quote:

Originally posted by 911Boss:
Everyone loves to beat up Apple over their “thousand dollar phones”. Quick look at Verizon website shows “Red Hydrogen One” (never even heard of that brand) Android at $1295, iPhone XS Max at $1099, Samsung Note 9 at $999, iPhone XS at $999, Google Pixel 3 at $929, Samsung S9+ at $929. Where is all the bitching about the overpriced thousand dollar Android phones that there is no market for?

I think you need to do a bit more research than just visiting Verizon's website. First the "Red Hydrogen One" phone is designed to be a 4K, high end, video camera wrapped around a cellphone. Its the definition of a niche product to put it mildly, and sells in incredibly low volumes. Pixels and S9's are continually being discounted and used as a part of package specials. I'd say anybody paying full price for either of these phones isn't doing their homework.

As I noted early, I am an Apple shareholder because I recognize the revenue potential of the company. That said, I carry and Android phone because of what I call the "Value Equation". There are several Android phones in the $400-$600 range that offer me all the functionality I need daily, while requiring me to compromise on very little. Cheaper phones have gotten very good. As such, the "Value Equation" for my dollar skews to these phones over the $1k+ flagships. Are the flagships better? Yes, but only marginally, and often, not in ways that impact me (Ex. Selfie Camera?
ReallY?).

I just wish Apple would develop and market phones at a lower price point that would offer consumers who can't shell out $1k for a phone an alternative way to entry the Apple ecosystem. Studies have shown that once an Apple customer, 'most' consumers stick with the products/platform so it would be to Apple's benefit to try and find ways to hook more customers.

quote:

Originally posted by bigdeal:
I think you need to do a bit more research than just visiting Verizon's website... First the "Red Hydrogen One" phone is designed to be a 4K, high end, video camera wrapped around a cellphone. Its the definition of a niche product to put it mildly, and sells in incredibly low volumes. Pixels and S9's are continually being discounted and used as a part of package specials. I'd say anybody paying full price for either of these phones isn't doing their homework...

My point was they aren’t that far off the other high end offerings. iPhones 8 and up do 4K recording as well. Package specials frequently apply to iPhones as well. I’ve seen offers of $200 pre-paid VISA with iPhone purchase. I got my iPhone 7 from Verizon “free” buy giving them my iPhone 6 and changing to them from ATT. Bought the 6 for $650ish if I recall, $350 of which was covered by selling my 5. Sold the 7 (which was free by giving up the 6) for $500 or so and put that towards the X.

Also, if you are a user of top tier iPhone, you likely are upgrading from 1-2 versions back. One version back can easily net half the purchase price. Two versions back a third or so. Even if not selling private party, Apple or cell providers will give you as much as $300-$400 on a trade in for a recent model phone.

quote:

...I just wish Apple would develop and market phones at a lower price point that would offer consumers who can't shell out $1k for a phone an alternative way to entry the Apple ecosystem. Studies have shown that once an Apple customer, 'most' consumers stick with the products/platform so it would be to Apple's benefit to try and find ways to hook more customers.

They do, they call it the XR and previously SE models. Right now XR is $749 or as little as $449 depending on what you trade in. Additionally used private party makes an affordable path to Apple.

People seem to bitch about the top iPhone price, ignoring the top Android prices then toss around lower line Android prices, ignoring the lower line or refurb Apple options. Refurb iPhone 7, 128gb is $469 right now. “But it’s refurb!” you say... yes, BUT Apple refurb is for all intents and purposes new. New battery installed, no cosmetic damage, SAME 1 year warranty as new and same option to extend warranty to two years with AppleCare+.

quote:

Originally posted by BillyBonesNY:
The shit they pull to irritate their customers is a factor as well.

Slowing down older iphone units to force upgrading, lack of a slot for extending memmory, tying device to an Apple/itunes account.

Not a fan of Jobs, if he was brilliant, he would have cultivated a successor.

Everything you said here is false.

-No company intentionally irritates their customers while also being successful.
-They didn't slow down iPhones to force upgrades. They slowed them down when the battery couldn't meet the demands of the system, preventing automatic shutdown.
-Lack of memory slot is a decision shared by almost all high-end devices, android included. The slot consumes precious space, compromises the waterproofing and the cosmetic design, and leads to reliability issues. It is virtually only present now on low-end devices. Furthermore, cloud services make add-on memory redundant.
-You very much need a google account to receive similar benefits on an android device.
-Steve Jobs cultivated Tim Cook to be his successor. The je ne sais quois of certain individuals is not fungible, and cannot be simply conveyed to another.

quote:

Kass: Lessons Learned From Apple's Collapse

Apple has not collapsed.

Among Fortune 500 companies, Apple is rated #4.

Where has Apple's greatest revenue loss occurred with diminished sales? China.

Think about it.

quote:

Originally posted by sigcrazy7:

quote:

Originally posted by BillyBonesNY:
The shit they pull to irritate their customers is a factor as well.

Slowing down older iphone units to force upgrading, lack of a slot for extending memmory, tying device to an Apple/itunes account.

Not a fan of Jobs, if he was brilliant, he would have cultivated a successor.

Everything you said here is false.

-No company intentionally irritates their customers while also being successful.
-They didn't slow down iPhones to force upgrades. They slowed them down when the battery couldn't meet the demands of the system, preventing automatic shutdown.
-Lack of memory slot is a decision shared by almost all high-end devices, android included. The slot consumes precious space, compromises the waterproofing and the cosmetic design, and leads to reliability issues. It is virtually only present now on low-end devices. Furthermore, cloud services make add-on memory redundant.
-You very much need a google account to receive similar benefits on an android device.
-Steve Jobs cultivated Tim Cook to be his successor. The je ne sais quois of certain individuals is not fungible, and cannot be simply conveyed to another.

Come on now man, we can’t let the truth get in the way of blind jealousy!