Quote:
Originally Posted by dmaul1114
I don't see why so many here, so many journalists etc. treat this like some zero sum end game where either tablets or e-ink readers has to win and kill the other.
There's plenty of room in the market for both.
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Ever since most journalists saw the movie, A Perfect Mind, they've been trying to apply the zero sum game theory to all forms of economics. Certainly, for most families, there is a finite budget for discretionary items, e.g., video games, cds, dvds, bluray discs, books, and the hardware to play each of these forms of media. To understand discretionary income, you have to look at the real estate market, and of course, the stock market. Other than getting a large pay raise or bonus, there aren't too many ways of increasing ones wealth. Sure, you could write a bestselling novel, but that is not in the cards for the average person. Thus, it always returns to (1) your job, (2) home equity, and (3) investments. During the last major stock market decline, investors lost billions of dollars. The SEC filed a civil suit against Goldman Sachs today:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...845670844.html
However, GS is merely the latest whipping boy in the CDO scandal. These Wall Street boys, banks and GSE's took a big slice out of my pie. Laughingly, some of you probably think I was already too fat, and should go on a diet.
Bottom line- the net worth of families is starting to increase again, mortgage rates are still low, and the job market is stabilizing. Since this increases the amount of discretionary income, we move out of a zero sum game, and into a game with more (perceived) cash in the hands of consumers. Steve Jobs may not be the smartest man on the planet, but he is one of the luckiest and most opportunistic. The iPad came along in 2010 and not late 2008. Apple will sell many units, limited only by what I call the "boredom" or novelty factor. Kindle has to compete on price and features, and Bezos is probably aware of this, and planning accordingly. Both Amazon and Apple should listen to consumers NOW, and start to design in features that many on this board have loudly complained about in countless threads. If you treat your customers with indifference, you wind up like GM. Give us a compelling reason to buy your product, as well as the next product.