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.
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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...
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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!
July 11 2009 at 9:52 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyP.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 :)
July 10 2009 at 6:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWeblogs Inc. writers/bloggers do get paid, unless you're an intern.
July 10 2009 at 10:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyMy apologies, but thanks for the info.
July 11 2009 at 6:56 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyTo 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.
lauren, you're a phenomenal writer!
July 10 2009 at 5:53 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyCan 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.
July 10 2009 at 5:03 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyExcept 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.
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.
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
July 10 2009 at 3:39 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply"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!
and the point of this article was?
July 10 2009 at 2:02 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyFiller. Pure, unadulterated, picture is non sequitor to what's written FILLER, baby.
July 10 2009 at 2:07 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI 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.
Dinner and a movie instead please.
July 10 2009 at 1:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHot Apps on TUAW
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