[mafuyu]

The purpose of the incredibly high cost is to add a big artificial barrier to entry for a beta product. It limits the users to the people who really care about it and the wearables movement (and have the money!) It also allows Google to provide excellent customer service/support for Glass Explorers, which is important for Glass's image and collecting feedback.

I'd say that this one-day gimmick is a good sign that Google is slowly trying to introduce more Glasses to the public for a full release sometime this Fall (not around now, as many were speculating). The actual BOM cost for the current Glass seems to be around $200, so hopefully the official product will be considerably cheaper. That's what I'm waiting out for.

[yeukhon]

I like your anlysis. I think Google is actually quite welcome new buyers. If you sign up today, you can, most likely receive an invitation code within three months. I got mine in just two months. When I tweeted about it and said I wish I had the budget to get one, the next day Google Glass reached out to me on Twitter and said they could extend my invitation code to June. One could simply be my background (being involved in technology) and two possibly because this is an expensive product and they just want more customers.

[judk]

Honestly, if it is a budget stretcher, it is probably a bad idea to buy this, which is basically a head-mounted Android phone.

If you have a business idea, waiting a few months wikk cost you more than raising/borrowing funds now.

[yeukhon]

I don't have business idea. I just want to own one and use it occasionally, such as hiking and skydiving.

I've been hearing rumor about a consumer-level launch after Google I/O. Not sure how I will feel about owning a dev version vs a consumer version.

[bhartzer]

I couldn't see it being around $200, as even a decent frame for prescription glasses will run you several hundred dollars, I could see Glass being around $500 when all is said and done.

[Jack000]

I'm pretty sure prescription frames are just really overpriced due to a semi-monopoly in the market. Depending on your prescription there are online retailers that actually give you your first pair for free. The most expensive bits in Glass is probably the optics/electronics.

[fidotron]

I concur, but for a different reason: I think Google want this to be a "premium" product, in the same way the iPad has maintained its status in the tablet world.

Google are starting to recognise that merely having lots of users isn't necessarily as interesting or profitable as having slightly fewer that are of a higher value.