3 ms·
You're ignoring inflation. The iBook G4 shipped in 2003, and the cheapest one (no wifi!) cost $1100. In today's dollars, that's over $1500. The entry level A
by ken 8y ago
You're ignoring inflation. The iBook G4 shipped in 2003, and the cheapest one (no wifi!) cost $1100. In today's dollars, that's over $1500. The entry level Apple laptop today costs only $1200, or 20% less in absolute terms.
For the lower cost, you get far better hardware (CPU, battery, screen, wifi included, etc) and software (10.14 vs 10.3, iWork included for free, good selection of free modern web browsers, etc).
If the iBook G4 seemed very reasonable, the 2018 MacBook Air should seem like a steal. It's not just better value (technology always does that), but lower absolute cost. The only thing they haven't done is drop prices faster than inflation, but that's a pretty arbitrary line.
- ianai 8y agoInflation doesn’t tell the whole story. My 12” PB was all the machine I needed when I got it. Now I need a cell phone for basic stuff like finding my way around town. And I still need a laptop for traditional PC use. They’ve added SKUs to my life and the sum total price of them is outrageous. That’s where people feel fleeced. Not to mention the new SKUs don’t actually fit the marks like they used to do.
- zapzupnz 8y ago> My 12" PB was all the machine I needed when I got it. Now I need a cell phone for basic stuff like finding my way around town Back in the day, I used to write addresses on bits of papers or print out a picture of a map. Did that become illegal since the iPhone came out? One device can still be all the machine one needs, and it can still be a notebook or even a desktop machine.
- timbit42 8y agoYou're ignoring Moore's Law which didn't end in 2003.