Google (Nasdaq: GOOG) is having a heck of a time persuading us to invest in its Google TV set-top boxes and digital TVs.
Mild price drops from Sony (NYSE: SNE) and Logitech (Nasdaq: LOGI) haven't been enough to spur Google TV sales, while arch-rival Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) continues on a path where Apple TV moves out of the "hobby" category and the originally Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX)-only Roku box is selling by the millions.
At long last, Logitech has decided to drop the Revue below the magical $100 price point. Why? Because it just wasn't selling.
In fact, Logitech just reported negative revenue on that product in the latest quarter, because consumers are returning Revues faster than they're buying 'em. In the words of Logitech Chairman Guerrino de Luca, "There was a significant gap between our price and the value perceived by the consumer."
No kidding. I could have told you so. In fact, that's exactly what I've been doing for a while.
Will the $99 price tag give Logitech's media hub a new lease on life, or would that ugly remote need a complete redesign first? Come to think of it, the whole package is getting long in the tooth by the standards of modern gadgetry. You have to wonder whether this price cut is to give the product one last shot at life, or just clear out inventory at fire sale prices. A complete overhaul selling for the new prices or less would be a welcome move if Google and friends want to have a chance in the home-infotainment market.
