3 ms·

a lot of things start by being sold for a lot of money to the riches first before their execution become cheap enough to be targeted Things don’t become cheap

by zaidf 8y ago

a lot of things start by being sold for a lot of money to the riches first before their execution become cheap enough to be targeted Things don’t become cheap in a vacuum: advertising is literally how many things that would have cost money could be offered for free. In that sense, we already have a solution to what you describe. It’s been over a decade since the iPhone was launched. Its cost hasn’t come down. So Apple can boast all it wants about its privacy features but it’s not a mass market product outside of the US. For proof, just look at their marketshare in countries like India. I think if in a decade a company like Apple hasn’t been able to figure out a way to lower price in order to make their privacy-first product more affordable, it’s at least worth admitting this is a very hard problem to solve at scale. And I say this as an Apple fanboy.

thaumasiotes 8y ago
> It’s been over a decade since the iPhone was launched. Its cost hasn’t come down. Huh? Says who? How much do you think you could charge for an iPhone 3G today? Apple hasn't lowered prices in the manner you're imagining because they are a luxury brand. Their business model is that you pay extra so that other people can see that you own an iPhone. Lowering prices means they get less money while losing value. But Apple has lowered prices in a very real sense, by providing much more performance at the same inflation-unadjusted prices.
- zaidf 8y ago
  That logic applied to Google or FB would mean “Google has dropped prices for Search: the 2001 version only costs pennies.” True, but also, you’re using a much older version of a revolutionary product.
alsetmusic 8y ago
> It’s been over a decade since the iPhone was launched. Its cost hasn’t come down. The price was lowered by $200 shortly after release, causing outrage amongst the earliest buyers. Compensatory credits were issued to affected customers. Later, Apple began selling previous models as a more affordable line rather than eliminating them each cycle. The newest models retain their price point, but devices from the previous year receive a price cut. They haven’t started making low cost commodity devices at the bottom of the market, but Apple typically doesn’t compete in that area.

by zaidf 8y ago

thaumasiotes 8y ago

> It’s been over a decade since the iPhone was launched. Its cost hasn’t come down. Huh? Says who? How much do you think you could charge for an iPhone 3G today? Apple hasn't lowered prices in the manner you're imagining because they are a luxury brand. Their business model is that you pay extra so that other people can see that you own an iPhone. Lowering prices means they get less money while losing value. But Apple has lowered prices in a very real sense, by providing much more performance at the same inflation-unadjusted prices.

zaidf 8y ago
That logic applied to Google or FB would mean “Google has dropped prices for Search: the 2001 version only costs pennies.” True, but also, you’re using a much older version of a revolutionary product.

alsetmusic 8y ago

> It’s been over a decade since the iPhone was launched. Its cost hasn’t come down. The price was lowered by $200 shortly after release, causing outrage amongst the earliest buyers. Compensatory credits were issued to affected customers. Later, Apple began selling previous models as a more affordable line rather than eliminating them each cycle. The newest models retain their price point, but devices from the previous year receive a price cut. They haven’t started making low cost commodity devices at the bottom of the market, but Apple typically doesn’t compete in that area.