New Nook news Sept 2011

[avariel]

Originally Posted by RainingLemur

I think that the estimated price-point for the Acclaim is a little low if it's to be a gaming tablet. Considering the hardware that would be necessary for it to be serious in gaming.

Unless, of course, it IS a joint venture by B&N and Gamestop, and it's going to be full of ads and such for both stores (kind of like the Kindle w/ Special Offers, but more "in your face" with ads).

The Playstation Vita is being released at $250.

Originally Posted by HarryT

Trouble with these gaming devices is that they tend to need such high-end hardware that the battery life is very short. It'll be interesting to see what emerges.

Handheld gaming devices like the PSV and 3DS pack smaller batteries because they are more compact than tablets. The 3DS has a 1300 mAh battery compared to the Galaxy Tab 10.1 which has a 7700 mAh battery.

[stonetools]

There is a difference here between "high performance" games like Halo and children's and education type games like "Words With Friends." There are thousands of such games available on the iPad and they are among the biggest sellers. Puzzlers like Cut The Rope and Fruit Ninja are also big sellers and I doubt they are that demanding.

[avariel]

Originally Posted by stonetools

There is a difference here between "high performance" games like Halo and children's and education type games like "Words With Friends." There are thousands of such games available on the iPad and they are among the biggest sellers. Puzzlers like Cut The Rope and Fruit Ninja are also big sellers and I doubt they are that demanding.

The higher graphical gaming market is expanding on Android. People who buy an iPad don't buy it to play games. They play games because it is something else they can do with the overpriced hardware.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by avariel

The higher graphical gaming market is expanding on Android. People who buy an iPad don't buy it to play games. They play games because it is something else they can do with the overpriced hardware.

Is it overpriced? I don't see a rush of rivals bringing out tablets with similar hardware at much lower prices, which I would have expected had that been the case. Where are the "iPad-killers"?

[replica145]

Originally Posted by stonetools

They do sell physical games. However, they want to get into Video games, which is a huge market, especially for tablets. The iPad may be the number one mobile gaming device, and B&N aims to get a piece of that.

Tablets don't play physical games though. It still doesn't make any sense to me. I'm not saying its not true, just seems like a weird move if it is.

[avariel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Is it overpriced? I don't see a rush of rivals bringing out tablets with similar hardware at much lower prices, which I would have expected had that been the case. Where are the "iPad-killers"?

Very overpriced.

No one said their competitors were smart. All these companies like Samsung and Acer who brought out their tablets at the exact same price have failed miserably. The Asus Transformer is the highest selling Android tablet and it released at $400. In similar regards the HP TouchPad bombed when it launched at $500.

These companies shouldn't expect to make 40% profit off each device, they are setting themselves up for failure.

[HarryT]

Apple are, I believe, selling around a million iPads a week. They must be cursing that they've got the price so very wrong .

[avariel]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Apple are, I believe, selling around a million iPads a week. They must be cursing that they've got the price so very wrong .

iPad is priced right for an Apple product. Only people who buy Apple products are willing to pay a premium for subpar hardware. What other manufacturers haven't realized is that they aren't Apple and their potential market isn't that dumb.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by avariel

iPad is priced right for an Apple product. Only people who buy Apple products are willing to pay a premium for sub-par hardware. What other manufacturers haven't realized is that they aren't Apple and their potential market isn't that dumb.

You may consider me "dumb" to have bought an iPad, but I have to say that it was the first Apple product I'd ever bought (I'm a PC user, not a Mac user) and I bought it because I considered it (and still do) to be a damn good product. I still can't see anything on the market to rival it.

[tubemonkey]

Originally Posted by HarryT

You may consider me "dumb" to have bought an iPad, but I have to say that it was the first Apple product I'd ever bought (I'm a PC user, not a Mac user) and I bought it because I considered it (and still do) to be a damn good product. I still can't see anything on the market to rival it.

For me, the Nook Color provides me with all of the features I require in a tablet and at half the price. I'd be a fool to pay more.

[boswd]

Originally Posted by avariel

Very overpriced.

No one said their competitors were smart. All these companies like Samsung and Acer who brought out their tablets at the exact same price have failed miserably. The Asus Transformer is the highest selling Android tablet and it released at $400. In similar regards the HP TouchPad bombed when it launched at $500.

These companies shouldn't expect to make 40% profit off each device, they are setting themselves up for failure.

I think out all of Apple's competitor's I think Asus has had the best strategy going in. release wi fi only (no getting in bed with the carriers) priced VERY competitivly, offer something that differenciates itself with iMHO the best form factor with the laptop dock and not overstock their product. Their profits come more on the sales of the keyboard which is basically a no brainer buy if you want a Transformer

If they had a larger marketing budget to do some mainstream commericals, it could have been an even bigger hit than it alread is.

[Sil_liS]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Apple are, I believe, selling around a million iPads a week. They must be cursing that they've got the price so very wrong .

I don't think that the price was wrong. It's in the price range of netbooks. If it would have been more expensive, it wouldn't have sold this many, or at least it would have given the other companies the possibility of having lower prices compared to them. Like this, the others went for better specs for the same price. Apple can improve the specs easily, but the others can't do much, because there's a limit to what can be done with a tablet while maintaining the battery, and the weight, and the heating.

Also, how much did you spend so far on apps?

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

Also, how much did you spend so far on apps?

Practically nothing. I use it primarily for watching video and web browsing.

[avariel]

Originally Posted by boswd

I think out all of Apple's competitor's I think Asus has had the best strategy going in. release wi fi only (no getting in bed with the carriers) priced VERY competitivly, offer something that differenciates itself with iMHO the best form factor with the laptop dock and not overstock their product. Their profits come more on the sales of the keyboard which is basically a no brainer buy if you want a Transformer

If they had a larger marketing budget to do some mainstream commericals, it could have been an even bigger hit than it alread is.

I think they needed to go the extra step. Make the tablet with slots to add things like cameras, 4G, etc, at an even cheaper price. The base should include a place to install a 2.5" hard drive as well since it was largely empty.

The biggest problem with tablets is how quickly they get outdated versus their price. Who wants to pay $500 for it only to have the thing outdated in less than 6 months?

I am surprised a tablet manufacturer hasn't set it up so you can upgrade the RAM and processor on their tablets. If they would reduce their prices on the tablets to a lower profit margin per tablet, and allow you to upgrade it easily as the new hardware comes out, they would get a more steady stream of profit from year to year.

I also think Google's biggest mistake right now is charging for access to Android market and not offering part of the market profits to Android device manufacturers. If they would, they could lower the prices of their devices even more thus bringing in even more app sales. Their current plan will bite them later as Amazon, BN, and other alternative market shops offer more advantages than Google's.

Originally Posted by Sil_liS

I don't think that the price was wrong. It's in the price range of netbooks.

I can get the new Asus X101-EU17-BK for $200.

[kjk]

Originally Posted by avariel

If they would reduce their prices on the tablets to a lower profit margin per tablet, and allow you to upgrade it easily as the new hardware comes out, they would get a more steady stream of profit from year to year.

How do you see a more steady stream of profit from year to year if people are hanging onto the old hardware for years? You are asking companies to both take a cut in their initial profits for the main purchase, and then not see a new sale for 3-4 years down the road. They are supposed to somehow "make it up in volume"?

How about:
a) They charge MORE for the initial tablet, but provide an easy upgrade path
b) They charge LESS for the initial tablet, but it has not upgrade path

Those approaches seem a bit more realistic for both manufacturers and consumers.