is the Apple status symbol over?

[JackBurton]

Originally Posted by openwheel

This is just embarrassing for you JackBurton.

The embarrassment is all on your side.

[Yongsta]

Jack seems like a mini version of Dari. No point in arguing with someone so closed minded.

[Red Squirrel]

I would not really consider it a status symbol, but rather mediocrity. The general public figures it's the ONLY smart phone. You never hear someone say "I want to get a smart phone" it's always "I want to get an iphone" and 99.9% of people who have a smartphone, have an iphone, so that's all you see. For that reason when I find a sub $300 smart phone that is NOT apple and that's actually in stock (aka not the nexus 4) then I might jump on it.

[Geekbabe]

Originally Posted by JackBurton

lol, openwheel is the typical nerd that apparently feels threatened by someone walking around with an Apple product. The Apple owner just bought an iPhone because he thought it was cool. Openwheel looks at him and thinks, "I bet he thinks he's better than me. Look at him, he looks like he doesn't have any money but goes out and buys an iPhone. I bet he thinks he's something. I bet he thinks he owns something special. Well he doesn't. My phone is just as good as his. Man that makes me so mad. What an assh@le!" The Apple guy then turns to him, nods and says, "hey." Then openwheel thinks to himself, "that motherf&cker! Did you see that condescending look he gave you. I think he looked at my phone, and thinks he's better than me because I don't have an iPhone. Man, I am soooo pissed. I'm going to create a thread asking if Apple is still a status symbol. Oh wait, it's too late. Some other nerd beat me to it...WTF is this JackBurton guy? Man, that guy is making me so mad. How dare he think he's better than me..."


In short, yes, your insecurities are showing.

What the hell are you smoking? Most phones in the USA are bought on contract and subsidized, sort of like " a dollar down & the chase is on" sort of thing.


Btw, I own & love an ipad, a Mac, numerous PC's and Galaxy Nexus & Galaxy SIII.. these things are just devices, easy to save for & acquire, hardly "status symbols"

[Crono]

Apple is a popular middle class status symbol. Which means it still carries a premium, but it's not exclusive by any means.

I don't think that has changed, but Apple faces much more stiff competition in the mobile space than when the iPhones, iPods, and iPads were "the" game-changing devices.

Owning an Apple product doesn't mean as much in the United States as it does in rapidly developing countries where a middle class is only now becoming dominant.

[akugami]

Originally Posted by Red Squirrel

I would not really consider it a status symbol, but rather mediocrity.

I agree with the first half of this sentence. However, the second is flat out wrong. Historically, the majority of Android devices have been way inferior to an iPhone. At this point in time, the iPhone is still a well made, and solidly designed phone even though it faces stiff competition. The iPhone may not lead the pack, but it's at the top in terms of hardware and battery.

The OS, while getting long in the tooth, is still highly polished and the OS still does more than what the overwhelming majority of common users need it to do. It wasn't until ICS and JB that Android even had an OS that could be called as smooth as iOS.

The general public figures it's the ONLY smart phone.

This is the complete opposite of most arguments on this forum. Most of the time you hear people trashing Apple's iPhone because at least half of all smartphones sold are Android phones with the rest being split between iOS, BB, and Windows Phone.

You never hear someone say "I want to get a smart phone" it's always "I want to get an iphone" and 99.9% of people who have a smartphone, have an iphone, so that's all you see. For that reason when I find a sub $300 smart phone that is NOT apple and that's actually in stock (aka not the nexus 4) then I might jump on it.

Apple's iPhone is "wanted" because of great marketing as well as the momentum built up from over a decade of iPod dominance.

You never hear that someone is lusting after an Android phone because the overwhelming majority of Android devices sold are mediocre. You hear people want not just the iPhone but premium devices like the Samsung Galaxy S 3 or Galaxy Note because they are of higher quality. Is it any wonder that the best selling and most highly rated Android phones cost as much, if not more, than an iPhone?