Comments on: Overpriced gadgets http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sat, 25 May 2013 08:55:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Itsumishi http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598335 Itsumishi Tue, 04 Dec 2012 19:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598335 There are however, <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/Surface/en-CA/accessories/home" rel="nofollow">two different surface covers manufactured by Microsoft</a>, and no doubt some 3rd parties will be developing their own covers down the line (or have already, I'm unsure). So whilst I agree a cover of some sort is essentially necessary, it makes sense for Microsoft not to bundle.  Also, "Starting from $499" is better marketing than "Starting from $629" or whatever it would cost with the cover. There are however, two different surface covers manufactured by Microsoft, and no doubt some 3rd parties will be developing their own covers down the line (or have already, I’m unsure). So whilst I agree a cover of some sort is essentially necessary, it makes sense for Microsoft not to bundle. 

Also, “Starting from $499″ is better marketing than “Starting from $629″ or whatever it would cost with the cover.

]]> By: Jonathan Badger http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598237 Jonathan Badger Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598237 It's a very strange list to be described as "The 15 Most Overpriced Gadgets of All Time". I would think "All Time" would cover centuries of history -- this is mostly things from the past decade, with one or two things from the 1980s. It’s a very strange list to be described as “The 15 Most Overpriced Gadgets of All Time”. I would think “All Time” would cover centuries of history — this is mostly things from the past decade, with one or two things from the 1980s.

]]> By: Box of Cotton Swabs http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598229 Box of Cotton Swabs Tue, 04 Dec 2012 18:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598229 No, but there’s three on there. The Lisa, the Mac G4 Cube, and the Newton MessagePad 2100. No, but there’s three on there. The Lisa, the Mac G4 Cube, and the Newton MessagePad 2100.

]]> By: Thorzdad http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598167 Thorzdad Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598167 I guess the point is that, with the Surface, that keyboard/cover is constantly shown as being essential to using the Surface, and not really an option. So, it really should be included with the thing, and not sold as a $120 add-on. The iPad Smart Cover, on the other hand, isn't necessary at all to the functioning of the thing. It's a true optional accessory. I guess the point is that, with the Surface, that keyboard/cover is constantly shown as being essential to using the Surface, and not really an option. So, it really should be included with the thing, and not sold as a $120 add-on.

The iPad Smart Cover, on the other hand, isn’t necessary at all to the functioning of the thing. It’s a true optional accessory.

]]> By: strugglngwriter http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598164 strugglngwriter Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598164 So, it's just a list of Apple products? So, it’s just a list of Apple products?

]]> By: royaltrux http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598163 royaltrux Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:18:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598163  I had the opposite reaction, after reading that the $120 accessory cost $16 to make.  I had the opposite reaction, after reading that the $120 accessory cost $16 to make.

]]> By: Isaac Marx http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598152 Isaac Marx Tue, 04 Dec 2012 17:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598152 The Surface?  Really?  I guess $120 is a lot to spend on a cover, but it doesn't seem that much more exorbitant to me than a $40 iPad Smart Cover.  Seems like a pretty minor offender compared to some of the other items on this list.  The Surface?  Really?  I guess $120 is a lot to spend on a cover, but it doesn’t seem that much more exorbitant to me than a $40 iPad Smart Cover.  Seems like a pretty minor offender compared to some of the other items on this list. 

]]> By: Jim Saul http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598132 Jim Saul Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:45:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598132 Really? I thought it was worth a glance (single page, not slide show) as an interesting reminder of some of the "ahead of their time" gadgets that were nifty, and sometimes groundbreaking, but completely obsolete 18 months later. Most illustrated the handicap of being first to market. Clearing out my old storage I recently ran across a box of various "special issue on the 21st century" magazines I had saved back in 1999... they are full of similar products, and mostly vastly underestimated the accelerating advances and spread of information tech. I guess my saving the paper versions not realizing they would all be freely cached on the web kind of illustrates the same thinking. On the other hand, watching some reruns of Star Trek TNG last night it looked like everyone had iPads. Really?

I thought it was worth a glance (single page, not slide show) as an interesting reminder of some of the “ahead of their time” gadgets that were nifty, and sometimes groundbreaking, but completely obsolete 18 months later.

Most illustrated the handicap of being first to market.

Clearing out my old storage I recently ran across a box of various “special issue on the 21st century” magazines I had saved back in 1999… they are full of similar products, and mostly vastly underestimated the accelerating advances and spread of information tech. I guess my saving the paper versions not realizing they would all be freely cached on the web kind of illustrates the same thinking.

On the other hand, watching some reruns of Star Trek TNG last night it looked like everyone had iPads.

]]> By: Stooge http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598127 Stooge Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:32:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598127 Having just read it I'd say you've massively over-estimated its quality. Having just read it I’d say you’ve massively over-estimated its quality.

]]> By: Daniel Friesen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/04/overpriced-gadgets.html#comment-1598123 Daniel Friesen Tue, 04 Dec 2012 16:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=198172#comment-1598123 Looks like a pretty bad read to me... Looks like a pretty bad read to me…

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