Comments on: Why iPods Are So Expensive: Secret "Apple Tax"

By: kirbie

kirbie — Tue, 15 Jul 2008 19:19:38 +0000

I bought a 2nd G iPod nano and just over a year after I bought it I got the white screen of death. Now I have to reset it every time I want to use it and the ipod support site is a joke - there's no way to contact them.
I wish I'd got a creative Vision or some other such device.
I also hate the fact that Apple's products are so restrictive - it's so difficult to alter with the software on them or alter them in any way.
I'll never fall for style over substance again.

By: Carl

Carl — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 17:51:02 +0000

Really? Apple tax? Gimme a break:

^ DEMAND = ^ PRICE

simple.

By: nevrdull

nevrdull — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:54:12 +0000

oh my,the fanboys are out in full force again..
appple does have a problem with its proprietary standards (as does MS, i know..) but then again, if apple wants to be perceived as the benevolent giant, which its supporters tell us that they are, it had better change its attitude.
and oh yeah, steve is an asshat.

By: Xinavera

Xinavera — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 18:21:54 +0000

Don't like iPods? Buy a Zune and be one of the tens of dozens of satisfied Zune users.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 16:27:16 +0000

You see, they can't make enough money selling the ipod and ripping off consumers, so they make more by ripping off manufacturers. They did something similar with Firewire, but not nearly on this scale.

By: Eric B.

Eric B. — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:32:42 +0000

Wait, doesn't this just tell us why the accesories are expensive, not the actual iPod?

By: Sasha

Sasha — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 15:03:52 +0000

@caitlin13: Some people like being shafted. They're called Bottoms.

By: Absent

Absent — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:42:46 +0000

I once bought a crystal that was psychically charged by Uri Gellar. I've seen him to it, he holds the crystal in his hands and enforced the psychic energy into it. Steve Jobs does a similar thing with every iThing that comes odd the productions line, he personally infuses them with cool. I believe in this as much as I believe in my Uri Gellar crystal.

By: Homer Jay Simpson

Homer Jay Simpson — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 14:02:26 +0000

ah let the sheeple tire themselves out.

By: Sofar

Sofar — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:55:16 +0000

I do not approve of big companies making money.

By: S-r-ex

S-r-ex — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 10:30:39 +0000

The reason why Apple is expensive, is because their logo is an apple which someone took a bite off, the company is called Apple, (our holy leader?) Steve Jobs presents their products, even touches them and holds them up, they have a minimalistic design, and not to forget all the hype around their products. "The Macbook Air, is SO thin, we had to make the DVD player external!"

By: EP

EP — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 03:12:32 +0000

Miranda, there are some programs to avoid this and copy the music to the pc. Most apple users know them.

By: AH

AH — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 22:40:02 +0000

This doesn't make iPods more expensive at all. Rather, it makes some accessories for iPods more expensive. Moreover, the story actually states, "In fact, licensing fees, such as the one for the ubiquitous “Made for iPod” sticker, account for the bulk of the so-called 'Apple tax.'" So, 1) This piece has nothing to do with the price of iPods or iPhones. 2) The required chip -- and it is only requires for particular kinds of accessories -- is a minority of the "Apple Tax." 3) The rest of the "Apple Tax" is an entirely voluntary marketing program, wherein accessory manufacturers can put the symbol and label of Apple's "Made for iPod" program. This is, by far, the most misleading labeling/framing of a Neatorama piece that I've ever seen.

By: NuSound

NuSound — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:48:41 +0000

But what does that have to do with the price of iPods? Either I missed something, or that's is a seriously misleading title. __ Miranda, without getting fanboyish, Apple's loyal 'customerbase' has ZER0 to do with being locked in to iTunes purchases, and it's just silly to suggest otherwise. The customer base existed long before ITMS or iPods. Customers (of any brand) are loyal because the believe in the company and it's products. You can't strong-arm that kind of thing. If you aren't a "loyal customer of X" you can't really tell "loyal customers of X" why they are loyal. I'm a long-time Apple customer. It has nothing to do with vendor lock-in for me, and you don't get to tell me otherwise.

By: Tim Giachetti

Tim Giachetti — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:46:00 +0000

I put custom firmware on my PSP. Except for lack of touch screen, it does everything the I-got-boned. Even calls from wifi hotspots.

Why spend all that dosh when $175 and some software changes and get the same things done but with better screen size and speed? Even IRC chatting and adhock networking.

Up yours Jobs.

By: DOJ

DOJ — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 21:11:09 +0000

A dinosaur with a Walkman? that sounds like 3/4ths a Seth Galifianakis joke

By: Miranda Vink

Miranda Vink — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:50:44 +0000

Apple has a very loyal customerbase because of vendor lock in. If you've bought a collection of songs on iTunes, you can only play 'em on an iPod or iTouch. That makes it hard to switch to another brand.

By: caitlin13

caitlin13 — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:40:00 +0000

Apple has a very loyal customer and fan base DanO. I'd hardly say we're being "shafted". If you don't like it, don't buy it. Join bean and his dinosaur age technology and laugh.

By: bean

bean — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:17:52 +0000

Me and my cassette Walkman are laughing our asses off at all the Apple fanboy yuppies.

By: DanO

DanO — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 20:07:13 +0000

Yeah, Ipod accessories are ripoffs. The main reason they come out with new models is so you have to buy a new case, charging cord and speakers. Microsoft is no better but Apple really shafts its customers.