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I'm not so sure this would happen, although I would like it to happen, I've never understood why Apple doesn't make more affordable products.. If Apple would make more affordable Macs I think people would jump the bandwagon, the primary reason more people use a Windows machine is because it's much more affordable.

I don't think it'd too complicated making a more affordable computer while still making it look beautiful, cuz we all know Apple doesn't like to compromise design.. I just think if Apple did target that $300-600 market we would see so many more Mac users.. which would mean more people would also start developing for OSX

Apple doesnt make more affordable computers because they would make less money if they did so.
 
Because as El-Jobso has said repeatedly they don't know how to make a cheap computer that isn't a POS. On the other hand, they do know how to make a $200 iPhone -- after all they made a $200 iPod Touch.

An unlocked, no contract $200 iPhone would be a killer product among young people in Europe, and lower income consumers world-wide.

Unfortunately it would also be a hit among rich Europeans and Americans who currently pay $600 per phone for an iPhone. This product amounts to a transfer of $400 from Apple to the cell service providers.
 
With the HTC Inspire being only $100 on contract, the 3GS doesn't even have a chance. Apple needs to do something, but not an iPhone nano :eek:

*Edit* : I forgot the 3GS is only $50 on contract now.

I don't think a lot of people buy 3GS now, mainly because it's old news.

If apple just repackage them, give it a different name, I am sure a lot more people will buy them.
 
And kill a revenue stream? Won't happen.

Yeah, any new apple iphone will have the app store. Why wouldn't it? Almost every apple product has an app store now and it doesn't make sense to introduce a product that cannot utilize it. After all, apple makes a 30% profit off all non-free apps. Apple probably makes more off app purchases made by iphone users than the actual phone itself. Why would apple give that up?
 
What's so flipping hilarious, is as long as it's Steves idea lots of fans support it.

When only a short while ago a long time member of this forum was speculating over the possibility of a 7" iPad and people jumped down his throat like he was a criminal.

How hypocritical the masses are.
 
Oh I agree, (I'd love it if you could enable/disable the data plan when you needed it––I'd enable it only when traveling) but that's up to the carriers. That's a plan change, not a change to the phone itself. What this rumor is suggesting is that Apple will sell a lower-end model for less money, and I don't see what that would be; Apple already sells the 3GS for $99.

Apple sells the 3GS for $4-500, not $100.
 
Hello 'iPhone 5' this summer.

This June is too soon for a full release of a brand new iPhone -- this makes perfect sense. The leaps from iPhone to iPhone 3G to iPhone 3GS to iPhone 4 were big.

iPhone 4 to iPhone 5 won't be a big leap until they add LTE which won't happen until 2012.

iphone 5 will be big
 
exactly! i don't see why people can't grasp this concept!

the ipod touch that is currently out is only $229. it's basically an iphone without a sim card. this can easily be done for $200.

People grasp that concept just fine. What you don't grasp is that just because you want it doesn't mean that the company that has to make it wants it. Apple likes making $300+ per phone. Where is the $300 profit margin in a $200 phone?

And just how can you add the most expensive component to a $229 device and EASILY make it for $200?
 
Except that the majority of the world uses and is happy with Windows. Do you think that there are hundreds of millions of people not buying a Mac because it cost $300 more than a pc?

And the answer is RESOUNDING YES.

Do you know how many people are stuck with Windows because some app they use in Windows is not available on Mac (real or imaginary).

How many people not buying a Mac because it costs $300 more than pc? Well that's everyone one around me (wife, relatives, coworkers) who hasn't bought a mac already.
 
Simple question. How are you going to make the most money, by selling phones or by selling services, ads, and apps on phones?

I'd argue that you'll make a lot more by doing the latter.

Thankfully we have a real world example that shows just how false that is. Surprised you'd make a statement that's so obviously wrong. You think Google makes $300 from the lifespan of each Android phone? No sorry.
 
there is a huge market for no contract phones. I know a lot of people that need a new iphone or want out of a blackberry, but won't pay $599 no contract iphone.

Yes there is.

Why do you think Apple makes over half of all the profits in the cell industry and yet, inexplicably, leaves that huge market to everyone else?

for $200, you wouldn't have to worry about your contract at all and can replace an iphone real cheap. only way now to get one decently cheap is to get is subsidized, which if u break the phone or it's lost then you have to fork out $599 again.

Yeah and the only way to replace my BMW is to buy a new one for $32,000. Wouldn't BMW be smarter to offer one for $6000 so people wouldn't be tempted to buy Hyundais?
 
And the answer is RESOUNDING YES.

Do you know how many people are stuck with Windows because some app they use in Windows is not available on Mac (real or imaginary).

How many people not buying a Mac because it costs $300 more than pc? Well that's everyone one around me (wife, relatives, coworkers) who hasn't bought a mac already.

Take off the glasses. The business world runs on Windows and it will be a long time before that changes. I don't know many people who chose Windows and complain about it. Same thing for Mac. They each have their place. Apple is focusing on mobile systems. They are clearly winning that war. Jobs made a mistake decades ago and that is why Windows has the majority of the market.
 
Not happening. Steve said it about a million times that they dont know how to make a cheap phone. It will be like the MacBook Air. They might make it smaller but it wont be 200. Maybe 400. But thats the absolute minimum. Only Samsung sells cheap plasticy touch screen phones at 200
 
To all those who say this is not Apple's style...

Once upon a time, all iPods came with an internal hard disk. There were rumors of Apple entering the low-end flash based mp3 market, and many people said "It will never happen, it's not Apple's style". Apple released the iPod shuffle...

Therefore, every half baked, stupid idea is actually worth considering.
 
Thankfully we have a real world example that shows just how false that is. Surprised you'd make a statement that's so obviously wrong. You think Google makes $300 from the lifespan of each Android phone? No sorry.

Never said that. It's all about volume though. There are a lot more phones with Android sold. And with a range from sub $100 phones up to hi end phones, even more will be sold.

This is starting to look like the personal computer all over again.
 
Dammit I knew I should have held off.

The iPhone 4 is great but it has more bells and whistles and does more than I'll ever need to do, plus, while everyone wants the damn thing bigger I'd love an even smaller device.

426782424_c742c9f5e0.jpg


Ugh. Burned again.

My favorite portable gaming system is the Game Boy Micro and if they made a iPhone at a similar size I'd be there in line day one.
 
Yes there is.

Why do you think Apple makes over half of all the profits in the cell industry and yet, inexplicably, leaves that huge market to everyone else?



Yeah and the only way to replace my BMW is to buy a new one for $32,000. Wouldn't BMW be smarter to offer one for $6000 so people wouldn't be tempted to buy Hyundais?

You totally are missing what's happening. Do BMW sell gas? No. Do they make a profit from the gas that goes into the car? No.

If BMW sold the gas or made a profit from the gas, would it be smart of them to offer a cheaper car? Yes!
 
great. here we go with iPhone nano threads :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

not going to happen.

Get ready for it boys and girls. Now that the Verizon iPhone is reality, the new ghost to chase is this alleged Virgin Mobile iPhone that Richard Branson has been hounding Jobs to do for the past four years.

I can see it now, Branson flying in SpaceShip Two with a Virgin Mobile iPhone in his hand making the first iPhone call from space.

Yeah, I know, cell towers don't go that high but he'll either have a custom repeater in SpaceShip Two or transmit video take in flight once they get back into cell reception. For so much of a remote space, Mojave has very good cell coverage around the hangers and operating buildings.
 
diluting the market with different iterations of an iphone is a mistake, iphone is not a brand it is a product. it is fine to have diffferent phones with different capacities but to make different models is silly, there is no reason to, and is falling into the trap that all other manufacturers have fallen into when trying to catch up to the iphone, it isn't about the tech or the device. it is the user experience, what apple should do is spend the time in research trying to revolutionize the user experience to the next level not rehash the same thing in a different shell.
 
So a phone for old people? Doesn't really have the sex appeal Apple is known for.

A phone for people who want a phone and not a smart phone. There is the strong possibility that said device may appeal to an older demographic perhaps even a younger demographic (ages 8 - 12) but available to the masses nonetheless. If :apple: makes it, it'll be damn sexy for sure.
 
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