.
[snipped quotes]

== Craig White wrote:
> eMachines defined the concept of a ... specific hardware to meet
> a price point/distribution target - much as Everex has done here.
> ... no Microsoft tax ... trying to copy the Macintosh look/feel ;-)

== Darrin Chandler wrote
> The Everex desktops and Asus eepc laptops are redefining things ...
> This is part of the shift that's been occuring for decades.
> Most people don't do much actual computing on their computers,
> and just use them as thin clients, in a sense: web surfing, 
> gmail for email, maybe remote desktop to connect to their work system ...
> 
> My wife has a macbook and complains it's too heavy ...
> I need more horsepower, more memory, more disk space.
> We both use computers every day as part of our work life and home life.
> But we are in radically different market segments.
> I want a computer. My wife wants an appliance.
> The market segment my wife is in is very, very large.

Please forgive me, friends, for hacking up your comments a bit, 
but I think you have both well defined major points ... to which 
I would like to add an observation:

I think there are five *major* categories of computers:
(excluding cellphone/pda type devices and imbedded computers)
#1 Business computers of all sizes (obviously with many sub-categories)
#2 Heavy-duty use "PC" boxes and laptops
#3 Heavy duty 'gaming' boxes (i.e. expensive toys)
#4 Primarily 'entertainment-focused' boxes
#5 Personal use computers (with 2 sub-categories: boxes & notebooks)

Each of these five are no doubt large markets, but as Craig and 
Darrin have hit the nail on the head in noting that the "shift" 
that has begun to unfold with exponential speed recently is, 
indeed, going to comprise an enormous market which, I believe, 
will ultimately push the overpriced, undervalued M$ entries
entirely out of that particular market segment.  As prices 
continue to fall and the capabilities of $199 and much, much 
lower priced units continue to increase to now unimaginable 
heights, there just won't be room for a $50-$100 M$ tax in 
units that will surely fall well below $100. 

I remember (foolishly) paying $1300 for the first VCR I bought; 
$1500 for the first "laptop" (Tandy Model 100); and $900 for the 
first microwave oven.  Now, DVD players are $19, DVD recorders 
are $59, very good laptops/notebooks well under $500 and falling 
fast, and microwave ovens $29. 

It won't be long before 95%+ of consumers will be able to do 
everything that 95%+ of consumers really need and want to do 
on a myriad of disposable options like upscale eee-type notebooks 
for under $100 a copy. Won't be much room for a M$ tax in the 
vast majority of consumable/disposable PCs. 

The eee is just a bit too small, but about half way between that 
and today's smallest laptops (and weighing under 1 pound (and 
with no moving parts) ought to be about right to do 100% of what 
95% of personal computer users will want and need to do ... 
and what do you bet 100% of those will be powered by Linux?

Let M$ have the toy market, for that is their destiny.


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