Quote:
Originally Posted by rcentros
I don't see why a Clara or Paperwhite priced reader couldn't have page-turn buttons. I think it's more a marketing decision. "Want buttons, pay a premium." It's obvious that there are those who do want want page-turn buttons or Kobo and Amazon wouldn't be putting them on their premium readers.
|
Dunno about Kobo but Amazon clearly doesn't believe the cost of adding buttons (designing new mobo, added labor, etc) is justified by the added sales.
Thought experiment: adding buttons increase costs by 2% but generates an extra 0.2% sales. Would you do it? Most business wouldn't. Now, for B&N, looking for a differentiator and already in a fading niche, the added cost is worth it just for the publicity value. Plus that extra 0.2% of Kindle sales might add up to 5% for Nook.
It's not marketing but rather cold-hearted penny pinching.
In any business niches get addressed with premium products while mainstream preferences get shunted into the baseline. That's why the Kindle Basic got a front light. Too many people want it to keep it out of the entry level even though it meant raising the (nominal) price, The objective is to minimize costs and maximize revenues across the entire line, not across one product. Unless one product is all you can afford to sell. Different story, that one.