Conspiracy Theory: What is Amazon hiding about the Kindle?

[bwaldron]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

But it's simple, want a Kindle, order one and in about 10-14 days it will arrive.

A bit more than that, lately.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by bwaldron

A bit more than that, lately.

d'oh!!

[Steven Lyle Jordan]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

I think you are right about the passing on of R&D costs at an accelerated rate compared to what once might have been the norm.

May not be that accelerated. When laptops first came out, the new process of manufacturing LCD screens made each one very expensive, and laptops reflected that high cost. For almost a decade, LCD screen tech changed radically almost year by year, and factories were being completely retooled every 12-18 months, keeping manufacturing costs up, and laptops as very expensive. But once LCD screen tech settled into an established design, laptop prices came down... then LCD screens for desktops became available at near-CRT prices.

We can expect that, once e-ink designs have been stabilized (hopefully after they achieve color!), prices will come down, and an e-book reader using e-ink will drop below the $200 or even $100 price point. How soon? Who knows?...