iPhone6 will kill high end Android phones in the US

[sze5003]

Nothing Apple has ever made has every been a status symbol, until now with the $10,000 watches. Everything Apple makes is designed and marketed towards everyday consumers, therefore by it's very nature can't be a status symbol.

They are a mental status symbol. Ask anyone what they play music on and they call it an iPod even if the item is not an iPod. Most older people I notice do this when seeing similar tech.

 

[mrochester]

They are a mental status symbol. Ask anyone what they play music on and they call it an iPod even if the item is not an iPod. Most older people I notice do this when seeing similar tech.

That's called good marketing on Apple's part, and the failure of competitors to compete effectively. iPods were for everyone just like iPhones and iPads and Macs are.

 

[Ramses]

I think they might have been to a degree early on, when not many people had a smartphone and an ipod was expensive and was just one model. Years ago now.
Deff not in recent history though. It's talented marketing that makes a mainstream device user feel like he or she is still special though for having them.

 

[sweenish]

Some of the definitions of status symbols are a bit lofty and narrow.

A Dyson vacuum can be a status symbol. Or a VAIO laptop. Or an iPod or iPhone or Macbook.

A lot of people don't buy Macbooks because they're the best bang for the buck. Apple doesn't come down to match competition when they first launch. People are buying it because Apple makes it, and Apple makes stuff that "just works" and is "fancy."

iPods were status symbols. People weren't dropping $300+ just to play music on the go before iPods. The best discmans weren't that expensive. The white earbuds are iconic.

And even though Apple sells a ton of phones, they are still not the majority of sales in the US, let alone the world. Apple has set themselves up as a luxury brand. Maybe not the same way Bugatti or Rolex is a luxury brand, but they are one nonetheless.

It's one of the main reasons people continue to buy their products, even though all their latest releases have been responses as opposed to innovations.

 

[mikegg]

Some of the definitions of status symbols are a bit lofty and narrow.

A Dyson vacuum can be a status symbol. Or a VAIO laptop. Or an iPod or iPhone or Macbook.

A lot of people don't buy Macbooks because they're the best bang for the buck. Apple doesn't come down to match competition when they first launch. People are buying it because Apple makes it, and Apple makes stuff that "just works" and is "fancy."

iPods were status symbols. People weren't dropping $300+ just to play music on the go before iPods. The best discmans weren't that expensive. The white earbuds are iconic.

And even though Apple sells a ton of phones, they are still not the majority of sales in the US, let alone the world. Apple has set themselves up as a luxury brand. Maybe not the same way Bugatti or Rolex is a luxury brand, but they are one nonetheless.

It's one of the main reasons people continue to buy their products, even though all their latest releases have been responses as opposed to innovations.

It's not a status symbol if everyone has one or can have one. In my opinion, people buy iPhones and Macbooks simply because they are better.

Personally, I switched from an Google Nexus to an iPhone because the Android UI was always laggy. I switched from a Lenovo Thinkpad to a Macbook Air because the Air was the best bang for the buck laptop out there when you factor in resale value. Apple makes the best laptops and has the best laptop OS. Just my opinion.

 

[WelshBloke]

In my opinion, people buy iPhones and Macbooks simply because they are better.

So why do the people who buy other things buy them?

 

[Ramses]

So why do the people who buy other things buy them?

Different Strokes and all that.

The N6 was laggy from some funkyness with encryption being enabled from what I've read, pretty known issue. More than enough CPU to make android slick in the current upper end phones.

While there are absolutely exceptions(and a lot of them given the numbers in question), my considered observation remains that folks who aren't overly technical just for the sake of being technical by Apple stuff(and also aren't hanging out on tech forums). And that's the majority of people and there isn't anything wrong with that. The people that took apart the radio when they were kids and got yelled at are more likely using android (and linux).

My example of such is my chromebook. There are no new drivers, no maintenance, no tweaking, no upgrades, there is just a portal to the content that gets out of the way and gets me to it. Works great for that purpose but I'd die of boredom if that's all I had.

 

[cronos]

Let's settle this once and for all and bring it to Google. According to Google, a status symbol is an item that: "....perceived indicator of economic or social status"

I don't think the iPhone is anything close to that at all. Like I said above, the first one probably was (no matter how crappy it was, functionally). Now, the iPhones are simply just a super popular mass products that can be owned by everyone from all kinds of economic or social status (i.e. NOT a status symbol).

 

[Ramses]

Yep.

 

[WelshBloke]

Different Strokes and all that.

I agree that different things suit different people with different needs.

It just seemed like he was implying that because people buy iPhones then that means that they are the best. It was an odd non point to make.

Maybe he phrased it badly or I misread his intent.

 

[rudeguy]

I agree that different things suit different people with different needs.

It just seemed like he was implying that because people buy iPhones then that means that they are the best. It was an odd non point to make.

Maybe he phrased it badly or I misread his intent.

It's a very long discussion that goes back to the early days of smart phones. It's best to just leave it rather than poke the bear.

 

[WelshBloke]

It's best to just leave it rather than poke the bear.

I'm in a pokey mood.

 

[gadgetprostitute]

I'm talking about the average consumer, not the high-tech guy.

The average consumer does NOT want to root his phone and customize it six ways from Sunday. With iOS8 I'm arguing that they are providing the framework to satisfy the large majority of consumer customization needs (e.g. different keyboards, extensions, etc.).

Who is the average consumer?

How do you know what such a person wants?

If anything, I conjecture that at this point in time, most people have tried both IOS and Android and have been using one or the other for the past several years during which time they have become invested in and comfortable with one OS or the other.

People can and do jump ship but not without prior consideration of what they're leaving, what they're getting into and the fact that the transition will require some investment of time and learning of new habits on their part.

Unless they really don't think before they 'do,' I guess.

 

[Zaap]

LOL. Apple's consumer products aren't status symbols. Unless the status we're talking about is "having a heartbeat and breathing."

Virtually *anybody* can go get whatever Apple consumer product they want from any economic status from "mommy buys everything for me" to "questionably employed" to "low wage" to "middle class" to "rich" to "mega-wealthy."

A $17,000 gold iWatch? THAT qualifies as a status symbol. Any regular consumer iPhone? No. And the type of person that thinks owning a common consumer product and that any one else really cares, let alone thinks it's some indicator of elevated 'status' actually has a status most commonly known as: "dork."

 

[crankytinkle]

Lol! simply because it is Apple.They're marketing their product at an outrageous rate. Now go figure, they even have a watch that, oh well competing with the price of luxury watches.