Out of Touch

The Sound of One Hand Clapping

We’ve been talking about these 2100+ AIUHBs for the better part of a week now.

Have you noticed we’ve had the stage to ourselves, at least on the front page of websites? The silence is deafening.

Why?

It’s not like this arena is brimful of exciting new products and events at the moment. It’s not like the various forums haven’t noticed this and aren’t talking about it; they most certainly are interested in cheap, high performance processors.

Why is this a non-event elsewhere?

When I started talking about this, I also went and bought one. Now that Joe’s back, hopefully I’ll get to try it out myself tomorrow.

That seems to be pretty freaky behavior nowadays.

Is it because elsewhere the only good processor is a free one? Is it because people fear the gravy train might be threatened if they say something that might save their audience some money?

Or are they just so out of touch with the audience that they don’t even know about this yet?

Just Whose Side Are They On?

If there is anything I’ve learned about this audience, it’s that most people are looking for fast AND cheap, particularly when it comes to CPUs. Maybe 5-10% of it will lay out the big dough for the latest and greatest, but that’s it.

But if you look at the typical front page, you’d think it were the opposite. 95% of the talk is about products 5% will buy.

It’s not until a type of product crosses a certain (and over the course of time shrinking) price point that tons of people start jumping in.

Jeez, I’m getting some flak for telling you to spend $100 for an AMD processor rather than $60 (and if anything, the $60 processor is getting more forum attention than the $100 one).

In this environment, a $400 or more processor is practically a non-event, but I’ve seen places practically call $300-$400 CPUs bargains. Earth to . . . .

The average member of this audience, the average active computer enthusiast, is a teenager or young adult. He’s not poverty-stricken, but he’s not throwing cash out with the trash. He rather not spend a ton on this computer if he can help it, if only because can think of better things to do with his money than throw a ton of it at his rig.

While he certainly likes to look at the latest and greatest, that’s not what he ends up buying, at least not when it’s initially offered.

Would you ever guess that looking at the typical review, especially a CPU review? No, most of the time, you would think the average reader was more like a professional making a very comfortable salary with plenty of discretionary income to throw around.

Now those people exist. It’s understandable that manufacturers would want to appeal to those folks since they’ll make the most money from them.

But what does that say about which corner the average website is in?

What about the rest of us?

The Moral of The Story

I’m not pointing fingers at anybody in particular, not everyone is like that, and I’m not saying that places shouldn’t look at the latest and greatest. I am saying it would be nice if folks paid more attention to the other 90% of the audience.

A place can say how much they love your audience until you’re blue in the face, but when you spend 95% of your time and effort appealing to the elite 5% of the population, and 5% of your time and effort appealing to the rest, the rest ought to wonder if actions speak louder than words.

Sure, get as much as you can and window-shop all you like, but don’t assume they have your best interest at heart, or even know what that is.

Actually, we don’t, either. Dig deep down inside, and we’re just a couple of cheap SOBs who really don’t want to spend a lot on computer equipment, either. We’re simply vocalizing our best interests for those who feel the same way. 🙂

Email Ed