iLounge

1

Why oh why do they have to make it so bloomin’ expensive? I would have bought one if they were about £100 cheaper, but thanks to their stupid pricing they’ve just lost a sale.

Posted by NFreak007 on September 2, 2008 at 7:51 AM (PST)

2

NFreak, as much as they may have lost a sale with you, I’m sure they will gain hundreds/thousands more with a clever marketing campaign.  They can charge what the hell they like since their success is based primarily on copious quantities of that which doesn’t even exist - the concept of cool.

Consumerism feeds on human insecurities and the desire for self-esteem.  Thus, marketing is designed to convince you that all you need to do to feel good about yourself or appear positively in the eyes of others is to purchase their product. Concerned about how you’re viewed by society? Buy our designer jeans with our huge logo emblazoned across the butt so that people will think you’re rich/cool. Worried about what others will say about your wrinkles? Buy our new anti-ageing cream (new improved formula, with added hydro-allergenic-pepto-bismol-cellular-thalidomides). Etc.

And Apple is the same. Having marketed well what has, in the past, been an inferior product (functionally, at least), the ipod achieved market dominance as the mp3 player of choice. Rather than dissuading consumers, charging a high price for each generation of ipod/iphone actually adds a further layer of ‘cool’ and prestige to the device, indicating that its owner is cutting-edge and wealthy enough to spend large sums on a device that is still functionally inferior to many of its market rivals.

I have nothing against Apple or its devices (I’ve owned of three ipods and would probably have got an iphone were it not for its glaring limitations e.g. battery programme, camera megapixels, camcorder facility, etc) and don’t begrudge them charging as much as they like if people are willing to pay. I just feel that their products are frighteningly overpriced.  When I bought a PS3 as a gift upon its release, in response to my small talk to the cashier about it being an expensive piece of kit, he reminded me to be thankful it wasn’t made by Apple. Everyone in the queue knew exactly what he was talking about.

Posted by That'sCapitalismForYa on September 2, 2008 at 12:38 PM (PST)

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You know what, That’sCapitalismForYa? You are so right.

Posted by NFreak007 on September 3, 2008 at 3:09 AM (PST)

4

well. I held out on getting another contract for the UK. Im inbetween the States and the UK and have a AT&T;contract. But looks like I’ll be getting a pay as you go version for the UK now.

sadly I’d prefer it if they opened it up to the point of if I wanted to merg both o2’s services and at&t;‘s services on one phone by selecting the account which Id like to use via the front menu Id have prefered it, but Im guessing there just isnt enough profesionals asking for this feature… instead Im spending more money… but I guesse if that feature does get added, which I doubt… I’ll atleast be able to give one phone to my girl… though its needless till video conferencing

Posted by sig on September 3, 2008 at 4:25 AM (PST)