jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:46 am
We don't do market research as such, as someone above says, how do you do it without giving away plans and timescales?
Market research companies will be able to give you the answer to that, will be able to explain how they achieve that for their clients. It is not that hard to achieve; it is mostly about how the questions are asked and framed.
jamesh wrote: ↑Fri Aug 02, 2019 8:46 am
So, why DO people want the 4GB, when the 2GB would do the job?
A number of reasons.
1GB comes free, 2GB = +$10 per GB, 4GB = +$6.6 per GB, so 4GB appears to offer the best value for money.
It's not about doing the job, it's about being able to do the job in the future.
2GB may be enough now for someone's needs now, but what of that future, what if their needs change ? The extra 2GB is insurance against having bought something sub-optimal to start with. Spending an extra $10 now feels better than finding one had wasted $45.
There's nothing better than 4GB for now, so buying that means there can be no regrets at buying something smaller later. It increases certainty that the right thing was purchased, reduces doubt about whether what one is buying will be suitable enough.
1GB for headless, 2GB for desktop, 4GB for power-user is fine in principle, but the majority of people won't be buying for a specific use, won't want to restrict themselves to a specific use. They want to be sure they can do anything they want to do and not be constrained by having made a poor decision when purchasing.
1GB or 2GB may be enough, but there may be times when 4GB is needed. Most will see it as better to have that extra and not use it than not have it when it is needed.
It's the same as why buy a 64GB or 32GB SD Card when 16GB or 8GB will do ? It's only when one comes to need that extra does one find it was false economy to have bought smaller than one now needs.
They are the same forces which lead consumers to not buy the pack of something they need but the pack which is twice the size for a few pennies more.
I believe the only way 4GB wouldn't have been the most popular version is if you had produced an 8GB version. Or perhaps were selling the 4GB at $65 or higher.