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Hardware is dead

venturebeat.com

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Re: Hardware is dead

#2
I never understood why good articles have tiny non-descriptive titles, like the author got tired.

Certainly it's not for lack of space, it is the web after all and not a print newspaper.

If you have a 20+ paragraph story, at least give us some motivation to read it.

At least put a subtitle or appositive clause on the title.

Re: Hardware is dead

#3
post #2

I never understood why good articles have tiny non-descriptive titles, like the author got tired. Certainly it's not for lack of space, it is the web after all and not a print newspaper. If you have a 20+ paragraph story, at least give us some motivation to read it. At least put a subtitle or appositive clause on the title.

Totally agree, but from my understanding it's often the editor that decides the title, rather than the author. I'm sure that depends on the publication, though.

Re: Hardware is dead

#4
post #2

I never understood why good articles have tiny non-descriptive titles, like the author got tired. Certainly it's not for lack of space, it is the web after all and not a print newspaper. If you have a 20+ paragraph story, at least give us some motivation to read it. At least put a subtitle or appositive clause on the title.

Titles are hard. Usually nothing great comes to mind so you just settle. What title would you use?

Re: Hardware is dead

#5
post #2

I never understood why good articles have tiny non-descriptive titles, like the author got tired. Certainly it's not for lack of space, it is the web after all and not a print newspaper. If you have a 20+ paragraph story, at least give us some motivation to read it. At least put a subtitle or appositive clause on the title.

On sites like this the author doesn't come up with the title.

Re: Hardware is dead

#6
2 thoughts: He isn't saying anything except "margins are razor thin". Hardware companies have made money on razor thin margins in the past, and will continue to do so. Razor thin margins don't mean "0 margin".

He seems to be ignoring the costs of distribution. The reason the tablet is $49 is because you can walk to the factory from where it's being sold. Try to take advantage of that price and import it to the US and you'll find the cost is higher. I don't see why it's amazing that you can buy a cheap tablet at wholesale prices, that's obvious

Re: Hardware is dead

#7
Hardware is dead; long live hardware.

The free-fall in PC prices in the 90s "killed" the PC, except that every major PC manufacturer still sells high-end models, and retailers still make money on them.

The free-fall in automotive prices in the 20s "killed" the automobile, except that people kept buying faster, sleeker, newer models anyway.

Like so many other electronics and everyday devices, the commoditization of tablets won't "kill" the tablet. It will result in a glut of disposable, troublesome, irksome devices, but there will still be a very nice market of people willing to pay more for a better device. Go make money there, you'll be happier anyway.

Re: Hardware is dead

#8
I've already started sticking them to the walls of my house to control lights, the thermostat, the garage door etc. This didn't make sense at $400/device but as soon as they hit $100 or so the game was afoot. Now they're so cheap, its literally cheaper to grab one from "the pile" and whip up a nice html5 interface for the task than to buy a dedicated Insteon controller or Nest thermostat. Hell, it was cheaper to automate my garage door and give it a REST interface on the web than to buy a single new clicker at Sears.

I'm guessing that in the near future there won't be many surfaces left in our lives that aren't festooned with touch-screenage.

Re: Hardware is dead

#9
It's worth noting everyone in the hardware business knows this. For example: why do you think everyone is fighting over the living room? Players like Samsung want to sell you a cheap tablet so you might buy the smart TV it pairs well with. And then maybe you'll buy content there too.
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