Filed under: Odds and ends, iPhone, App Store
Dinner and a movie or... an iPhone?
It was inevitable. One day the iPhone was going to turn into an impulse purchase. In two short years we've gone from the iPhone as a serious $500 commitment to a grab no more expensive than dinner and a movie. The AT&T store now has a refurbished 8GB iPhone 3G for $79, with free two-day shipping, a $20 savings over the cost of a factory-new iPhone 3G. (You'll have to enter your zip code on that landing page to click through and see the refurbished unit's price.)Of course, your dinner doesn't make you return every month for two years, for a total outlay well over $2000. However, most people now consider cell phone plans -- even their associated data plans -- to be as utilitarian as the electric bill. So scoring a small hand held computer with a phone function on a whim just seems... as benignly impulsive as going out to dinner and a movie.
Ahh, the good ol' days. When people stood in lines to spend $499 (or, in my case, $599) just for the chance, nay, privilege of owning one of these. And back then it didn't even have iFart applications on it.
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Brian Burns said 1:11PM on 7-10-2009
What in the world are you talking about?
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Drunken Economist said 2:20PM on 7-10-2009
This really reminds me of a TUAW class project. Some staffer found this blurry pic from Lauren on their HD and made it into a creative writing thing.
"Hey Lauren, this is YOUR picture. Write some scrub for it and we'll publish it. TODAY ONLY. You have 15 minutes to whip something out."
Yes, it's Friday. And already Beer 30.
puhsitch said 3:21PM on 7-10-2009
Long story short: AT&T is selling refurbished iPhones for $79
incubeezer said 1:59PM on 7-10-2009
Dinner and a movie instead please.
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Drunken Economist said 2:06PM on 7-10-2009
I think what he's talking about is what I call 'the iPhone Diet'.
Blowing the dosh on an iPhone and cell plan instead of other things like boozin' & whorin'.
$70+ / mo on 'connectivity' and lookin' cool instead of .. something else.
Oh, sorry, this isn't Gawker. So sorry. I saw quick drunk article, I gave quick drunk comment.
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HR said 2:03PM on 7-10-2009
and the point of this article was?
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Drunken Economist said 2:09PM on 7-10-2009
Filler. Pure, unadulterated, picture is non sequitor to what's written FILLER, baby.
Luna Lovegood said 2:27PM on 7-10-2009
"When people stood in lines to spend $499 (or, in my case, $599)..."
Well, aren't you a precious snowflake.
Keep up the good work!
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Michael said 3:39PM on 7-10-2009
Hey Lauren, you must have taken that pic at the Suburban Square Apple Store last year during the 3G launch. How do I know? I'm the guy with the backpack on wearing a watch. Pretty cool to see myself on TUAW! --- http://www.twitter.com/mingramjr
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conigs said 5:03PM on 7-10-2009
Can we please stop trying to roll service prices into the "total cost" of the device. It would be a fair practice except for the fact that every single phone, even the freebies, require service. Also, it's not like you're paying the monthly service fee simply for the privilege of owning the device, you're paying for the voice/data services.
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damno said 5:41PM on 7-10-2009
Except you HAVE to include a $30 (limited and patchy) data plan.
I think it's fair to roll at least some of that into the price of the phone. You want an iphone you have to buy two years of shoddy AT&T data. So anyone who currently doesn't have and has no desire for a data plan has to take that $30 in to account.
Like it or not it's that $30 data plan that for the most part is subsidizing the price of the phone.
conigs said 10:37AM on 7-11-2009
damno-
True, but only if you're comparing price to non-data phones. If you're comparing to other smart phones like a Blackberry, they data plans are the pretty much the same.
Dbs143 said 5:53PM on 7-10-2009
lauren, you're a phenomenal writer!
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sharris said 6:02PM on 7-10-2009
To get a 32GB model on pay as you go (worked it out and you get a MUCH better tarrif for about the same final cost as contract - http://crave.cnet.co.uk/mobiles/0,39029453,49302556,00.htm) still costs £538, or $870, so your "good ol' days" of $500 would still be a discount for us! :)
Even the 8GB 3G still costs £342 or $554!!
I decided not to buy one on principle. My will power lasted 2 weeks... :P
On a side note, I went to college with the guy who wrote that CNET article, great guy.
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sharris said 6:06PM on 7-10-2009
P.S. Cut Lauren some slack. She doesn't get paid to write for us. I don't think so anyway, could be wrong, but besides no need to get personal :)
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Greg said 10:30PM on 7-10-2009
Weblogs Inc. writers/bloggers do get paid, unless you're an intern.
sharris said 11:39AM on 7-11-2009
My apologies, but thanks for the info.
Larry said 9:52AM on 7-11-2009
Best Buy has been offering this price for a while now, and there devices carry a 1yr. limited warranty as opposed to AT&T's 90 day! If u go for this go Best Buy!
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