4 ms·

It might be picked up as a budget device for customers who are willing to buy dirt cheap devices that didn't sell well during its production run. I can imagine

by jychang 12y ago

It might be picked up as a budget device for customers who are willing to buy dirt cheap devices that didn't sell well during its production run. I can imagine the Fire phone joining products like the Canon EOS M in that category. (The EOS M camera was panned by reviewers when it was released, for being unusably slow. Sales were horrible, and the price dropped like a rock from $899 to $250. However, Canon also released firmware updates that fixed a lot of the speed issues, so some people are buying it now as a great budget camera).

potatolicious 12y ago
There isn't exactly a lack of such devices though. There is now a plethora of low-end Android devices that are actually very solid phones in their own right. The EOS M achieved some redemption because there aren't any good mirrorless cameras in the $250 range, but there are IMO good Android phones even in the "next to free" price range. Between the Fire Phone and the Moto G I'd probably still pick the Moto.
post_break 12y ago
The EOS M was rejuvenated because hackers got Magic Lantern on the thing.
- devindotcom 12y ago
  Did they really? I bet that's fun as a B cam. Hook it up to a remote viewfinder and it could pretty useful.
- jychang 12y ago
  Magic Lantern is pretty fun, but I bought it because it fits in my to-go bag unlike my dSLR and it's ridiculously cheap for an APS-C camera. It's by far the best mirrorless camera in its price category. You need to go up to to almost twice the price before things get competitive.
arrrg 12y ago
There are so, so many excellent inexpensive phones. The Nokia Lumia 630 (€150 unlocked, probably free with most contracts) is an excellent phone for many, many people. There are so many excellent cheap Android phones. There is no need to pick up this mess from Amazon.
drzaiusapelord 12y ago
Joe Dealfinder can get a Moto G for $179 and get a monthly pre-paid plan for peanuts from a variety of carriers that he can leave at anytime, include budget resellers of the major carriers. He could walk away with a monthly $30-50 bill with lots of data, minutes, sms, etc. Or he can get this jalopy, pay his extra monthly fee to pay for the actual phone, and then pick from a pricey non-prepaid plan while being locked to this one carrier. Even with modest data caps, he's looking at a near $100 monthly bill. The dealfinders know these .99 cent phones are ripoffs in the long run.
- zdean 12y ago
  I bought a Moto G (on Amazon!) last week for under $80...$40/month on Boost for an unlimited plan. For me, phones/plans have just about hit the sweet spot of value with this combo.

by jychang 12y ago

potatolicious 12y ago

There isn't exactly a lack of such devices though. There is now a plethora of low-end Android devices that are actually very solid phones in their own right. The EOS M achieved some redemption because there aren't any good mirrorless cameras in the $250 range, but there are IMO good Android phones even in the "next to free" price range. Between the Fire Phone and the Moto G I'd probably still pick the Moto.

post_break 12y ago

The EOS M was rejuvenated because hackers got Magic Lantern on the thing.

devindotcom 12y ago
Did they really? I bet that's fun as a B cam. Hook it up to a remote viewfinder and it could pretty useful.
jychang 12y ago
Magic Lantern is pretty fun, but I bought it because it fits in my to-go bag unlike my dSLR and it's ridiculously cheap for an APS-C camera. It's by far the best mirrorless camera in its price category. You need to go up to to almost twice the price before things get competitive.

arrrg 12y ago

There are so, so many excellent inexpensive phones. The Nokia Lumia 630 (€150 unlocked, probably free with most contracts) is an excellent phone for many, many people. There are so many excellent cheap Android phones. There is no need to pick up this mess from Amazon.

drzaiusapelord 12y ago

Joe Dealfinder can get a Moto G for $179 and get a monthly pre-paid plan for peanuts from a variety of carriers that he can leave at anytime, include budget resellers of the major carriers. He could walk away with a monthly $30-50 bill with lots of data, minutes, sms, etc. Or he can get this jalopy, pay his extra monthly fee to pay for the actual phone, and then pick from a pricey non-prepaid plan while being locked to this one carrier. Even with modest data caps, he's looking at a near $100 monthly bill. The dealfinders know these .99 cent phones are ripoffs in the long run.

zdean 12y ago
I bought a Moto G (on Amazon!) last week for under $80...$40/month on Boost for an unlimited plan. For me, phones/plans have just about hit the sweet spot of value with this combo.