[HansTWN]

The question is if this approach to selling still works in the post Steve Jobs era. Specs matter for every other product, TVs, cars, PCs, printers, cameras, etc. Comparing specs is part of (definitely not the only thing you should be looking at, of course!) the process of deciding if you are getting your money's worth or are asked to pay a lot of money for something that was made with cheap components.

Wide and easy availability of content should make it easier to not be tied into one eco system with any device.

The rise of Android is actually bringing the spec wars back in force for phones (yes, not for tablets at the moment). They all run a good operating system and have a great eco system, so specs and the service provider become the only differentiating features.

And one last thing --- do specs really don't matter? I would like to argue that a lot of Kindle Fire users would in the end be a lot happier with their devices if Amazon had upped the specs and sold the Fire for $250.-. Even though most users don't realize that, the device would run better and could do more. It is like buying a car with a bigger trunk, a lot of people don't care about it when making their purchasing decisions, but a bigger trunk makes for a better car.