Comments on: Debunking the iPhone Total Cost of Ownership meme (again). http://www.tequilafish.com/2008/07/17/debunking-the-iphone-total-cost-of-ownership-meme/ Ran-dumb ramblings of me... Tue, 28 Jun 2011 04:37:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: js http://www.tequilafish.com/2008/07/17/debunking-the-iphone-total-cost-of-ownership-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-1126 js Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:53:03 +0000 http://www.tequilafish.com/?p=89#comment-1126 Sure you're "required" to get service, but what use is a phone if you don't purchase the service? Without service your phone is a paperweight, and that's true for <em>all</em> phones, not just the iPhone. Cable or Satellite TV isn't "required" when you purchase a TV, but it's pretty worthless without it. Likewise, cars are pretty useless without gas. So while you might not have to sign a contract for your RAZR, you still end up paying for service, whether you sign a contract or not. I don't sign a contract for my gas, but I still end up paying for it. I agree that it sucks that the iPhone is locked to AT&T - but that is a whole other issue all together. The fact of the matter is that even if you could use the iPhone on any network, and could shop around for better service plans, <em>you still have to pay for a service plan</em>. This is true for <em>all</em> phones, so I'm curious as to why this is such a big deal with the iPhone. Where are the Samsung Instict reviews that break down the total cost of ownership over the life of the phone? Where are the complaints that it actually costs $129 + ($99 * 24) = <strong>$2505.00</strong> to purchase and use the phone for 2 years? Where are the TCO breakdowns for the Blackberry Thunder? I haven't seen any. Sure you’re “required” to get service, but what use is a phone if you don’t purchase the service? Without service your phone is a paperweight, and that’s true for all phones, not just the iPhone. Cable or Satellite TV isn’t “required” when you purchase a TV, but it’s pretty worthless without it. Likewise, cars are pretty useless without gas. So while you might not have to sign a contract for your RAZR, you still end up paying for service, whether you sign a contract or not. I don’t sign a contract for my gas, but I still end up paying for it.

I agree that it sucks that the iPhone is locked to AT&T – but that is a whole other issue all together. The fact of the matter is that even if you could use the iPhone on any network, and could shop around for better service plans, you still have to pay for a service plan. This is true for all phones, so I’m curious as to why this is such a big deal with the iPhone.

Where are the Samsung Instict reviews that break down the total cost of ownership over the life of the phone? Where are the complaints that it actually costs $129 + ($99 * 24) = $2505.00 to purchase and use the phone for 2 years? Where are the TCO breakdowns for the Blackberry Thunder? I haven’t seen any.

]]> By: Yuriy http://www.tequilafish.com/2008/07/17/debunking-the-iphone-total-cost-of-ownership-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-1124 Yuriy Mon, 21 Jul 2008 18:29:15 +0000 http://www.tequilafish.com/?p=89#comment-1124 The reason negative reviews mention the costs of 2 years of service, is because you are *required* to get this service. When you get that $9.99 RAZR, you don't have to sign any contracts. You can cut off the service any day. Furthermore, you can actually get better and cheaper monthly plans. I love my (original) iPhone as much as anyone else, but there is no way that I would sign a contract with any provider just to get the phone "cheaper". The reason negative reviews mention the costs of 2 years of service, is because you are *required* to get this service.

When you get that $9.99 RAZR, you don’t have to sign any contracts. You can cut off the service any day. Furthermore, you can actually get better and cheaper monthly plans.

I love my (original) iPhone as much as anyone else, but there is no way that I would sign a contract with any provider just to get the phone “cheaper”.

]]> By: Shea http://www.tequilafish.com/2008/07/17/debunking-the-iphone-total-cost-of-ownership-meme/comment-page-1/#comment-1121 Shea Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:36:48 +0000 http://www.tequilafish.com/?p=89#comment-1121 I think the iphone is actually pretty cheap for what you get compared to what everyone has been paying for ipods for years. The only thing I didn't like is the lack of 3g which is included now. That and the lack of a real keyboard. But new apps great! I think the iphone is actually pretty cheap for what you get compared to what everyone has been paying for ipods for years. The only thing I didn’t like is the lack of 3g which is included now. That and the lack of a real keyboard. But new apps great!

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