For what it's worth - here's why I think the K-01 is for me.
My first dslr was an ist DL2. I wouldn't call myself a
serious photographer (my photos kind of speak for themselves in that aspect
Flickr: Zach Manchester UK's Photostream). But I do want good quality. From there, I upgraded to a K10d. When the K20d came out, I bought the Samsung GX20 as I couldn't justify spending a few hundred pounds more on essentially the exact same camera. Bought it new on eBay and even got £100 cash back from Samsung. So in essence, I nabbed a K20d for £210 2 months after release. I'm no snob, I didn't mind having a Samsung at all.
I would have bought a NX200, but I have invested in a range of K mount lenses and didn't want to buy an adaptor and lose out on many of the functions.
I would love to have a K5 and considered it. But the HD codec it uses it ageing and not efficient. And it's pricey.
I would have preferred that the K-01 had an optical viewfinder, but I haven't missed one using my iPhone.
The fact that the K-01 is a slightly stripped down K5, but with improvements in relation to stereo sound, a more efficient codec, a wind filter on the mic, comes in at £679 with the 40mm lens (which will retail at £150 alone), makes it a very worthy and substantial upgrade to my GX20. And it takes my lenses. My order was placed today. And from what I gather, it looks like a 5 March release here in the UK (but could change...)
I am happy the K-01 is more simplified than the K5 - there are functions that I don't fully understand even on my GX20, so I don't mess with them. Does this mean I am an awful photographer? I don't think so. I don't want to fanny about with settings - I'm more concerned with taking a photo. What I do might not be everyone else's cup of tea, but I'm happy with the photos and mash-ups I make - that's the important thing, right?
My partner is terrified of my GX20 as it's too complicated for him - I see his point. It will be nice for him to use the K-01, especially when we go places on holiday. Maybe, I might get a photo of myself on holiday, as it's always me who has to take the photos as he balks at the idea of even touching the GX20.
Initially, I was taken aback at the design. But it has really grown on me.
Marc Newson had me in mind when he designed the K-01. And I thank him for that. I don't know if he had the
serious photographers in mind though - you know, the ones who think the kit is more important than the end result. But, you can't please everyone.
So, it's a winner: for me, my partner, Marc Newson and indeed Pentax, because I have come back to them instead of sticking with Samsung.