essey for gmat (about digital cameras)

ESSAY QUESTION:
The following appeared in an article in a consumer-electronics magazine:"Company X's latest model of digital camera to be released next month, the TR12, is being promoted as the most portable, user-friendly digital camera available, and also an excellent bargain. It can be expected to live up to these claims, because Company X's previous model, the TR11, was universally lauded as setting the standard in these areas last year."
Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. Point out flaws in the argument's logic and analyze the argument's underlying assumptions. In addition, evaluate how supporting evidence is used and what evidence might counter the argument's conclusion. You may also discuss what additional evidence could be used to strengthen the argument or what changes would make the argument more logically sound.


MY RESPONSE:

The author of the article in a consumer-electronic magazine claims that the latest model of digital camera TR12 is the most portable and user-friendly because the previous model of digital camera TR11 produced by the same company set standard in the area.

The mail flaw in the logic of the author is that the forecast of success of a new camera is based on the result of production of previous model of the company. There is no guarantee that the company X is able to repeat previous success second time. It can happen that photographers would prefer to use the previous model TR11. In case if there is no principal difference between TR11 and TR12 some customers would continue to use TR11. So, it can happen that sales of TR12 will be hurt by sales of TR11. And TR11 will be considered as the most portable, user-friendly digital camera available.

Also the author did not take into consideration the external competition in the market. It might be that any other rival company invested a huge amount of money in R&D and is ready to introduce to the market a new revolution digital camera.

Also author was not specific describing main advantages of the TR12. The qualities like "most portable, user-friendly" and "an excellent bargain" do not provide details about camera. What fixtures the camera should have to be considered as user-friendly? Being simple in operations? In this case the cheapest camera with only one button is more user-friendly than innovative professional camera. What means "excellent bargain"? Is that cheaper than a similar model? If yes, in what extent? I think that such an abstract description of advantages does not provide useful information to consumers.Also I would like to notice that the author is also imprecise in the description of the market or field in which TR11 set the standard. The author referred to "these areas", but for me, a person who is not an expert in consumer-electronics, is rather difficult to understand what areas the author was talking about.

I think that if author wants to make his argument more reliable he should be more precise in the choice of words and try to consider more factors which can influence on the final result. Also he can add more details about the models of camera. What quality made the TR11 the setting standard product? Does the TR12 is up to the standard? What is the advantage of TR12 in comparison with TR11? What made TR11 "the most portable, user-friendly digital camera available"? With all this details the argument will provide a clear description of the camera. And the knowledge about the models of digital camera will allow to reader to make all the inferences about the future of the TR12.