It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
Summary: Logitech dropped a bombshell last week when it said that its Google TV-powered Revue set-top box was not performing well, which is a bit of an understatement. Sales were so bad that the company's acting CEO Guerrino De Luca said on its earnings call that he had decided to slash the Revue's price from $249 to $99.
Logitech dropped a bombshell last week when it said that its Google TV-powered Revue set-top box was not performing well, which is a bit of an understatement. Sales were so bad that the company's acting CEO Guerrino De Luca said on its earnings call that he had decided to slash the Revue's price from $249 to $99.99, which comes a couple of months after the price was reduced from $299.
In an e-mail to Engadget, Logitech confirmed that the price was officially dropped starting yesterday, and its Website already reflects the dramatic price reduction. Whether that actually spurs sales is another thing, as the Revue has pretty much become an afterthought among consumers considering an Apple TV or Roku box instead. Logitech claims that the Version 2 update, due later in the summer, will be automatically added to the Revue and feature a simplified UI and access to the Android Market.
In its note to the tech site, the company also wanted to clarify its statement that "returns for Logitech Revue were greater than sales." It was not referring to the number of devices returned by consumers post-purchase; instead it was referring to returns by its distributors and retailers. I'm not so sure how this is a much better thing for Logitech; even if that means people aren't all returning the thing after buying it, it does mean that demand is so weak that its retail partners have given up expecting the Revue to fly off the shelves.
Either way, it's another blow to Google TV, which promises big improvements in its next iteration, but may already have blown its chance for home theater domination. Does it still have a chance if devices running the platform are priced more in line with Apple TV and its ilk? Let us know your thoughts in the Comments section.
Kick off your day with ZDNet's daily email newsletter. It's the freshest tech news and opinion, served hot. Get it.
Talkback
Android Smartphones
Google TV is one of those products that would be better if OEM's designed it.
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
There's a set-top box with Google TV?
Who knew?
and now I know, I'm afraid I don't care.
at $99 it's still a rip off..
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
These devices don't sell themselves
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
Most Samsung and LG LED tv's with internet have a browser built in.. probably better than Logitech..
Or better yet....
Most of the applets are built into my TV (Amazon streaming, Netflix, etc) but I have room on my entertainment shelf for the laptops and prefer the complete flexibility.
I admit to splurging on a very cool Keysonic wireless keyboard with touchpad because I wanted the range, but with this rig, I have mega power and flexibility and I don't need any of the crap that is otherwise already built into the TV.
Or better yet....
Most of the applets are built into my TV (Amazon streaming, Netflix, etc) but I have room on my entertainment shelf for the laptops and prefer the complete flexibility.
I admit to splurging on a very cool Keysonic wireless keyboard with touchpad because I wanted the range, but with this rig, I have mega power and flexibility and I don't need any of the crap that is otherwise already built into the TV.
Apple
Netflix on Windows Media Center
No extra hardware required!
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
I love Netflix on my Apple TV but every time I want to watch an old movie on streaming, it is not available... just yesteray I was looking for 'Fatal Attraction' and itw as available on DVD only... time to cancel streaming...
Err....
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
It's a close-out price
Sling did the same thing with the SlingCatcher. It was also priced around $300 originally, but at the end the price was dropped to $99 to clear out the stock. Even before they dropped the price, Sling stopped active support. At least buyers of Google TV from Logitech might get some support still from Google -- though nobody really knows what Google's commitment will be since it looks like Page is narrowing Google's focus.
RE: It's official -- Logitech drops price of Google TV-powered Revue set-top box to $99.99
I haven't tried the AppleTV but I get lots of mileage from my MythTv setup and my Roku box (which I've been watching a lot more lately since they added Crackle Network - before it was mostly just for Netflix).
And you could do tons with a laptop - even multiple OS's, external storage, tuners, wireless accessories and internet connections, all at the size of an optical disk player (plus the control devices, of course).
It a netbook with a better display