PX, I agree with nearly everything you say, so this is mostly nit-pciking. First, there is an old saying that nothing happens until something is sold. TV is the greatest marketing device ever invented, hence the $16 million and episode for a sappy medical show on NBC. Unless you consider marketing unproductive, you are wrong about the lack of productivity on a tv.
Also, I disagree about pcs becoming the world's largest business, at least on a dollar basis. To penetrate much more than it has already penetrated, prices have to continue to decline, especially on stuff like monitors where they have been fairly stable. And if that happens, the dollar revenues will never come close to autos.
As far as the gaming machines go, I think I had the price close enough for govt. work when I said they were around $300-600. My point still remains and you even confirm it. I think the appeal of upgrading a pc to play games better, for someone who already owns a cheaper box, is not worth the price when consoles are so much cheaper than the boxes. Even if $1500 is a good entry point, for someone who bought a $700 box, that extra $800 is much more than the Sony, Sega, and Nintendo alternatives. I know that among game freaks there is a differentiation. I am talking about the mass market. A kid wants to play games, I would try to get him to use the pc in the house. If that doesn't cut it, I either beat him till he shuts up (-g-, big talk from a softie) or buy one of the cheaper stand-alone outfits. Anything else, and he can get a paper route and take his quarters to the Midway machines at the local noise and lights parlor. True, those who have money to burn and don't work for it may go for top of the line immediately to satisfy the brat. But not the mass market buyer. MB |
