Laptop Thoughts: Minnesota Wizards Predict Computing's Future

"The "value equation." It's a term we've heard laptop makers throw around for years. That's what Best Buy uses to decide which notebooks gain access to its precious shelf space, and therefore exposure to millions of shoppers. This equation has so much influence, in a way this single retailer has the power to determine which technologies are ready for the masses, and which ones still need time in the oven. But what goes into this mysterious formula? And who's behind it?"

With the dozens (hundreds?) of brands and models of computers available for resale, I've often wondered how a large retailer like Best Buy decides what actually makes it into their stores and onto their web site. There's only so much brick and mortar shelf space, so, who decides, and how? This article provides some interesting insight into how Best Buy has made the selection process into a predictive art, based on a number of factors, including sales numbers by brand, assigning a value for each component, the service experience, the length of the warranty, and the design. One very highly valued trait is backlit keyboards, something that Best Buy says (because),"customers told us that they couldn't see their computers in the dark." The story also talks about some trends, and some predictions for the near future, including a rosy future for Wi-Max/LTE/3G enabled products. Interesting reading!