Irresistible! Markets, Models, and Meta-Value in Consumer Electronics

IRRESISTIBLE! MARKETS, MODELS, AND META-VALUE IN CONSUMER ELECTRONICS charts some vast changes in the consumer electronics industry, showing how many CE companies must radically change to survive. Two industry consultants here examine the many issues affecting the industry, from online games and sales to telehealthcare and new devices and services, providing in-depth tips on how to make better decisions, change cost structures to support quick growth and changes, how to sell overseas into new markets, and much more. Industry managers receive many insights and specifics which will prove a 'must' for any operating a business in this rapidly changing industry.

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." That seems to be apropos if you are a consumer electronics company. Never has the demand been so high with the margins so small. This is pointed out all too well in the book Irresistible! Markets, Models, and Meta-Value in Consumer Electronics by George Bailey and Hagen Wenzek. Contents: Irresistible Electronics, Turbulent Times; The New Role of Technology and Services in Next-Generation Businesses; The Consumer's Internet - Thin Clients & Fat Hosts for Everyone; The Smart Home - Coming to Your House Soon, but Not Too Soon; Telehealthcare - The Key to the Living Room; Online Gaming Environments - People, Technology, Money, and Social Networks; The Soul of the Next Generation of Consumer Electronics Products; IBM's Global Technology Outlook and Its Implications to Consumer Electronics; Embedded Linux - For Embedded Systems Today and into the Future; Software Development Strategies for Connected Consumer Electronics; Differentiation Through Product and User Interface Design; Consumer Relationships - A Tale of Channels and Brands; Consumer Electronics in China in Year 2001; Index As a compilation of various aspects of the subject by different authors, this book fares better than many in that style. Perhaps it was just that I was more interested in the material than some of the other compilations I've read. Regardless, I enjoyed getting a deeper look into what drives this fascinating part of our culture. Time to market has dropped dramatically, as has the ability to have a market to yourself for any length of time. One of the chapters talks about how the iPod, a runaway best seller by any standard, is already seeing pricing pressure and is cutting their margins to maintain volume. It's that way with nearly every significant electronic product out there. Wondered why people can sell "items" from online gaming to others on eBay for large sums of money? It's explained in here, along with ramifications on what that means to the people running the game. It's not something that can be ignored if you want to protect your product. Very interesting slants on things you may just take for granted... If you're curious as to the future of home electronics and the search for the next "killer gadget", this book will make you think...

The book collects together the contributions of numerous authors, who try to visualise technology trends and how these will affect consumer electronics. Of course, the continuing increasing usage and pervasiveness of the Internet figures prominently in these speculations. We might, and probably will have mass personalisation. And information overload will be a serious problem. Combatted by smart programs customised to each person's interests. A variety of topics are covered by the text. Unsurprisingly, there is somewhat of a push of IBM products and services in this book. It's one thing when the topic might be, say, WebSphere, which is entirely an IBM product. But when the topic is as given in the book's title, the broader aspect does not naturally call into mind IBM. Especially when you consider that IBM has traditionally had little direct dealings at the consumer electronics level. This may be changing. An entire chapter is devoted to IBM's Cell microprocessor. Which has received rave reviews from independent technical sources. Don't get me wrong. It's not a strident peddling of IBM's wares that we have here. But you should be cogniscent of it. The most detailed chapter is about online gaming. A lucid discussion, especially concerning massive multiplayer games, like Everquest or World of Warcraft. The commentary is quite objective, maybe because IBM has no boat in this race. The chapter explores a strange set of parallel universes that have sprung up from the Internet gestalt. With people selling their efforts on eBay!? It may well leave some of you cold. But there is serious money in this field, so it deserves some respect.

This book covers the "hot" technical and business issues for today's Consumer Electronics industry -- from the consumers, to the retailers, to the manufacturers, including trends and outlooks. The book provides key insights that you can get only from experienced experts in the field. And even the technical chapters were easy to understand. Put this book on your reading list if you want the real scoop on the Consumer Electronics industry.

I found this book to be filled with great insights on the consumer electronics industry. A must read for those doing business in this space as well as for the general consumer!