Like many others, I've always been happy to pay a premium for Apple products. But the difference is in the past you know with the premium you are getting the best of what Apple was offering at the time (not necessarily the best in the industry spec wise, but at least an advancement in their own product line). I'll still buy the iPad mini this time around, but the fact that even compared to their own products, it's significantly underpowered. When people can safely predict 2-3+ key features that will most likely be in next year's updated version, then you know the product is not the best they can offer.
They've gone from a company where people are curious about what innovative tech they'll bring in their future updates, to one where people are expecting basic features for NEXT year's product (e.g. A6, retina display). We don't even really need product leaks to predict what's coming next now. While the current iPad mini is likely usable and adequate in its current form, their new products no longer feel...as one certain person would put it, "magical".
You've never seen nor held it and you deem that it's only "usable and adequate"? That their new products no longer "feel magical"? Really? REALLY? I'm guessing the new Macbook Pro 15 and 13" laptops aren't "magical"? How about the new iMac? Not magical enough for you? Wow. I don't know what Apple needs to do to get those like you to feel all warm and tingling these days. For me, the new line up of their whole LINE is amazing. From the iPod Nano to the iPhone 5, the iPads, Desktops, Laptops ... everything. About the only thing I'm not impressed with is the Mac Pro and that's because it looks the same as it did for years. Everything else is pure cutting-edge awesome and good prices. Would I like the prices to be lower? Sure, but... they're premium products and I expect to pay more for a better product or service. You Get What You Pay For? An old adage that's still true.
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You're very hung up on retina... Did you stop and think that by putting a super high resolution display, their price would be higher? Suddenly, 1024 x 768 on a mere 7.9" screen is butt ugly? No. As the mini has higher ppi, this will look better than iPad 2 which was wonderful. Think about this, screen manufacturers have a very vested interest in selling this resolution even as Apple is migrating its whole line to much higher resolutions --- you can bet Apple is getting a discount because of this. I know this will mean nothing to you people because your sense of entitlement is crazy silly these days... But it's like a singer who starts the song off with the highest notes and the best runs they can sing. By the end of the song,there's nowhere to go. They need to start off at at a very pleasant place that shows ability but gives them room to truly impress at the end,... Apple can't start off with the absolute greatest tablet they can make right now... Where would they go next year? They have to plan out room to grow.
So? Don't you think apple makes money out of the app store and itunes store? They do! That also adds to the money they can generate with the product. However, apple is about making money, and they collected a huge, huge pile of oney so far. And guess where the money comes from: it's the customer who is willing to pay overpriced 299 instead of 199 for an ipod or 329 instead of 199 for an ipad mini. Apple is about squeezing the customer.
Your opinion... I bought the very first iPod for $399... I don't begrudge Apple one dollar. They earned it. If you don't like the price, then go buy something else or wait for either the price to come down or the specs to go up (most likely both),... You feel like Apple should make a paltry 30¢ on the dollar in the AppStore and be happy? Sorry ... That's nuts. It simply sounds like you we're jonesing for a sweet Mini for $249 and now you got priced out. I'm sorry. Save your money. It'll mean more to you when you finally get it. That, or buy a Kindle Fire and some of those great Apps they sell. Your choice.
You talk about over-priced products... It's 2012... Where's the MP3 player that's on equal footing with the iPod after 11 years? Oh there's not one. So apparently Apple can't charge more because they offer a premium product that's superior in almost every way? I guess you're pissed at Mercedes-Benz too? The logic here dumbfounds me.
Listen, the FIRE, I'm sure is good and getting better all the time. The Nexus 7 is probably a little better. They are fine, capable machines. Get one. More power to you. I think low cost tablets that help people in lower income families have to ability to compute is a great thing. I also think that companies, such as Apple, who put together a high-end product deserve to charge a little more for it. They're doing something right. People are very happy with them and they sold about 150Billion worth of stuff in 2012.
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Final thought ... back in 2006 when the PS3 came out, the top model was $600 bucks for a 60GB. I didn't complain or get on message boards and piss and moan about f-in' Sony. I just didn't buy the product. 6 years later and I'm about to get one... a 500GB super slim model that includes Assassin's Creed III for a mere $299. I spoke with my wallet. I kept it shut... finally Sony heard the message and created a super value for me. I was going to get the game anyway, so in a way, I'm buying the machine for $240. The moral of the story, is, sometimes getting the Cool New Toy from day one is not the smartest thing financially to do. Sometimes, it's simply better to wait.
