Samsung Galaxy Note may be prohibitively expensive
When it was first announced, I was extremely excited about the Samsung Galaxy Note. The 5.3-inch phone/tablet, perhaps better described as a mobile internet device, is a unique smartphone that filled the void left by the recently EOL'd Dell Streak. It has an awesome list of specifications like a HD screen and dual-core processor, and even a pen accessory to make it useful as a notepad.
However, the latest news about the device has caused my enthusiasm about the device to fade dramatically. No, it is not a missing key feature or piece of hardware. The apparent problem with the device is price. Online retailer The Clove has the device's preorder price listed at 600 pounds, or about $1,000 US dollars. A high price was somewhat expected, as the Note is one of the first devices with such a high resolution display, and the S Pen technology probably costs extra as well.
Still, this is incredibly expensive considering Samsung's pricing for their other devices. The 10.1-inch Galaxy Tab has a dual-core processor and retails for $500, and the Galaxy SII smartphone is priced at about $600 (but it will likely be available for $200 with a contract). Both of these devices have top of the line hardware, and I don't see many reasons for the Galaxy Note to be so much more expensive.
Even if the Galaxy Note's hardware is actually more expensive, I doubt that Samsung can get away with a $1000 price point. When people could get both a great smartphone and great tablet for that much, why would they need the Galaxy Note? I really hope that $1000 is no where near the official price, because if it is I am afraid the Galaxy Note will be dead in the water.
[3G UK]
