by Pascal TOURNOIS on Thu Sep 28, 2006 7:46 am
At £200 (about €300), it's the same price as the British-built Sinclair ZX Spectrum when it first came out in 1982. That's not taking into account inflation, obviously. And we know how big a success that was (it sold millions). Arguably, you could do much more with a Spectrum than with the A-bike, albeit not ride it to work.
Just like in 1982 with the ZX home computers, the A-bike tries to cater for a niche market that doesn't even exist. Yet. But that new niche market has probably much less potential. Though I may be wrong.
Not comparing apples and oranges, I'd say the A-Bike is a bit too expensive for the European market, too. For £200, you can buy two or three city or mountain bikes, cheap models, but very capable as far as bikes go. And leave them at the train stations from and to where you commute.
But we have to pay for the novelty value. The more A-bikes are sold, the less expensive it will be. And everything that can make people leave their cars at home is a good thing. Me, I don't even have a real use for my A-bike: I work at home as a freelance translator, and I never have to commute. But I simply had to support the man, Sir Clive, and its generous idea of cities with less cars.
At £200 (about €300), it's the same price as the British-built Sinclair ZX Spectrum when it first came out in 1982. That's not taking into account inflation, obviously. And we know how big a success that was (it sold millions). Arguably, you could do much more with a Spectrum than with the A-bike, albeit not ride it to work.
Just like in 1982 with the ZX home computers, the A-bike tries to cater for a niche market that doesn't even exist. Yet. But that new niche market has probably much less potential. Though I may be wrong.
Not comparing apples and oranges, I'd say the A-Bike is a bit too expensive for the European market, too. For £200, you can buy two or three city or mountain bikes, cheap models, but very capable as far as bikes go. And leave them at the train stations from and to where you commute.
But we have to pay for the novelty value. The more A-bikes are sold, the less expensive it will be. And everything that can make people leave their cars at home is a good thing. Me, I don't even have a real use for my A-bike: I work at home as a freelance translator, and I never have to commute. But I simply had to support the man, Sir Clive, and its generous idea of cities with less cars.
