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the vast majority of what people seem to be judgmentally determining for everyone else as "frills" are simply added software which, on these devices are generally in the firmware rather than a app loaded within the file system and run within the OS itself. Therefore they are no more difficult to implement that the actual reader software itself. No FUD style magic to it as many here seem to constantly try and pass along.
Yeah, certain bits of software/features might require hardware but generally those are only in relation to wireless or wired connectivity. BFD, such components have been around for a decade or more, are dead cheap and already integrated with perfectly fine drivers for essentially every OS out there, at least any OS currently used for readers.
And as seen from the Kindle tear-down info we found over a year ago now, the cost of said components is trivial compared to the price of the device or even the tear-down price. Heck, the MBB components cost around $5-$7 for the hardware.
Basically I find any cries of "waaaahhhh....they are adding too many features...." completely baseless...it's not as if the readers without these features cost significantly less, if at all. To me, gimme a device more like an internet tablet running something like OneNote and an web browser under and OS which supports JAVA to allow full access to online web apps like Google Apps along with others. That sort of device might be worth about $200-$250 with a basic reader near the $100 price point, I mean if you want to be honest about it.
Technically a person could make do in the kitchen with a single pan...how many of you out there complaining about added abilities on readers live with a spork, a knife and a pan...remember a bowl is not needed since you can eat out of the pan. And who needs a fork AND a spoon when sporks exist?
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