iPhone’s True Cost: $1936

Comments

1. max andrews says:
   January 15, 2007 at 10:26 pm

   I think a lot of people are missing the point. On a cell phone, the interface is EVERYTHING. It’s about the fewest button presses, the best use of screen real estate, the highest legibility of text, and the movement between applications. For people who just want a feature-maxed phone, then the iphone is probably not the best or cheapest solution. But if you want a phone that is rich with usefulo features you could use every day, and that are implemented in a way that is not only accessible but fun, then the iphone could definitely be considered a revolutionary product. Relativity at it’s best, depends on which side you are looking at it from.

   That said, I do think that the cingular lock-in is the worst idea ever. Historically, apple has been so great because they have control over every aspect of the product, from the hardware to the software to the subscriptions (like .mac). I think apple should have become an MVNO with their own plan, or stuck with t-mobile, which has better customer service and better plans than cingular. Plus, most business users are already on t-mobile. Everyone I talked to at macworld said they had no issue paying for the hardware, but they hated cingular and would wait until it was available on other carriers. I hope apple didn’t ink anything longer than a 1-year agreement with cingular!

   In the news next month: Apple breaks contract with cingular due to bad consumer recpetion, eats $250 million early termination fee

   But seriously, I’m not getting out of bed for anything more than $60/month for a combined voice and unlimited data plan. If they want me to switch carriers to anybody but my own, they’re going to need to fellate me with a wet combo of reasonable prices. Also, I’m waiting until the thing has at least 30GB, c’mon apple! Squeeze it in!
2. Grrrrrrr, now with two buns made of bacon. says:
   January 16, 2007 at 12:30 am

   I don’t think anyone here is arguing that your a bad person because you want an iPhone.

   Sheik is right. I personally apologize if my post came across as putting somebody down because they want an iPhone. For many of us, we don’t see the cost vs. benefit analysis to show that the iPhone is going to be anything but expensive, making it a no-go for most of us. If you like the iPhone and don’t mind paying for it, buy one and live it up.

   I’m guilty of driving a Volvo and dropping $5 a shot at Starbucks. Likewise, I spent $1500 on an LCD TV. None of those things would be considered economical purchases, especially if anyone ever saw me shop at the grocery story. I’m a bargain hunter if there ever was one. Likewise, I buy clothes and shoes are Target (and occasionally Building 19, so who am I to say someone shouldn’t buy an iPhone. If it makes you happy and you have the money, buy it.

   My theory about finances..cut corners where you can (without screwing yourself, of course), and splurge on the things that really make you happy.

   I just don’t care that much about phones, so I’ll take the cheapest phone you’ve got.
3. Mr. Gunn says:
   January 16, 2007 at 2:36 am

   the iphone could definitely be considered a revolutionary product.

   That’s exactly what we’re griping about here. To be revolutionary, they’d have to create something better than 3G, something that does for phones what HD has done for TV. An incremental improvement in voicemail, while nice, doesn’t exactly rise to the level of “revolutionary”. In fact, the iphone is a step back in many ways, with its lack of a card slot and lack of third-party programs.
4. segfault, registered cat offender says:
   January 16, 2007 at 12:44 pm

   Shiek,

   If you think Apple products cost twice what Windows PCs do, I think you need to spec out a Core 2 Duo Dell and compare the price to an Apple. Apple doesn’t compete in the $399 PC market, so if you’re comparing on the basis of “what’s the cheapest thing I can get out the door,” the Apple will be significantly more, but if you’re comparing on the basis of machines with identical specifications, the prices are the same.
5. Sheik says:
   January 17, 2007 at 12:30 am

   I was making the argument that if you built a PC or had someone build a PC with similar specs.If you know where to get good deals on parts, then Apples are about twice as expensive. Of course Dells are going to be more expensive, cause you get that great customer service, cough, cough.

   Now I didnt do too much research, Im at work so here’s a brief run down.

   Apple Mac Pro:
   Two 2.66GHz Dual-Core Intel Xeon “Woodcrest” processors
   1GB memory (667MHz DDR2 fully-buffered DIMM ECC)
   NVIDIA GeForce 7300 GT graphics with 256MB memory
   250GB Serial ATA 3Gb/s 7200-rpm hard drive1
   16x double-layer SuperDrive
   $2,499.00

   
   PC:
   Dual Xeon Motherboard = $247.63 Shipped
   3.6GHz/800MHz/1MB L2 Cache Xeon Processor = $273.23
   x 2 = 546.46
   1GB, 240-pin DIMM, DDR2 PC2-5300 667MHz ECC = $175.99
   GeForce 7300 GT 256 MB Graphics = $130.00
   250 GB Hard Drive SATA 7200RPM = $144.00
   DVD+/-RW Drive 16X = $115.00
   Case = lets say $150 for a nice one
   Total = $1509.08

   Not quite half price but nearly 1K less
6. Sheik says:
   January 17, 2007 at 12:42 am

   PS – When I found a range of prices I used the more expensive in the write up above. There were cheaper prices available. But some of that would make up for my lack of an OS. Unless you use Linux.
7. AnnC says:
   January 19, 2007 at 6:46 pm

   I’m with you, Sheik.

   Why spend 5 bucks on a sandwich when I can make my own for less than 50 cents?

   I also build my own furniture out of trees I grow from my yard and hooked up my exercise machine to a generator to make make the electricity to power my house.
8. gmccrorey says:
   July 1, 2007 at 2:42 am

   Folks.

   It’s a phone, a camera, a web browser (the real web), an mp3 and video player, a mobile email solution, a contact/calendar sync w/your home or office pc, and I hear it even has the ability to seek out and destroy your enemies with lazer beams shot directly from the Apple logo. It is a bad ass device no matter how you chalk it up. And it’s all situated in one small device that you will ALWAYS have with you. BTW I am a totally blue collar, working class dude who just really likes cool technology. Some people spend lots of money on a vacation and when it’s over, all you got are memories. Having this thing will be like being on vacation everytime I have to ride for hours on end in a 24′ box truck (that’s a lot).
9. billshrink says:
   July 22, 2008 at 6:20 pm

   Hey guys, we built an iphone cost analyzer here at [www.billshrink.com] The giz did a review here
   [gizmodo.com]

   Thanks!