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Comment by lclarkmichalek | Hacker News Reader

$100 dollars?! $100 DOLLARS?! How? How do you justify that price? For a button? Admittedly, a button backed by a web service described in very flowery language, but still. A button for $100

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Err, I feel you are missing the point. The button itself costs $5. Removing the vowels is the expensive part. Bttns take research, you know.

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Hey, we are working on it. Small quantities are a pain.

But, in general, you are right. 100 bucks is not a sustainable price point and we certainly don't like it. Not a bit.

Which should give you an idea what we are trying to do.

Yep, utter madness. It includes a GSM module and SIM card slot, amongst other unnecessary things. Don't get me wrong, I'm sure they will be of use to some, but most aren't going to set up a cell account for a button. They really need to make a cheaper model without it. I'd hope for three variants:

- a really cheap USB one

- a more expensive Wi-Fi one

- a $99 Wi-Fi and GSM one.

Good ideas which we have also thought about. I not 100% convinced about the USB alone (requiring a computer does not fit well with our philosophy) but keep watching. I think you'll be positively surprised.

I think it also has a built in GSM module so that you don't need to pair it to WiFi. If it's completely standalone then that's particularly nice for the shop/hotel use case. And makes it easier for average home users.

But still - $100??

I may sound like a broken record, but we don't like the price point, either. Working on it...

It looks pretty flimsy too, looking at the video. It seems like not that bad of an idea, but not nearly life-changing or revolutionary enough of an appliance that I'd spend $100 for it.

Most things that need buttons already have them.

Well, they don't need to justify anything. And seems that even with this price tag they have at least 26 backers who are hipster enough to spend a hundred of bucks for this.

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