Risks of Buying the First Version of Any Gadget
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5. No subsidy
It's great that the Nexus One is unlocked, but because of that, there won't
be a subsidy reducing the cost of the device to a more affordable level. As
the world still tries to dig out from under the recession, some consumers might
not be willing to drop all that cash for a device that, in many respects, can't
compete with the cheaper iPhone.
6. Google hardware
Google is not a hardware company. The company has made bundles of cash creating
online Web services and software. It has
yet to get into the hardware business. Realizing that, it's entirely
possible that Google's first foray into hardware won't be as stellar as Apple's
first jump into the mobile market. That's not to say consumers won't be able to
trust Google hardware, but it is an unknown entity right now.
7. It could hurt Android
The Nexus One could substantially change the entire Android market. Right now,
third-party vendors are relatively happy with Google. They can create devices
that run the company's software without fear of Google competing against them.
But if that happens, it could reduce the number of companies using Android OS
and, in the process, provide a negative impact on Google's bottom line. Could
that spell trouble for the Android OS itself? It's certainly possible.
8. Google's focus
There's no way to tell if Google's focus is really on the Nexus One. The
company competes in so many different markets that consumers may worry about
whether Google will support the device as well as it should. Of course, it's
possible that Google would work hard to provide good customer support for the
phone. But it's also possible that the company will ignore the device when it
shouldn't.
9. Carrier limitations
Since the Nexus One will be carrier-agnostic, some carriers might treat it
differently from those products that only work on a single network. Will
AT&T be happy about VOIP (voice over IP) applications running over 3G? Will
Verizon Wireless play hardball with Google over the Nexus One's access to its
network? So far, we don't know. But it could be a problem for consumers.
10. First-gen issues
Maybe it's me, but I don't always trust the first generation of any device. Too
often, they're riddled with problems that cause them to not quite live up to
the user's expectations. Consumers know what they're getting with an iPhone or
a BlackBerry. The Nexus One is still a big question mark. Some
may be reluctant to switch to a Nexus One after considering that factor.
