Comments on: 2009 Predictions: Hardware http://www.tnl.net/blog/2009/01/05/2009-predictions-hardware/ Turning Data into Knowledge Fri, 20 Nov 2009 14:38:03 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Tristan Louis http://www.tnl.net/blog/2009/01/05/2009-predictions-hardware/comment-page-1/#comment-29566 Tristan Louis Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:18:56 +0000 http://www.tnl.net/blog/?p=1104#comment-29566 Steve, I would fully agree on the downgrading trend in terms of cable service (see <a href="http://www.tnl.net/blog/2009/01/04/2009-predictions-media/" rel="nofollow">my previous post on media predictions</a> for more on that). You do bring up an interesting point in terms of demographics. I thought that, because of the "fashion"able nature of devices like the iPhone, there might be some price support there but it's interesting to see that the ongoing costs are finally being considered as part of the device price. It's a new trend that's worth tracking, I think, as it seems to reflect a substantial change in consumer behavior. On the netbooks front, I suspect that the initial adopters were considering them as secondary devices. However, in my encounters, I found a lot of people who basically use their email client, web browser, and maybe a word processor or spreadsheet program on their PC. For these types of people (and that's generally an older demographic), netbooks could become a primary device, I suspect. Either way, I fully agree with you that it's going to be a bad year for CE, not just in the 20something group but across all demographics. Steve,

I would fully agree on the downgrading trend in terms of cable service (see my previous post on media predictions for more on that).

You do bring up an interesting point in terms of demographics. I thought that, because of the “fashion”able nature of devices like the iPhone, there might be some price support there but it’s interesting to see that the ongoing costs are finally being considered as part of the device price. It’s a new trend that’s worth tracking, I think, as it seems to reflect a substantial change in consumer behavior.

On the netbooks front, I suspect that the initial adopters were considering them as secondary devices. However, in my encounters, I found a lot of people who basically use their email client, web browser, and maybe a word processor or spreadsheet program on their PC. For these types of people (and that’s generally an older demographic), netbooks could become a primary device, I suspect.

Either way, I fully agree with you that it’s going to be a bad year for CE, not just in the 20something group but across all demographics.

]]> By: steve http://www.tnl.net/blog/2009/01/05/2009-predictions-hardware/comment-page-1/#comment-29557 steve Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:12:09 +0000 http://www.tnl.net/blog/?p=1104#comment-29557 I look at the twenty-something demographic and see a real collapse in intent to buy. Price sensitivity in mobile phones focuses on the rate plan. iPhones would be nice, but the $70 per month is excessive. The preferred device comes in two packages - a basic cellphone with a rate plan that has unlimited SMS and an iPod Touch. The people I know who like netbooks are using them as a secondary device. They are far too limited and frustrating for a general purpose machine (in this age group). Lots of people are downgrading cable service or eliminating it all together. Wifi sublets are becoming more common in apartment spaces. Not a good year for CE - at least in this group. I look at the twenty-something demographic and see a real collapse in intent to buy. Price sensitivity in mobile phones focuses on the rate plan. iPhones would be nice, but the $70 per month is excessive. The preferred device comes in two packages – a basic cellphone with a rate plan that has unlimited SMS and an iPod Touch.

The people I know who like netbooks are using them as a secondary device. They are far too limited and frustrating for a general purpose machine (in this age group).

Lots of people are downgrading cable service or eliminating it all together. Wifi sublets are becoming more common in apartment spaces.

Not a good year for CE – at least in this group.

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