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5by5 | The Critical Path #74: Pixelated

Feb 25, ’13 7:49 PM
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On the disruption of console video games and the signals sent by Google with their very own Chromebook.

via 5by5 | The Critical Path #74: Pixelated.

  • Walt French

    I thought this story was pretty well-known by now, but at 6:00, it was funny to see the other panelists look dumbfounded.

    Also today, scanning my weekly NBER research summary, I took a scan of academic research on “Schumpeterian Growth,” which is the progenitor of disruptive innovation. Chasing Wikipedia’s links on the academic background of one author, I found some interesting ideas about patents, social benefits, etc. Others might enjoy a broad view.

    But now that the vid is over, GREAT TALK, Horace!

  • Bruce_Mc

    Chromebook Pixel as swag?

    I remember your comments about the Kindle Fire being a way for Amazon to reward it’s loyal customers, rather than a product they want to sell to the whole world.

    I suggest that Google may be doing the same thing with their Chromebook Pixel. I believe the loyal customers that Google wants to reward are institutional buyers who have switched from PC/Windows/Windows Server ecosystem to Chromebook/ChromeOS/Google Apps ecosystem.

    The only thing that doesn’t quite fit my theory is that these machines are available at Best Buy. However some companies have rules saying computer or other hardware must be available from multiple sources. Maybe that explains Best Buy.

    I suggest that sales numbers for the Chromebook Pixel may need to be evaluated in a similar context as Amazon’s tablet sales numbers. Amazon’s goal for their tablets is not making a lot of money directly, but increasing their overall online sales. Google may be using the Chromebook Pixel to do a better job of taking Microsoft’s lunch money in the enterprise arena.

  • Mike S.

    Regarding the discussion on the Sony announcement of the PS4.

    I wasn’t quite sure what you were alluding to in the podcast. Are you saying that disruption from tablets like the iPad are going to cause the death of the console market?

    • http://www.asymco.com Horace Dediu

      Not tablets per se but mobile computing in general is allowing for good-enough game playing which competes with non-consumption and will gradually improve and absorb usage from consoles. Disruption should not be interpreted as the death of something but rather as the gradual reduction in growth and eventual evaporation of profits.