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Thursday, September 6, 2012

Tablet Pricing Reminding Me When Calculators Were First Sold

As a kid, I remember getting my first TI (Texas Instruments) Calculator.  It was awesome.  It not only added and subtracted, but offered features that weren't typically available.  I could find the NPV (net present value) or IRR (internal rate of return) and as I recall, it cost a small fortune.  But it was cool and a must have.  Then Casio came in and others and competition erupted.  Prices dropped.  Today, these same features and more are available on very inexpensive calculators.

As we watch the tablet industry roll out, first with expensive models, it was only a matter of time that price points would begin to drop as more models and competitors vie for market share.  So the announcement from Amazon on its new Kindle Fire and all its pricing levels should come as no surprise.  They offer a price point for every type of consumer, from under $80 to $500.  Of course the  Kindle Fire is at the top of the line with new features, better screen, and faster speeds.  It has all the makings of a winner.

Will Apple announce it's mini iPad next week, along with the iPhone, or wait for another date to make that next announcement?  Will the mini iPad impress us as well with a price point that also causes excitement?  For those that wait, it is clear that the price of tablets will only continue to decline and perhaps one day, like the calculator, be so inexpensive we will likely own more than one.

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