$599 Are You Out Of Your Mind?
Yes, I’m talking about the iPhone. Yes, I’m a skeptic… but it’s not what you think I swear.
It’s just that I can’t figure out who needs an iPhone. Who are all these people standing around waiting to get one? And for that matter why is it that so many people normally walking around moaning about their finances and the high price of health care can suddenly plunk down $599 (is that with or with out accessories) for a fancy pants phone?
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a consumer whore. My family, they’re consumer whores too. We have TiVo, Mp3 players, we have a laptop each, and then there is our beloved Wii, but at some point I have to wonder who really needs to watch Pirates of the Caribbean on their telephone?
There are those of us on macs at work who also want to take their work on the go, a la a blackberry or treo. However, those devices don’t sync up very well with a mac–so for those of us whose macs are workhorses, we’ve been waiting ages for a portable device that can keep up. It will eliminate so much frustration in my day to day work.
> And for that matter why is it that so many people > normally walking around moaning about their
> finances and the high price of health care can
> suddenly plunk down $599 (is that with or with out > accessories) for a fancy pants phone?
Why do you think these two groups of people are the same??? You’ve given no evidence that they are…. I sincerely doubt that they are. The people who cannot afford health insurance are not the people buying iPhones. The people buying iPhones are the upper middle class and the rich — they are not the ones worrying about health insurance.
That’s it. I’m telling Steve Jobs.
Same thing I heard about the ipod 5 years ago. It’s totally here to stay. The first wave will be just bought by techies and gizmo fanatics, but it will become cheaper and cheaper and will dominate the market.
David: I should have clarified this point a little, and for that I’m sorry. I personally know people (many of them) who have no health insurance either because they work independently or as contractors or just because their job is not required to provide medical insurance. They will not pay for their own medical insurance but are very likely to shell out a couple grand for a big flat panel tv or $600 for a new phone. They also take the day off work to see the new sci-fi movie and play the latest greatest videogame system. Am I the only one who knows these guys?
It is this set of the population I was referring to in that statement, in re-reading it, it did sound much broader than I had intended.
Health insurance is a very important issue and one I do not take lightly. Thanks for giving me a chance to clarify my point.
Well, you mention you have a laptop, an MP3 player, etc. If you use your laptop primarily for internet access, looking at photos, and listening to music, which many computers users do (and many Mac users), the iPhone is an adjunct or even a replacement altogether.
Is anybody calling you out for owning a laptop?
I would argue the “phone” is the least compelling use of the iPhone. Phone’s are boring and I don’t like talking people anyhow.
So basically you’re asking: “Who wants a $599 phone that plays movies?”
Well, I can tell you the answer: Nobody!
But perhaps people DO want a $499 *or* $599 phone that also handles email and the web like no other previous phone, and legitimately helps them get things done while away from the office.
Yep. That’s precisely *why* I want one (cough, cough..)
No, really. I don’t much care about the phone part, or the cool video part – but I do want access to my contact list, the ability to stay connected via wifi from *anywhere*, and other cool productivity-related stuff.
Plus, of course, an iPod, for when I don’t want to be so productive.
$599 for an iPhone is a bit excessive but I am seeing ads on craigslist asking $1000 for them. Anyone who can’t wait to get one at the already high retail price is a dang fool.
It’s a nice product but my phone does a2dp, MMS, streaming video, removable memory and has 3.2mp camera.
SE K790A FTW
Seriously though… it’s amusing as hell watching consumerism consume.
When the iPod first came out in 2001, there were plenty of cheaper MP3 players with more features. And yet, Apple rose to dominate the MP3 player market. Why do you think that is?
Because, unlike other companies, Apple doesn’t simply participate in an arms race where the object of the game is to have a longer checklist of features/memory/speed/etc.
Instead, they reinvent and streamline the entire experience.
I’m also not sure how you can scoff at consumerism when you own a smartphone yourself. Seems like quite the double standard…
I don’t own a smart phone, sadly my phone is about the dumbest phone you can get and still have a connection…