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NatCh · 03-07-2007, 11:34 AM

A succinct rundown, there Derek.

About the only thing I see on the hardware that you seem to have missed is that e-ink screens (and particularly 8" ones) haven't proven terribly drop resistant so far (we've had a number of iLiadites who can attest to that). I'm guessing they must have done some work to the end of shoring it up to get it to withstand a 30G impact, under any conditions.

Also, I'm wondering if the $150 you mentioned for the panel may be for the 6" panel? If so, the 8" would be more expensive, naturally (since it's almost 1.5X the surface area, if I remember correctly).

Still, you're right, the hardware cost doesn't account for most of the price. We really don't know what all the software does, or what applications it includes, so estimating its development cost is almost pure guesswork.

Still, I think I agree that I wouldn't expect for it and the hardware together to approach the ~$4k for the whole unit, but I have less trouble believing that they might make up 2/3 of it, which would be about right for a 50% markup.

You're right that docs don't like to keep programmers, but hospitals often do (I am one such

), and it's going to be mostly big outfits that they're aiming at, a somewhat limited market (which might explain some of the price too). From where I'm sitting, I can tell you that the idea of a fully Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a really big cookie that larger hospitals are chasing, and from what I can see, it's apparently really hard to do (but that may depend some on how temperamental your medical personnel are).

When it comes right down to it, this thing is basically a really high-end, battery efficient, special screen UMPC optimized for a medical environment -- $4k isn't much of a price tag in that market, more so with the volume discounts their site mentioned.

It's not a reading device, but a toaster isn't a clothes iron either, but it's still good at what it's meant to do -- this device may very well be the same, we just don't know.

All that being said, I think I'll see if I can't bring this device to the attention of our EMR folks. Who knows? Maybe I might actually see one at some point. Eventually.

03-07-2007, 11:34 AM	#9
NatCh Gizmologist Posts: 11,615 Karma: 929550 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Republic of Texas Embassy at Jackson, TN Device: Pocketbook Touch HD3	A succinct rundown, there Derek. About the only thing I see on the hardware that you seem to have missed is that e-ink screens (and particularly 8" ones) haven't proven terribly drop resistant so far (we've had a number of iLiadites who can attest to that). I'm guessing they must have done some work to the end of shoring it up to get it to withstand a 30G impact, under any conditions. Also, I'm wondering if the $150 you mentioned for the panel may be for the 6" panel? If so, the 8" would be more expensive, naturally (since it's almost 1.5X the surface area, if I remember correctly). Still, you're right, the hardware cost doesn't account for most of the price. We really don't know what all the software does, or what applications it includes, so estimating its development cost is almost pure guesswork. Still, I think I agree that I wouldn't expect for it and the hardware together to approach the ~$4k for the whole unit, but I have less trouble believing that they might make up 2/3 of it, which would be about right for a 50% markup. You're right that docs don't like to keep programmers, but hospitals often do (I am one such ), and it's going to be mostly big outfits that they're aiming at, a somewhat limited market (which might explain some of the price too). From where I'm sitting, I can tell you that the idea of a fully Electronic Medical Record (EMR) is a really big cookie that larger hospitals are chasing, and from what I can see, it's apparently really hard to do (but that may depend some on how temperamental your medical personnel are). When it comes right down to it, this thing is basically a really high-end, battery efficient, special screen UMPC optimized for a medical environment -- $4k isn't much of a price tag in that market, more so with the volume discounts their site mentioned. It's not a reading device, but a toaster isn't a clothes iron either, but it's still good at what it's meant to do -- this device may very well be the same, we just don't know. All that being said, I think I'll see if I can't bring this device to the attention of our EMR folks. Who knows? Maybe I might actually see one at some point. Eventually.