WSJ: Less Expensive iPhone Could Come as Soon as This Year

[xkmxkmxlmx]

Originally Posted by iGrip

Geez - all we need is more of the unwashed masses using Apple products. What is this world coming to? I remember when owning Apple gear made you one of the elite. So sad to see what is happening.

/satire, right? Right?

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by bushido

"could" ... thats all

it could also be invisible or travel through time

That's ridiculous - that would be an upgrade and not be cheaper. Do you have any idea how much a flux capacitor costs to mass produce?

[rendevouspoo]

Originally Posted by OrangeSVTguy

Don't see how the replacing aluminum case with a plastic one will make it cheaper.

Just ask the other MacRumors posters. When the Apple vs Android debate comes up, the No. 1 argument is 'Android is cheaper because it has cheap plastic,' which is, in every sense of the word, idiotic.

[Rocketman]

I would hope and expect the larger but lower cost iPhone (maxi-cheap) is released exclusively in China, India, Brazil, and Italy. Italy does not allow postpaid contracts and China does not have an established credit system, not that that's a bad thing. . . .

Sole compute and communication device for these folks.

[nepalisherpa]

Originally Posted by iGrip

Geez - all we need is more of the unwashed masses using Apple products. What is this world coming to? I remember when owning Apple gear made you one of the elite. So sad to see what is happening.

You know what you could do to keep your so-called "elite" status? Hire your own programmers, hardware designers, etc. and have a custom phone built for you!

[krravi]

Originally Posted by iGrip

The same thing happened to Porsche. It used to be a brand that was for those with truly great taste. They could turn heads and become the subject of conversation just by driving past. But now, anybody can buy one at some crappy used car lot.

Remember back when you could get a whole conference room full of meeting attendees to stop and redirect their attention just by pulling out an iPhone?

Nowadays every pimply faced high school loser has an iPhone. And Apple wants to make them cheaper?

Whatever.

So Apple to you, is like say a Saks fifth Ave product affordable to a select few.

Damn you Steve Jobs! How dare you design something that instead of changing ONLY a few peoples lives, changes the world!

[sinsin07]

Originally Posted by iGrip

Yep. Not anymore. So sad.

Only for you.

[wonderspark]

Originally Posted by Rogifan

Hmm...I have a hard time believing Apple is going to start making a plastic phone. How many products do they currently sell that are plastic (outside of accessories). I guess anything is possible but even this report seems to be more guessing than solid rumors.

I thought all iPhones were plastic through the 3GS.

[KdParker]

I didn't see anything in this article about the cheaper iPhone being larger.

[tomjleeds]

Originally Posted by wonderspark

I thought all iPhones were plastic through the 3GS.

Er...the original iPhone?

[Ubele]

Originally Posted by wonderspark

You're not elite if you think Porsche and Apple are status symbols.

Time to show how baller you are, and step up to Bugatti for your transportation needs.

Too late. Once I found out that a nouveau-riche commoner like Simon Cowell had purchased a Bugatti Veyron, I knew that its days as a status symbol were over. I gave mine away and bought a platinum-plated Lamborghini de' Medici V12. You unwashed plebes won't have heard of it, because I had it commissioned, and it's the only one in existence.

As for Apple products, I still deign to use them, only because they're less gauche than the competition.

Now if you'll excuse me, there's a snifter of 140-year-old Hardy Perfection cognac waiting for me in my study.

[sinsin07]

Originally Posted by KdParker

I didn't see anything in this article about the cheaper iPhone being larger.

Its further down on the home page:

Apple Launching Larger, Low-Cost iPhone for Emerging Markets Late This Year?

[Spungoflex]

The iphone 4 8GB should be $399 off contract and unlocked. There. Problem solved. They can also continue to release the 3GS for $299. They can still make plenty of profit on both of those devices at those price points. It will also allow everyone to own an iphone if they so choose.

3GS - $299
4 - $399
4s - $549
5 - $699

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by xkmxkmxlmx

/satire, right? Right?

...we hope. :O

[rjohnstone]

Originally Posted by tomjleeds

Er...the original iPhone?

Was a mix of plastic and metal.
The entire bottom portion of the phone was plastic.

[Renzatic]

Originally Posted by Spungoflex

The iphone 4 8GB should be $399 off contract and unlocked. There. Problem solved. They can also continue to release the 3GS for $299. They can still make plenty of profit on both of those devices at those price points. It will also allow everyone to own an iphone if they so choose.

A 3GS for $300? An 8GB iPhone 4 for $400? Seriously?

There's a fine line between charging a premium for a solid product and gouging a bunch of suckers with more money than sense.

[Eric E. Schmidt]

Originally Posted by samcraig

…
I had an original iPhone. But I also didn't wave it around like it was a jesus device.

yes, that would be improper. it was god. look at what it spawned.

[Compile 'em all]

Apple will start playing a very dangerous game.

Originally Posted by OrangeSVTguy

Don't see how the replacing aluminum case with a plastic one will make it cheaper.

Easier to manufacture.

[samcraig]

Originally Posted by Compile 'em all

Apple will start playing a very dangerous game.




Easier to manufacture.

Oh just slap that darn iOS on one of them cheap android phones

[KdParker]

Originally Posted by sinsin07

Its further down on the home page:

Apple Launching Larger, Low-Cost iPhone for Emerging Markets Late This Year?

I know that.

I was just responding to the statement that this article backs up that the earlier story might be true.

----------

Originally Posted by xkmxkmxlmx

/satire, right? Right?

lets hope so....

[Macman45]

Originally Posted by abhishake

I think it'd be cool to satisfy those customers with bigger hands and larger tastes.

Or..small hands and no cash?

On the other hand...Maybe..

[MrDc2]

Originally Posted by iGrip

The same thing happened to Porsche. It used to be a brand that was for those with truly great taste. They could turn heads and become the subject of conversation just by driving past. But now, anybody can buy one at some crappy used car lot.

Remember back when you could get a whole conference room full of meeting attendees to stop and redirect their attention just by pulling out an iPhone?

Nowadays every pimply faced high school loser has an iPhone. And Apple wants to make them cheaper?

Whatever.

Why would you be checking your iPhone in a meeting?

[Kissaragi]

Originally Posted by RemE

I'd choose a black polycarbonate iphone 5 any day over the current aluminum version, it just makes more sense. The stainless steel 4's were so much more scuff resistant than the current soft aluminum so just give me light weight quality plastic. It wouldn't chafe in the case any worse than what I have now. If it's cheaper, that's a plus as well.

I never get the hate for plastic, If its done right then it can be a fantastic material.

[wonderspark]

Originally Posted by MrDc2

Why would you be checking your iPhone in a meeting?

He's above all the worthless, no-account mortals in the meeting, of course.

Or, he's actually the one who *called* the meeting, and what he had to say put everyone to sleep, so he whipped out his iPhone and finally got their attention.

[tomjleeds]

Originally Posted by rjohnstone

Was a mix of plastic and metal.
The entire bottom portion of the phone was plastic.

I'm fully aware of the construction, I did have two of them.

Were they or were they not "plastic"?