[larrys]

Good points (I like especially the fact that you incorporate real life experience). Although I've never worked retail I've had businesses where we've printed bar codes and had to use a scanner to test them for accuracy.

Anyway with respect to this:

"It's a dedicated barcode scanner"

So I would expect then if the amazon device turns out to be a hit that a dedicated bar code scanner might be incorporated into the functionality of a smartphone. Where if it was waved over a bar code you'd get a screen where you could then take action (or not). After amazon proves the market of course. (Like with Kindle).

I don't think that this necessarily means that an amazon device wouldn't have a use though. It would still come in handy for other purposes and at other times.