Thread: E Ink Prototype Kit: Build you own Kindle DX
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Old 05-08-2009, 05:35 PM   #18
delphidb96
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Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Citrus Heights, California
Device: TWO Kindle 2s, one each Bookeen Cybook Gen3, Sony PRS-500, Axim X51V
Quote:
Originally Posted by DrFyzziks View Post
As a former embedded hardware/software developer, I can tell you that this is how embedded development kits work, price-wise.

Tech companies like E-Ink tend to price their dev. kits quite high in order to attract "serious product developers". They aren't interested in selling to the hobbyist because the hobbyist isn't going to place an order for 10,000 display units. So, the easiest way to discourage the hobbyist segment is to price the kits high. Amazon, Sony & others can afford the pay the premium.

Also, when developing a product based on a kit like this, you usually need a fair bit of technical support from the manufacturer. We're not talking level 1 tech support, we're talking support from the actual hardware engineers themselves - so, the cost of that support is also factored into the kit.

It sucks, but that's usually how it goes...
Yeahbut! 10,000 'hobbyists' would GLADLY buy this 'development kit' for $200-$250. Especially as these hobbyists could use the dev kit development software to bootstrap OpenInkpot right onto the dev kit hardware. Instant e-ink e-reader without the straight-jacket of Kindle support.

Derek
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