How exactly is apple "overpriced junk?"

[FoBoT]

I used to think like that, but it's not really a tax, you are not paying more for the same product, you are paying more for quality.

generally, 'quality' is subjective. unless someone has meticulous repair history records or some other objective way to measure 'quality'

$$$ (i.e. the price) is objective, not subjective

buy whatever you want at whatever price you are willing to pay

Freedom of Choice is what you have

 

[alkemyst]

its overpriced junk to those that can't afford the products.

 

[OverVolt]

The Stock or the Products?

The products have a profit margin around 30%. The normal profit margin is around 7%, so yes they are overpriced junk. Good junk, but still overpriced.

The stock itself is owned by something like 209 hedgefunds. If there is ever a break in AAPL's momentum there will be hell to pay at this point. AAPL is sitting on so much cash and has no idea what to do with all their cash. I think their growth will be linear from now on, there is only so much they can invent. Their ROI is already maxed out, they don't need your investment.

Additionally something like 50% of the people I know have an iPhone and it is heading into fad territory IMO. I'm tempted to buy one at this point and I am infamous for buying something just as it becomes uncool.

 

[mnewsham]

Just to correct you - you can't shens an opinion... Also, I <3 lenovo.. I'll recommend them over a mac actually, because their sub-$1,000 laptops (sometimes very sub) are outstanding. Heck, I have an s10 that costs me $200 that's still kicking after years of abuse.

Also, price difference can be nullified after you account resale value, but bargain windows laptop junkies rarely think about long term value

Which part did I call shens on your opinion?

And price difference MIGHT be nullified, but if you use it until it breaks in 4 years then no you aren't nullifying shit.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Apple is overpriced in the same sense Mercedes is overpriced. You are not paying for specs, you are paying for refinement. Apple delivers the most refined user experience bar none. Also, since apple controls it's entire hardware ecosystem, they can often get away with lower specs

 

[slackerinabox]

And how do you figure that?

Just search ebay for last gen macbook pros - they're still selling for a substantial premium compared to used windows laptops. For example, I bought a refurb iMac for $1800 and sold it on craigslist for $900 after almost 4 years. I couldn't give away my windows desktops.

 

[Fritzo]

Build quality - excellent. Internal components - usually very subpar to similarly priced competition. An Apple laptop and an Asus laptop will cost the same, and the Apple will have a 2.4 c2d while the Asus will have an i5.

For most people, the components are what matter, especially when build quality of competing machines are just fine for those that don't care about how "awesome" their laptop looks.

I have an Asus laptop that looks and works amazingly; a similarly priced one from Apple would not have had the same performance.

I actually used to think like that too, but it's wrong. They've kept up with higher end hardware in their laptop line. All of the Macbook Pros have i5's or higher in them now.

 

[OverVolt]

its overpriced junk to those that can't afford the products.

Costco sells products at a set profit margin, I think 7%

Because of that costco and AAPL got into a huge fight when Costco tried to carry AAPL products. If you noticed, BBY and AAPL got along very well together, they are best of friends with their high margins.

At $600 a share I'm starting to think its an iBubble =] What do you propose they do with their $80bn+++ cash? What is there to invent and quickly?

 

[mnewsham]

I actually used to think like that too, but it's wrong. They've kept up with higher end hardware in their laptop line. All of the Macbook Pros have i5's or higher in them now.

Yes but the CHEAPEST Mac laptop (the Air) is $999.99 not really a fair comparison tho as it is an ultra portable and most people dont need that so the next cheapest is the Macbook pro 13" at $1,199.99 with a 15" costing a MINIMUM of $1,799.99. Now I can get an i7 quad core in a 15" PC with comparable GPU for 1,200 or less (my sig laptop was $1,100)

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

I've been in the market for a desktop and a laptop and have vigorously looked for alternatives to buying an apple. Everyone says that macs are pieces of shit that are overpriced and only appeal to hipster, but I did a fair amount of research and came away with a simple conclusion- excellent customer care and build quality costs extra. After touching a "premium" windows laptop (hp envy) and comparing it to my new macbook air, I seriously have to wonder what everyone's smoking.

I don't have a brand preference (until now, actually) and did a thorough comparison (not just of cheapies):
1. HP - Junky trackpads, mediocre keyboards, horrid LCDs unless you upgrade (which ends up costing more than a mac)
2. Sony - very nice once you get higher in budget but you still don't have the ease of walking into an apple store and getting your system repaired
3. Dell - I actually like my vostro but the keys fell off and the lcd mediocre. tech support was awful, awful, awful when I called about the keyboard
4. Lenovo - my pick for great windows laptops. Love my little thinkpad but it does get too hot sometimes
5. Apple - outstanding build quality with a great keyboard, outstanding trackpad, and performance to match the premium look. Also, the peace of mind of apple care is wonderful,.

My point is, for my budget Apple was the best bet. UNLESS YOU'RE A GAMER, why would you call the superior build quality "overpriced junk?" I'm trying to understand the cult of Windows here, we're american after all - don't we embrace excellent workmandship and customer service over the cheapest shit money can buy?

Looking for a mac mini now and sincerely want a cheaper i5 windows alternative but just can't find something that packs the same form factor, specs, and build quality plus the customer service...

LOL, you actually think Apple's computers have good keyboards? You can't be serious.

They have excellent TouchPads, though, but I'll argue that TrackPoints/pointing sticks are better for laptops.

And great performance for the price? Please...

The 13" MacBook Pro has barely better specs than you'd find in a base model ThinkPad E420 for $480. Yeah, it weighs 4.6 pounds instead of 4.5 pounds. Yes, it's 0.2" thicker. Yes, it's a bit bigger. Yes, it has a battery life of 5 hours instead of 7 hours and yes, the display is worse. But, the ThinkPad has a better keyboard, a TrackPoint, and better ports (eSATA>Thunderbolt because there's things that can actually take advantage of it, plus ExpressCard/34). It also doesn't seem to attract douche hipsters, which helps.

So you tell me. Is a better screen, a tiny bit lower weight and slightly lower thickness, and 2 more hours of battery life worth 2.5x more? What if we reduce points because the ThinkPad has a better keyboard, a TrackPoint, more port variety, and is not being looked at by hipsters?

 

[IndyColtsFan]

At $600 a share I'm starting to think its an iBubble =] What do you propose they do with their $80bn+++ cash? What is there to invent and quickly?

I thought I heard Apple was looking into getting into the TV business, but maybe I am mistaken.

 

[vi edit]

The products have a profit margin around 30%. The normal profit margin is around 7%, so yes they are overpriced junk. Good junk, but still overpriced.

This argument is so silly to me. Look at what you get in a $500 iPad and compare it to the competition. No look at a Macbook Air and compare it to the competition. The competitors are priced the same, if not worse. So if Apple is making 30% on that then Kudos to them for being masters of the supply chain and making something that is both competitive and priced similar to others who can't make as much money.

Apple owns the tablet market, and for good reason. And they own the ultrabook market for good reason. And they are priced the same as the competition. The buyer isn't losing out, and Apple is making out okay. I've got no problems with their profit margins.

Does anyone really think that a smartphone cover really costs $20 to make? Yet we buy these things by the truckload. I'm sure the markup on those is several HUNDRED percent.

 

[cheezy321]

And how do you figure that?

If i wanted to sell my 1+ year old Macbook air right now, I would probably get close to 1K for it. I bought it for $1,300.

How much is a $500 year old lenovo laptop worth now. My guess would be $100 - 200 at most.

 

[mnewsham]

If i wanted to sell my 1+ year old Macbook air right now, I would probably get close to 1K for it. I bought it for $1,300.

How much is a $500 year old lenovo laptop worth now. My guess would be $100 - 200 at most.

Bought my Asus G73 for 900 bucks last year just sold it for $750

 

[Absolute0]

Just overpriced. My ASUS laptop was 350$ at the Egg back in August 2011. It's a 2.4 Ghz I3, 4gb ram and a 500gb hard drive, 15" screen. How much would the equivalent Mac have cost at the time? Someone around $1000 I believe...

 

[slackerinabox]

Bought my Asus G73 for 900 bucks last year just sold it for $750

Your experience is not the norm.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Personally, I haven't had the best experience with Thinkpads.

T60 - crappy HSF which has led to overheating due to cheap ass fans that die too quickly and make too much noise. Even though it supports SATA II, SSDs will only run at SATA I speeds due to the Lenovo's lack of desire to support their products.

T400 - keyboard that has keys that stick and stop working, SSD that is as slow as molasses and crappy touchpad

X220 - not a big fan of the 720p display and crappy touchpad. Serveral coworkers have had to have their X220s replaced multiple times due to the SSD failing.

 

[LOL_Wut_Axel]

If i wanted to sell my 1+ year old Macbook air right now, I would probably get close to 1K for it. I bought it for $1,300.

How much is a $500 year old lenovo laptop worth now. My guess would be $100 - 200 at most.

If you needed to sell it within only 1 year of buying it that's exactly the opposite of what a good argument for having the laptop is.

If you need to sell it within a year of getting it it's a worthless POS.

And this is not saying you need to do that, because most Mac users I've seen keep their laptops for a decent time (around 3 years).

I buy a laptop thinking of how I'm gonna get use out of it for some years, not thinking about selling while I've barely used it.

 

[cheezy321]

The Stock or the Products?

The products have a profit margin around 30%. The normal profit margin is around 7%, so yes they are overpriced junk. Good junk, but still overpriced.

The stock itself is owned by something like 209 hedgefunds. If there is ever a break in AAPL's momentum there will be hell to pay at this point. AAPL is sitting on so much cash and has no idea what to do with all their cash. I think their growth will be linear from now on, there is only so much they can invent. Their ROI is already maxed out, they don't need your investment.

Additionally something like 50% of the people I know have an iPhone and it is heading into fad territory IMO. I'm tempted to buy one at this point and I am infamous for buying something just as it becomes uncool.

Why do you think that all profit margins should be the same? Do you think that all people who do the same job should be paid the same? Equal pay for engineers? Do you think all cars should be priced the same? Thats a ridiculous thing to say.

 

[Todd33]

I have a great Core i3 Toshiba, cost me $479 last year. Can Apple make anything under $1000? Ya, you pay for the white look and the logo. Apple is like Bose and Monster cables, all marketing and the guts are the same.

 

[sigurros81]

Apple products are definitely overpriced, not sure about the junk part. I work/game on a Windows PC at home, but I have a 27" iMac at work, and I've never been an Apple fan.

One thing I've always hated about Apple and I have yet seen to see much improvements is their OS--it has a lot of good design features going but at the same time it fails in a lot of others. With that said, the only two pieces of Apple hardware I've ever spent money on is the iPhone, which in my opinion still is one of the best smartphones on the market, and I've just pre-ordered the new iPad.

Edit: One thing to note, I spent $1,500 on a gaming PC a year ago that is about 4 times faster than my work iMac that cost $3,000.

 

[mnewsham]

I have a great Core i3 Toshiba, cost me $479 last year. Can Apple make anything under $1000? Ya, you pay for the white look and the logo. Apple is like Bose and Monster cables, all marketing and the guts are the same.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nb_R1VZqLcE

 

[OverVolt]

I think savings should be passed on to customers. A high profit margin indicates a short term money grab to me. BBY at one point had a similar business model and it ultimately backfired on them.

All because they can charge those prices doesn't mean they should charge those prices.

Their profit margin in the future will probably slide if a competitor or two gets their shit together. If the Costco & AAPL hissy fit is any indication they will not handle it very well. A high profit margin paves the way for competitors, even crappy ones.

 

[slackerinabox]

I have a great Core i3 Toshiba, cost me $479 last year. Can Apple make anything under $1000? Ya, you pay for the white look and the logo. Apple is like Bose and Monster cables, all marketing and the guts are the same.

What century are you from? Apple doesn't make a single white laptop.... Nerd.. Poor nerd who's proud that he can't afford a premium product... . Poor nerd who's proud that he can't afford a premium product who's probably a virgin...

HA, sorry, having a dull day at work

 

[MaxFusion16]

All because they can charge those prices doesn't mean they should charge those prices.

yes it does, why would a company leave money on the table? as a publicly traded company, apple has a fiduciary duty to its shareholders to extract as much profit as possible.