Announcing Pricing, Availability, a New Module, and More!
It’s the day before CES and all through the Labs not a creature was stirring, except for the marketing guys who are going crazy preparing for the show.
The company has a lot to announce today, and I’ll start with the topic that gets the most questions: pricing. But, before I get there, I want to take a moment to introduce a new concept in pricing for consumer electronics devices: the Early Adopter Discount.
Just as it sounds, the BUG Early Adopter Discount is going take a shift away from tradition, and actually reward the first wave of customers with a 13% (or greater) discount on products for the first 60 days of sales. Retail pricing for the first run of products is as follows:
- BUGbase $349 ($299 w/discount)
- LCD module $119 ($99 w/discount)
- GPS module $99 ($79 w/discount)
- Camera module $79 ($69 w/discount)
- Motion detector / Accelerometer $59 ($49 w/discount)
There will be an additional discount to customers who purchase the base plus all four modules, which we’ll announce on the 21st.
In addition to the Early Adopter Discount, we are announcing a second pricing program called BUG+EDU. BUG+EDU is actually a series of programs and promotions aimed at introducing BUG to the education market. Different programs will be established for primary, secondary, and post-secondary institutions, as well as for individual students. We believe the BUG is a great platform for aspiring engineering students as well as kids who just like to tinker. BUG+EDU will hopefully get more units into the hands of those who will really use their imagination to drive the next generation of cool gadgets.
Also important, the Bug Labs online store will be open for business starting Monday, January 21st. At this point we will begin taking pre-orders for the BUGbase and all four BUGmodules. We will begin fulfilling orders on or before March 17th, and will ship based on the dates the orders were originally received. Our initial rollout will only include domestic orders, but we aim to fulfill internationally later in the year.
Lastly, because we want to encourage users to make the most of their BUG, we are pleased to announce the von Hippel module, a new addition to the collection of BUGmodules. Named after MIT professor and “Democratizing Innovation” author Eric von Hippel, the von Hippel BUGmodule adds an interface of inputs and outputs to the BUG, allowing users to “hack” their BUG even further. Professor von Hippel’s book was a big inspiration for the foundation of Bug Labs, so having his name associated with our products is an exciting accomplishment. Final pricing and timing for the von Hippel BUGmodule is not yet set, but we are targeting the first quarter as well.
We are looking forward to a great 2008!
January 6th, 2008 at 6:45 pm
When do you plan on releasing more information on the BUG+EDU programs and promotions?
January 7th, 2008 at 8:15 am
see pricing, and product names, but could you put a link to product descriptions, images etc. THANKS
January 7th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
@luca – you can find the details on the buglabs.net site ( http://www.buglabs.net/products ) or in the bugcommunity.com forums ( http://bugcommunity.com/forums/ ).
And in verifying the urls for you, I found the answer to my question – for anybody else interested in the BUG+EDU program details should be coming out in Febuary ‘08
January 7th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
@luca – you can also start writing your BUG applications right now if you want; those details are available via the bugcommunity.com wiki ( http://bugcommunity.com/wiki/index.php/BUG_Wiki )
January 7th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Man, this is so exciting! Any additional detials on the Von Hippel BUGmodule. As an avid Arduino hacker, I find it very intriguing. A direct serial over usb interface would potentially allow all kinds of exciting things. I’m dreaming of communicating via xbee radios, playing Monski Pong (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsGAwknaeSg), etc. etc.
January 8th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
This is an incredible app. This looks like the kind of platform I’ve dreamed about. (A Physics BA from Rice who took a 40 year career detour into teaching Religion….). Amateur Radio and electronics are coming more to the forefront now. The possibilities of the BUG+EDU program sound absolutely great to me, and I have some ideas for what I’d like to see happen. Maybe I’ll turn to hacking!
January 9th, 2008 at 8:52 am
Hi,
This is cool but there should be a dirt cheap base. The base is very expensive right now (a lot more than a palm or an Asus EEE or a small VIA PC motherboard).
Or a cool thing would be a Compact Flash (or SD) interface to the bus you use. That way the peripherals could be used with spare machines (I have a Zaurus that could work well for that).
I wish you the best for this new year!
January 11th, 2008 at 6:29 am
We need to find a way to integrate FrogPad to the Bug. BugFrog, FrogBug, FroggieBuggie
January 12th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
@POG At the BUG+NYC I learned that SD is not an open source interface, and that’s why no SD. But I agree with you about the base pricing. Waaay too expensive for the hobbyist market.
January 12th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
two words: omnidirectional microphone
January 14th, 2008 at 6:33 am
This product is very sweet, looking forward to getting one. Then noticed that international orders will be shipping later this year. Drat. Does that mean We the International won’t be able to make pre orders on Jan 21 and/or get an Early Adopters Discount when it becomes available to order internationally?
Again, amazing device. Can’t wait to get my hands on one. Or two.
Cheers,
+dk
January 22nd, 2008 at 10:30 am
RE: To expensive
No it’s not. It’s very well priced for the market it’s aimed at. To expensive for the hobbyist? Please. Just because you think it costs to much, doesn’t mean the rest of us do. Look at what you’re getting – and the huge added value of plug and play modules. It’s worth it at twice the price.
January 23rd, 2008 at 8:43 am
This is not an expensive product! It’s perfectly suited to the education market and hobbyists alike. I’ve spent more on a digital camera than this offering price. Quit your griping.
On my wish list: dimensions and weight on the product description pages. I build payloads for balloon satellites and there’s limits to think of.
February 1st, 2008 at 7:03 pm
Hi! I want to pre-order the complete set and hopefully get the Von Hippel module, but you have indicated that International orders wont be taken at this time. Is there a way that I can get the full kit, together with the Von Hippel module to be shipped internationaly?
February 2nd, 2008 at 6:52 am
I was about to place a pre-order, but found that the order form does not allow addresses outside the United States. Can you please let me know if it is possible to order from Japan.
Best regards
– Edson
May 10th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Congratulations! I reckon there’ll be heaps of Amiga Heads out there drooling over this.
Will there be an LCD or SVIDEO interface? Can you imagine the kiosks applications?
August 7th, 2008 at 7:18 pm
Great idea! Cut all the prices and sizes in half, and you’ll really have something!
Of course, that will require a year or two of capitalism, not just democratic innovation. And of course, democratic stagnation might prevent those improvements, too. Imagine all of us carrying bulky modular blocks in all our pockets ten years from now, for compatibility’s sake, rather than one small, cellphone-like device that can already do all these things for less in a smaller package. My Samsung has a 2MP camera, video capability, MP3 player, 3″ touchscreen, 3G, BT, and USB connections, GPS, and phone, and it only cost $129. Its also includes all this in about half the size of the BaseBug. It does have a monthly service fee for that 3G connection.
The free market is, of course, the greatest example of true working democracy in action. Imagine your satisfaction as a customer, if your Congressional Rep took your paycheck and did all your housing, transportation, clothes, and food shopping for you.
Good idea, nonetheless. I can’t wait to see it mature! Good Luck!
August 27th, 2008 at 4:22 am
You need to get international orders going guys – otherwise people like me are just going to start sourcing them on the secondary markets or ask friends to reship them. It’s been 7 months now – how hard can it actually be?