[Gremlinn]

not exactly a "con job." More than likely the price drop occured only because of the new iPod Touch. Since it uses the same lcd screen (and likely a lot of the same hardware) apple is able to buy the parts in MUCH larger quantities, thus reducing the price for consumers.

That said, I'd be very pissed if I spent $600 on an iPhone and found out I pretty much wasted $200 to own it a few weeks earlier.

Sorry but I don't buy that at all. I'm prepared to accept that prices can come down due to economies of scale etc - but a 1/3 price drop in 2 months?, no way. Remember that this is the end consumer price, not the cost price too. No way are they getting 1/3+ down on the touch screen price - which lets remember is only PART of the overall BOM for the iPhone.

Simply put, Apple KNEW that the early adopter fanboys would practically sell their grannies to get their mitts on an iPhone. Once that initial flurry of purchases stopped, then they set the price point to such a level as to encourage sustained purchases from the "general" public - hence this price slash.

[mygalinasoo]

Let me get this right...

1) The Apple iPhone was "apparently" insanely overpriced, which it got a bashing for.
2) Apple listens to customers, and lowers the price. +++++
3) People complain.
4) Profit?

Yes, I admit it would be frustrating if you bought a iPhone a few weeks before the price drop, but thats the way it is, price drops happen all the time, you bought the product at the original price, and were obviously happy to pay that price, so why later complain after a price drop?
If the price drop didn't happen, those iPhone customers would be just as happy.

Geez, thats generally what happens, items (especially in technology) get cheaper.
[yes]

[poispanna]

Simply put, Apple KNEW that the early adopter fanboys would practically sell their grannies to get their mitts on an iPhone. Once that initial flurry of purchases stopped, then they set the price point to such a level as to encourage sustained purchases from the "general" public - hence this price slash.

yep, but those people won't start boycotting Apple

[Quvwcxqx]

Well either which way Apple play it I am damn sure the iPhone will be far more expensive for us Brits than you guys over the pond!

I have a hunch that due to the 4Gb version being dropped Apple will use the same 16Gb chips from the iPod Touch in a iPhone! Maybe the demand for more 'modern' service methods might also encourage 3G etc.

Trying to price it though... maybe 300 quid for the 8Gb and 450 for the possible 16Gb version

[enfoires]

Let me get this right...

1) The Apple iPhone was "apparently" insanely overpriced, which it got a bashing for.
2) Apple listens to customers, and lowers the price. +++++
3) People complain.
4) Profit?

Yes, I admit it would be frustrating if you bought a iPhone a few weeks before the price drop, but thats the way it is, price drops happen all the time, you bought the product at the original price, and were obviously happy to pay that price, so why later complain after a price drop?
If the price drop didn't happen, those iPhone customers would be just as happy.

Geez, thats generally what happens, items (especially in technology) get cheaper.
[yes]

Exactly. Everyone knows things are more expensive when they first come out and drop in price latter. That's the price you pay for being an early adopter.

[nilliraq]

Whoever said 'screw the iPhone!' is right.

SCREW THE IPHONE! ITOUCH RULES WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

I want one. Badly

Nice going Apple [thumbup]

[Hoglaunccoolf]

Looks like Apple is really trying to corner all levels of the market with this one. Like the new designs on all of them. iTouch looks interesting, but IMO too much for what I want, or anyone else thinks they even need in a portable media device.

Still got my Late 2005 5G, and I'm planning to stick with it for a couple more years. Though the classic looks interesting, I doubt I'm going to need 160GB of space even though I've got 200GB+ of media in my library, I don't listen or watch it all.

[bMc8F9ZI]

All I was looking for was a gesture. [thumbup]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/s...ners-100-back/

[BokerokyBan]

All I was looking for was a gesture. [thumbup]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/s...ners-100-back/

Now that's a nice gesture! Way to go, that should lesson the blow to the early adopters.

[FloareTraurne]

No offense to anyone here but I don't even think he/she/whoever should have given any sort of financial "gesture", buy technological items near release and you always pay a premium, that's the cost of being the envy of your friends for a little while, or having more
money than sense.

[nabsgood]

I bought an iphone [thumbup] (thanks to mutelight)

I have more money than sense

[grattperret]

All I was looking for was a gesture. [thumbup]

http://www.engadget.com/2007/09/06/s...ners-100-back/

Thats

I'm glad for you and every other iPhone owner.

[konanoileaski]

Sorry but I don't buy that at all. I'm prepared to accept that prices can come down due to economies of scale etc - but a 1/3 price drop in 2 months?, no way. Remember that this is the end consumer price, not the cost price too. No way are they getting 1/3+ down on the touch screen price - which lets remember is only PART of the overall BOM for the iPhone.

Simply put, Apple KNEW that the early adopter fanboys would practically sell their grannies to get their mitts on an iPhone. Once that initial flurry of purchases stopped, then they set the price point to such a level as to encourage sustained purchases from the "general" public - hence this price slash.

It's been known since the iPhone launch that the margins were close to 55%, meaning apple could literally half the price and still make money. It's also pretty obvious that effectively opening your potential audience to hundreds of millions, rather than a few rich/stupid American Posers, would mean a huge benefit from scale.

I think this is a rare slip by Apple, and I suspect the pressure came from AT&T, not internally at Apple. Considering the iPhone was the number one PDA/SmartPhone seller in July, Apple should not have been panicking.

I like the iPOD touch though... think I might get the 16GB version.

[nabsgood]

I think the problem was more... Who would pay say... $550 for a Ipod touch?

I just dont think the iphone fitted in with their MP3 player pricing.

[bMc8F9ZI]

It's also pretty obvious that effectively opening your potential audience to hundreds of millions, rather than a few rich/stupid American Posers, would mean a huge benefit from scale.

I like the iPOD touch though... think I might get the 16GB version.

So you are going to pay the same price for a stripped down iPhone, granted with twice the capacity, but looks like the phone yet holds 1/10th the amount of data as a $50 cheaper alternative? Then have two devices in your pocket instead of one? Rich/stupid what?

[grattperret]

It's been known since the iPhone launch that the margins were close to 55%, meaning apple could literally half the price and still make money. It's also pretty obvious that effectively opening your potential audience to hundreds of millions, rather than a few rich/stupid American Posers, would mean a huge benefit from scale.

I think this is a rare slip by Apple, and I suspect the pressure came from AT&T, not internally at Apple. Considering the iPhone was the number one PDA/SmartPhone seller in July, Apple should not have been panicking.

I like the iPOD touch though... think I might get the 16GB version.

Wow thats kind of low for someone of your sophistication.

[Kitdowstyhodo]

Wow thats kind of low for someone of your sophistication.

I agree. Because obviously if it were released in Europe not a single person would buy it.

[konanoileaski]

So you are going to pay the same price for a stripped down iPhone, granted with twice the capacity, but looks like the phone yet holds 1/10th the amount of data as a $50 cheaper alternative? Then have two devices in your pocket instead of one? Rich/stupid what?

1stly 16GB vs 8GB is a big jump. Secondly I have a company Blackberry, so don't really want two phones and thirdly I haven't bought it or even said I would, I said I like it. To think that such snippy vindictive statement could come from a Mod, is quite shocking.

I agree. Because obviously if it were released in Europe not a single person would buy it.

Of course they would, but it hasn't been released there and that is entirely the point. The European market won't support expensive devices like that, because whilst here in the US I might have to pay $250 for a K850i, in the UK that phone has been free for years, because the market is so much more competitive (because foreign companies are not locked out).

I can see how the phrase would upset people, so I apologise that it was somewhat rude, but I think it's been misconstrued and in future I'd appreciate it if mods would express their displeasure in private rather than rake it out on the forum.

PS - Multi-quote is broken, and the edit save doesn't refresh the page.

[bMc8F9ZI]

1stly 16GB vs 8GB is a big jump. Secondly I have a company Blackberry, so don't really want two phones and thirdly I haven't bought it or even said I would, I said I like it. To think that such snippy vindictive statement could come from a Mod, is quite shocking.

I didn't think such a negative gross generalization could come from a person I have always known to be level headed and mature. I do apologize for what I said but hopefully you understand you threw a blunt statement out there that I found to be fairly contradictory.

Next time we will both think before we post.

[poispanna]

The European market won't support expensive devices like that, because whilst here in the US I might have to pay $250 for a K850i, in the UK that phone has been free for years, because the market is so much more competitive (because foreign companies are not locked out).

Not true, the costs of calling and data is much higher in Europe because they need it to pay the free phones. In the US you pretty much have only flatrates because of the very high free minutes/data.