Apple should have made a distinguishable pre-paid phone a long time ago to separate the markets. A mass produced pre-paid phone with minimum specs could probably be usable and my guess priced at $350
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Low-Cost iPhone to Use Plastic or Hybrid Plastic/Metal Design, Due in Late 2013
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Do you own a unibody MBP? If so, wouldn't it hurt just a bit if it turned into plastic one day?
I don't think that's a valid comparison.
For one thing, the aluminium on a MBP accounts for a much greater percentage of the surface area than the aluminium on a phone (given the whole front face of a phone is is glass).
Another factor is that many people put their phones in cases, in which case it doesn't really matter what the phone is made from an aesthetics point of view.
Lastly, i'm not holding my MBP. I actually think contoured polycarbonate feels better to hold when compared to cold metal with hard edges.
But in answer to your question, hell yes. I love my unibody MBP.
No, I'm just taking exception to this "hurt" word you keep throwing around. Are you really "hurt" by materials in consumable devices ?
My house is built of red bricks... I choose it over one built out of stone, or wood, or ... vinyl laminates (you know, 'plastic'). And frankly, I like the look of Red bricks a lot. What is your problem with red bricks ? I find gray or pink bricks ugly as sin if you ask me and would never want a house built out of them.
Sorry, are you equating materials of consumer human built products with the beauties of nature ?
Yes, I'm going to have to turn this into a fight if you don't stop equating unimportant things like man made consumables to things that actually matter like the beauty of the nature that surrounds us. I think you need to strongly sit down and evaluate some priorities there...
You seem to be making a good argument for sticking with aluminium!
Hey, I like aluminium. It's good stuff, and I'd prefer having all my computer junk made out of it. Thing is, just because it's nice and Apple uses it for the vast majority of their products doesn't make plastic the crappy, cheap alternative.
If anything, I'd say the "expense" of using aluminium over plastic comes from the milling process. Plastics are much more malleable, and can be molded into a variety of shapes quite easily. Aluminium? They have to run it all through a shop to have it hollowed out and laser cut into shape. I'm thinking that probably costs a lot more money to do.
But that doesn't change the fact that the end results are still two products made out of two equally cheap materials. Aluminium is far from premium.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyperbole
I thought the words 'just a bit' and the smiley face at the end might have given it away.
Okay, now I can't tell if you're being funny or serious here. I could have picked grey bricks, or weatherboard, or something else, but I suppose I picked on red bricks because my ugly old high-school was made of red bricks, and I've had an aversion to them ever since. No offence intended!
So are you saying 'human built products' shouldn't aspire to beauty in any way?
I suppose plastic will suddenly become magical and innovative.
And, it will blend better!
As an AAPL shareholder, I'm all for a cheaper iPhone if it'll boost sales and profits. I'd also welcome a cheaper device - current upgrade costs from the carriers mid-contract are too high. And the iPhone's "exclusivity" factor disappeared long ago.
Take that, plastic haters
----------
Yeah, and BMW aren't growing at a ridiculous rate, are they?
Isn't the 3 series their low cost model?
some people like saving money. (in the US) if i pay upfront for an iPhone 4, it's $450. I can put it on any number of unlimited talk & text + ~2gb plans starting at $30/month.
total cost of iPhone after 2 years: $1170
now an iPhone 4 is free on contract. but unlimited talk & text + ~2gb plans start at about $100/month.
total cost of iPhone on contract: $2400
the contract price is more than double. that said, prepaid service is generally inferior to that of contract plans, but the $1000+ savings is enough for many to overlook this.
Then, there are people like myself, who don't want a data plan at all but still want the iPhone for voice/text & data use on wifi. as far as i know, there are no contract plans that come without data for the iPhone. so i'd be forced in to buying a plan i don't want.
You're probably right. I'm guessing it's the manufacturing process that costs extra too. Another benefit (I think) is it's recyclability. Plastics can be recycled too of course, but I happen to know that aluminium is highly valued by the recycling companies around here, so there must be something to that.
Ok, some things are free for some people (normally the ones who are dirty rich and are the people who actually can buy whatever they want without caring). But out of the world's population they are in quite a minority, agree? And I think most of us agree that we don't know a lot of wealthy people. So if we can disregard from them it wouldn't be horribly wrong to say that in the majority of the cases nothing is completely free.
And I would also like to know where the store is located where you can just go in and be handed a iPhone 4 completely free (no extra charge) or a 4S for $100.
Hyperbole is an exageration. Hurt is just the wrong word. I'm not "hurt" at all, not even a tiny little bit, by consummer devices and their materials. Hence my objection to your use of the word, at all.
I'm dead serious, I like my house and its cozy red bricks. My first school was made out of red bricks and I enjoyed the time I spent there a lot with my friends. The simpler days, how I long for them.
They can if they want to, I don't have to care or be "hurt" by it. Frankly, I don't really give a damn as long as they are functional. Equating that to flowers, nature and women is just daft in my mind.
My HP elitebook is made out of plastic, feels as sturdy and well built as my MacBooks. The Polycarbonate Unibody MacBook was pretty sturdy and had a nice feel (especially liked the rubber bottom) even though I didn't own one (that's when I got the MacBook Air). All of it was functional, so who really cares what it looks like ?
Do you care that your hammer is a thing of beauty or do you just want it to drive nails in ?
The ignorance... In Germany they do. You can get a 3 or 5 series with CLOTH SEATS
We are snobs in America and see BMW as a status symbol. Doesn't bother them none.. More money in their bank
It was never even debunked. Phil Schiller never said they wouldn't make a low cost iPhone, only that Apple wouldn't sacrifice quality.
Last time I checked, Apple uses plastic in a lot of their stuff (again, Airport products, the Time Capsules, Mac accessories like chargers and adapters, the Apple TV) and these are quality products and Apple makes low cost product lines like the iPod Nano, iPod Shuffle, iPad Mini, Mac Mini, etc..
So essentially, Phil Schiller wasn't debunking crap, he was saying "stop fretting about it, if we do make a low cost iPhone, it'll be the same Apple quality you've come to expect and we'll make it work at a lower pricepoint".
Do you own a unibody MBP? If so, wouldn't it hurt just a bit if it turned into plastic one day?
An aluminium notebook spontaneously turning itself into one made out of plastic?
Now that truly would be a sight to behold.
Almost ...
Dare I say it?
Magical!
My brand new BMW last year cost me a little less than 11k$. Yes, brand new 2011 MY BMW, 11k$. It had a leather seat, but plastic fenders and body panels all around.
It's still awesome fun to drive and has the added benefit of pissing off the older "I own a BMW, so I'm big ****" crowd as I fly by them, with skull designs on my shirts, torn jeans and questionable footwear (either my very worn Dr. Martens or some waterproof white/black leather Teknic's).
And its bright yellow to boot, I call it "Bumblebee".
Probably an A4 chip or even an older Samsung, a regular screen, no cameras or fancy internals or very-very limited cameras, plastic. I can see that.
However, it is then a very nice iPod Touch-Fone for $99-$149... and an iPod Touch with modern stuff and no phone is $299? Sounds like a kick in the iPT's crotch.
However, it is then a very nice iPod Touch-Fone for $99-$149... and an iPod Touch with modern stuff and no phone is $299? Sounds like a kick in the iPT's crotch.
The MacBook WAS a lower cost alternative to the MacBook Pro, and it DID have a plastic case rather than aluminum, so really nothing new under the sun.
Yes BMW use cheaper material. I used to have a 540 and 535xi. Let me start with the 540. The trim on the center console faded and cracked after 2 years of ownership. The wood trim is fake, unlike Lexus and Mercedes which use real wood overlay. The front passenger seat wont slide forward or backward because the plastic roller was cracked. The 535xi won't shift from PARK because the brake sensor behind the brake pedal got stuck. I found out that this spring loaded sensor is made from plastic that is prone to cracking when it's cold.
Exactly.. Hate to say it and really not trying to be a dick... Steve is DEAD! Whatever his image was is kinda moot now. The Market changes every day and Apple has to move forward.. Have no time to appeal to Steve's ego
The point is for places / people who buy the phone outright and then pay per month for service.
That "Free" iPhone 4 actually costs $350-$450, you're just paying for it by signing up for that expensive two year contract.
A phone that could be sold by prepaid carriers for $249 would probably be pretty popular around the world.
I assume the 1 series is the cheaper model (or possibly the Mini - which is just a UK BMW with a classic name)
Nothing is ever free...just means someone else has paid for it already.
With that said the phone is only "free" because it is subsidized and the price is built into your contract. Not every global setting has this option, so a cheaper option is the way to go to enter into that market segment to increase market share.
It was also the only laptop at the time that Apple offered that was 13", which is why even though I could easily afford the Pro (and normally opt for the premium model of any product I buy) I bought the 13" MacBook, because it was the size that mattered (and still does) to me.