CompuServe Messages

jan, >>Also, as wonderful a product as OED is, wouldn't you go out and buy 10 at the 100 pound price and give them to your nephews and nieces? I would.<< I will definitely go out and buy 10 OED's at 100 pounds, if you will agree to buy 10 multimedia machines at $3000 each for each of my nephews and nieces. Don't you think that maybe OUP is pursuing a market segmentation strategy with an eye toward timing. It may be willing to forgo unit sales now to get a much higher price. As more machines come into the market, they will reduce the price to increase unit sales in a much larger market. No doubt OUP has a abetter idea than we based on actual sales volume and market reseach of how to convert the product from a low volume high price item to a lower price higher volume item, while maximizing profit. I think that the fact they were able to sell a full size set at $2700 while simultaneously giving away a miniaturized version as a bookclub gift proves that. I would rather wait a little time for the price to be reduced, than see the company go segment the market by introducing a low priced version immediately that had less functionality than the high priced product. This is the danger I hope to see avoided. The case of the 486 chip and the Street Atlas CD being on the point. Regards, Tim