/DVD material...polycarbonate is supposed to be tough, but one moment of mishandling and it might as well have been made of butterfly wings and wishful thinking. But then he said "the intent is to create a product that is almost indestructible." I want one. Last edited by ApK; 06-08-2011 at 04:32 PM. |
06-08-2011, 07:42 PM | #114 | |
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I met Jim Downing, the inventor/developer of the HANS device, when he raced at Road Atlanta, circa 1992! |
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06-09-2011, 03:47 AM | #115 |
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Exactly -- the day a suitable, quality tablet costs 120 they will be giving away e-ink devices with the purchase of 3 books.
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06-09-2011, 09:51 AM | #116 |
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06-09-2011, 01:28 PM | #117 | |
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Apple is the master of this. It's been selling computers & iPods at particular pricepoints for years, and it looks like they are doing the same for iPads. (It's not so clear with iPhones because of the complication of the phone plan upgrades, but I think that, sans plans, the pricepoint has stabilized.) If what Amazon was selling was the ink, then, like with printers, I'd expect the price of the EBR to be pushed down to the cost of making & delivering the device to consumers of ink. That would be your 30-50 range, I think. But I read somewhere that Bezos has made the Kindle EBR division a separate profit center within Amazon, & if that's the case, then the pricepoint will be the one that maximizes the profit on the sale of Kindles. I have no knowledge on which to predict what that price would be, but why should that stop me? I say, 75 bucks. That's a pricepoint at which you buy Kindles for other people for their birthday, or get one for everyone in the family. |
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06-09-2011, 03:37 PM | #118 | |
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For example, Texas Instruments still is able to sell relatively expensive calculators by over the years adding functions, but the simple calculator is made and sold by someone else for a buck at Walmart. Apple seems to keep the price of its standard iPod at $150, but there are others such as the Sansa Clip+ which sell for less than $50 which aficionadoes claim are better. So I can see Amazon keeping the Kindle at $100 (or your $75), but I see somebody making a simple eBook reader for less and less as time goes by. As I have said elsewhere, I predict that for the foreseeable future, the companies will introduce new models at the $100 price point. It will be the "last year's models" which will see their prices go down and down. Why, this week Borders.com is selling last year's Kobo for $59.99! |
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06-09-2011, 08:06 PM | #119 |
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Actually e-ink has expanded into many areas. It is perfect for many other applications because it draws no power to display an image, but you can still change the image later. Examples are signs and merchandise tags. So e-ink production will be increasing exponentially.
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