The free iPhone 4S

[Ravynmagi]

I do the purchasing of iPhones for employees at our company and for most employees I can only get the free on contract model for them. So I've been buying the iPhone 4 8GB phones for them.

I was looking forward to being able to buy the employees an iPhone 4S 16GB after the iPhone 5C/5S launch. So I was watching Verizon's business site and I saw the iPhone 4S 16GB get cut from $100 to $50. I thought that was weird, but was assuming maybe they were waiting to get rid of some of the older iPhone 4 before cutting the 4S to free.

Then I see something I hadn't seen before. An iPhone 4S 8GB show up and it's the free phone. What the heck?

I wasn't paying close attention to Apple phones when the iPhone 4 came out. But is what happened today the something that's normal? Was the iPhone 4 8GB model magically created to fill the $0 slot after the 4S came out because Apple was too cheap to cut the year old 16GB model by $100?

This seem so bizarre since I think the difference in actual cost to Apple between 8GB and 16GB of flash storage is pretty negligible. And nothing should be coming out with 8GB of storage unless it's an ereader.

 

[Lyfer]

Yeah 8gb is pretty low. I really wish they would have gotten rid of the 16gb tier completely but at the end of the day it's about the "bottom line" and maxing profits.

 

[Enrique2SIM]

Yeah 8gb is pretty low. I really wish they would have gotten rid of the 16gb tier completely but at the end of the day it's about the "bottom line" and maxing profits.

Yep,

It's all about business!

 

[notposting]

16GB is at least reasonable for basic use. Got an iPod Touch for my wife and I went cheap with the 8GB, it is just not enough. Throw some music on, a couple med/nursing apps, a game or two, and it is just about out of room. 16GB should be the new entry level size.

 

[bearxor]

Same boat. Stoked I can order iPhone 4S's now. Couldn't give a shit that they're only 8GB.

 

[MotionMan]

Sadly, I find 8GB models just too small. Even the 16GB model is a tough fit for members of my family.

My wife, daughter and I have 32GB models and am pretty happy. It allows me to put on the apps, podcasts and music I really want, and a little extra for stuff I just like having around.

My son has 16GB iPhouch (iPhone 4 used as a Touch), and it is a tight squeeze when it comes to adding music (he plays a lot of different games, most of them on the larger size).

Amusing to think that I find it limiting to have a device with 80,000% more memory than my first computer.

MotionMan

 

[Red Storm]

If you plan on taking any pictures or heaven forbid record video on your phone, 8GB is not going to cut it after you've got your apps installed.

 

[Ravynmagi]

Ugh. And Verizon even has the iPhone 4S on backorder.

 

[poofyhairguy]

Well yeah apparently they got to crank out these crappier versions.