Comments on: Can you judge a computing experience by weight? Or: The search for the mythical 1 lb device. Part 1. http://www.lorenheiny.com/2009/03/25/can-you-judge-a-computing-experience-by-weight-or-the-search-for-the-mythical-1-lb-device-part-1/ Mon, 08 Mar 2010 18:04:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: LCH http://www.lorenheiny.com/2009/03/25/can-you-judge-a-computing-experience-by-weight-or-the-search-for-the-mythical-1-lb-device-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5123 LCH Thu, 26 Mar 2009 04:19:21 +0000 http://www.lorenheiny.com/?p=4510#comment-5123 For kicks I calculated the cost per pound of the devices I listed earlier plus the ENIAC. Outside of the Netbook, the numbers show that people are willing to pay a premium for less weight. ENIAC approx $8/lb Desktop $50/lb Notebook $300/lb eReader $560/lb iPhone $1,280/lb Kind of interesting that this trend has held up over the years, going all the way back to the ENIAC :-) The Netbook is only at about $180/lb which comes out somewhere between the typical desktop and the notebook. You might think it should actually be a premium between the notebook and eReader. Well, because of price it's not, but guess what? UMPCs fall exactly into this price per pound curve and we all think they're overpriced, right? Now maybe over time notebook prices in general will adjust down to where the Netbooks are. I hope they do. I think that's really the lesson here. It's not that Netbooks are so underpriced for their weight category. It's that notebooks are too high for their weight. For kicks I calculated the cost per pound of the devices I listed earlier plus the ENIAC. Outside of the Netbook, the numbers show that people are willing to pay a premium for less weight.

ENIAC approx $8/lb
Desktop $50/lb
Notebook $300/lb
eReader $560/lb
iPhone $1,280/lb

Kind of interesting that this trend has held up over the years, going all the way back to the ENIAC :-)

The Netbook is only at about $180/lb which comes out somewhere between the typical desktop and the notebook. You might think it should actually be a premium between the notebook and eReader. Well, because of price it’s not, but guess what? UMPCs fall exactly into this price per pound curve and we all think they’re overpriced, right?

Now maybe over time notebook prices in general will adjust down to where the Netbooks are. I hope they do. I think that’s really the lesson here. It’s not that Netbooks are so underpriced for their weight category. It’s that notebooks are too high for their weight.

]]> By: Dave P http://www.lorenheiny.com/2009/03/25/can-you-judge-a-computing-experience-by-weight-or-the-search-for-the-mythical-1-lb-device-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5122 Dave P Thu, 26 Mar 2009 02:28:45 +0000 http://www.lorenheiny.com/?p=4510#comment-5122 Every household? Somewhat more than IBM Chairman Thomas Watson envivioned when he said (in 1943) "I think there is a world market for maybe five computers." Every household? Somewhat more than IBM Chairman Thomas Watson envivioned when he said (in 1943) “I think there is a world market for maybe five computers.”

]]> By: LCH http://www.lorenheiny.com/2009/03/25/can-you-judge-a-computing-experience-by-weight-or-the-search-for-the-mythical-1-lb-device-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5121 LCH Thu, 26 Mar 2009 01:01:42 +0000 http://www.lorenheiny.com/?p=4510#comment-5121 What's interesting to me is how the modern electronic computer revolution started in 1942 with the ENIAC weighing in at 30 tons. Can you imagine one of those in every household? :-) What’s interesting to me is how the modern electronic computer revolution started in 1942 with the ENIAC weighing in at 30 tons. Can you imagine one of those in every household? :-)

]]> By: Dave P http://www.lorenheiny.com/2009/03/25/can-you-judge-a-computing-experience-by-weight-or-the-search-for-the-mythical-1-lb-device-part-1/comment-page-1/#comment-5120 Dave P Wed, 25 Mar 2009 23:24:42 +0000 http://www.lorenheiny.com/?p=4510#comment-5120 You are spot on. I am reading this and responding to it now because I had my OQO in my pocket. I decided to have a cigar before braving the evening commute and I pulled out the OQO to catch up on my RSS feeds. One pound of connect anywhere tablet goodness. The importance of pocketability and portability cannot be overstated. You are spot on. I am reading this and responding to it now because I had my OQO in my pocket. I decided to have a cigar before braving the evening commute and I pulled out the OQO to catch up on my RSS feeds.

One pound of connect anywhere tablet goodness.

The importance of pocketability and portability cannot be overstated.

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