One of our first lessons: you don't need an infinite number of buyers and sellers to predict the market price. Simply research a few vendors for a given product and you will get a sense quickly of good value (i.e. a reasonable price). Educated consumers do this instinctively. Oh yeah - and don't rely on free batteries that come with cheap electronics.
We were introduced to our first Asus eee pc, a scrappy little anti-establishment mascot providing computing essentials in a durable package at < $300 CAD. It has no hard disk, is customer-centric (boots up quickly, strips out unnecessary "noise" but can be extended), and uses open source software (Linux) while also being Windows-friendly
. And I have a soft spot for Asus because they use GF AgieCharmilles machine tools. 
Takeaways:
- Disruptive technologies, like Asus, can change the market place, but it's not enough just to create a new technology and ride it out. You have to consider the reactions from competitors, partners and customers, and how to leverage these players.
- Good management can be the antithesis of innovation because:
- It relies on "knowledgeable experts" who perhaps can't see beyond their boundaries. Makes you think - what are we saying today about the future? Can we challenge these assumptions?
- Groupthink - we like to agree with each other; opposing views get internalized.
- Market research - believing is seeing?
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