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Tim Cook Says Apple Products 'Change the World' and Aren't Priced Just 'For the Rich'

Rich depends on your perspective. From a story on Scott Forstall:

As a parenthetical to this story, Forstall recalls an argument with Jobs over the price of a new Mac computer. Jobs was complaining that Forstall's suggested price was too low, to which Forstall responded that Jobs was a billionaire and couldn't possibly understand.

A pause, and: "I'm a multi-billionaire," responded Jobs.
 
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AndyK said:
I think he underestimates how many people buy an iPhone on a monthly plan from their carrier and if they didn't have that option they'd not have one at all.
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Yes he does fully understands how iPhones are purchased. Apple sells a good percentage of their products the same way as carriers, interest free loan. Consumers have choices through their carriers. Buy a less expensive iPhone, a competitor to iPhone, keep a perfectly capable phone another year or two, combine all the above for maximum savings. Options abound, more then one choice.
 
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I actually agree that Apple's products are mostly for the rich. Yes, poorer people own Apple products, but they have to dream about them, save for them, struggle for them, choose to buy them over necessities. Apple's products are desirable luxury items. Just like expensive basketball shoes, etc. Poor people buy them, making these companies richer, but the cost is bad for people that should be spending their money elsewhere.
 
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Jimmy James said:
Five years ago I could get a decent Apple laptop with 500GB HD for a reasonable amount of money. Even upgrade memory further without much cost.

Now, I do feel like I need to be "moneyed" to get the same spec. And because I'm now locked in to that spec I need to further anticipate my needs in advance.
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This here. The storage costs on the MacBook Pro line are insane, and without the ability to upgrade later, you have to buy-in at that insane price or be left needing.
 
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Tim is right, you just need to get into major debt to get one ;)

Daft comment to make given tomorrow he will announce a + $1K phone , and increase prices globally, while paying no tax......
 
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Gudi said:
Not only the rich, only the very rich!

“The world has enough for everyone's need, but not enough for everyone's greed.” — Mahatma Gandhi

In the West everyone is rich, but not rich enough to buy an Apple phone.
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Only the pursuit of wealth can provide for everyone's needs.
 
I was just talking about this in another forum. We need Apple iPhone, Watch, TV, Pad, iMac and Mini "Air" devices for the low income.
Remember folks, Tim doesn't think he's in the rich category. We should all think, live and buy like him.
 
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NOPE! They are aimed at the upper-middle class as well... if they want to take out a re-fi on their house.
 
Lol... TC is fully enclosed in the RDF. Even though iDevices are a bit pricier (and maybe justifiable depending on use cases) the statements come across more like excuses for the high prices. iPhones may not be for the riches but normal folks may not be able to afford $1K phone on a whim.
 
"... if you look across our product lines, you can buy an iPad today for under $300."
I thought that was a new product announcement. I felt pretty gullible after, but I definitely looked.
 
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Cost or Quality, pick a business model.

Android emphasizes low cost (accessible “commodity” as Cook describes). Unfortunately this is the death of many manufacturers.

Apple emphasizes high quality (“value” priced, but so is Android). This typically better withstands market appetite fluctuations IF the quality price is not too high (consider price of 5C and S8).

Apple’s margins then fund massive ongoing R&D that has fueled many Android features from day 1 and, in other interviews, Cook and others openly share this intentioned desire - that competition be assisted to maintain a larger market’s annual appetite for new features.

Remember that Cook is a supply chain guy - creating bidding wars but thus wanting to ensure that there are multiple bidders.
 
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Such a stupid statement. Is it wrong for Apple to have customer segmentation? Every businesses in the world do that.
And what's with people complaining about a $1k iPhone? In many countries, some iPhone configs are that expensive already (due to import duties, etc). And the starting price of iPhone 8 will still be $649. If you have to go in debt just to buy a phone, then you have a different set of issues of your own, not Apple's fault.

Cue in the people complaining how expensive 99c a month of iCloud is.
 
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And how much did Apple charged for the first generation Apple Watch Edition?
Sure, they are not priced just for the rich. They are priced for the 1%!
 
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Jimmy James said:
Five years ago I could get a decent Apple laptop with 500GB HD for a reasonable amount of money. Even upgrade memory further without much cost.

Now, I do feel like I need to be "moneyed" to get the same spec. And because I'm now locked in to that spec I need to further anticipate my needs in advance.
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Exactly, I purchased a base Pro laptop years ago and it was around 2ghz and 200gb disk. The new base models today are pretty much the same speed and storage. I'll just keep what I have.
 
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