Forget refurbs--now you can get a new iPhone 3G for just $99.(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
Posted on 06/10/2009 3:18:09 PM PDT by PJ-Comix
Well, here's hoping you waited on that $99 refurbished iPhone 3G, because as of Monday you can get a new one for the same price. Apple just announced at WWDC 2009 that the 8GB iPhone 3G will stay on the market for $99.
Forget refurbs--now you can get a new iPhone 3G for just $99.(Credit: James Martin/CNET)
So what do you think? Now that you can finally get a shiny new iPhone with a full warranty (one year) for less than a hundred bucks, will you pull the trigger?
Based on the comments in last week's aforementioned refurb post, I'm guessing no. For most of you, it's not the price of the hardware that's objectionable, but rather the service.
AT&T still charges a minimum of $70 per month for minutes and data. In these craptacular economic times, that's just too much. Me, I'd love to give the missus my current iPhone and snag myself a 3G S, but then I'd be looking at nearly $150 per month. She'd kill me, and I'd probably let her.
Thoughts? Is the iPhone 3G (and/or 3G S) just that good that you'll pay whatever extortion Apple and AT&T want? I'll admit I'd be lost without mine; I use it all day every day, for countless purposes. Damnit.
Update: AT&T dropped the price of refurbished 8GB iPhones to $79.99. My advice: steer clear. It's well worth the extra $20 to get a full one-year warranty. But the 16GB model is down to $129.99 (though currently out of stock). That's pretty tempting.
My phone is perfectly reliable as a phone but hey I understand people have a love affair with Apple and I own the stock. Fine with me.
You said — On top of that, when cell phones get to be two years old, they really are quite outdated.
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That’s the nice thing about the iPhone — all the features are software and the layout, functionality, various included programs are all software and have been updated continuously since it first came out.
I’ve had mine since the beginning and it has more features *now* than it did when I first got it. I’ve been getting “a new phone” every time that Apple upgrades it for me... :-)
And I haven’t had to pay anything for that “new iPhone” in the meantime...
There is some *hardware* that is added (on “next year’s model”), but that’s a minimal part of the equation for the upgrades and improvements that are given, via the iPhone software upgrades.
The “buttons” are not hardware buttons. So, all the functionality that would be associated with buttons and so on, plus the extra features that the software will have “next year” — is all software.
This is really a *first* for cell phones — to be “upgraded” with major improvement by means of software — and never have to upgrade your hardware to get those improvements.
The iTouch 32G is awesome!
I think you make a good point there.
I do think a new platform is one the way in the next six to twelve months though.
I’ll probably hold off to see what it is. Who knows, I could wind up in the iPhone family at some point.
I think the Iphone just added video. That’s my point, my phone already had video, in fact my phones for the past several years had video. And I have voice GPS navigation, Iphone still doesn’t.
But my daughter had to have an Ipod. She hasn’t been insistent on an Iphone oddly enough. Apple relies on a lot of hype, buzz, etc. Fine with me.
Now she wants an Apple computer for college - because that’s what they all have. ok w me.
I think you make a good point there.
I do think a new platform is one the way in the next six to twelve months though.
I’ll probably hold off to see what it is. Who knows, I could wind up in the iPhone family at some point.
Right now I have the old Cingular 8525 device. It has served me well.
How are the photos and what is the record time with the video?
Why don’t you just get the IPOD Touch?
I do not use the N800 camera. It appears to be useful but not spectacular. I value the N800 for many other reasons not the least of which is the GPS Navigation features.
Listen, you don’t know what you are talking about....there is no LG phone out there that comes CLOSE to what the IPHONE offers. Maybe it doesn’t offer more of the things YOU need, but to say it doesn’t have more great stuff is aburd. The next Iphone, which will go to new customers for $199 has the voice direction feature you so crave. Now, come on.
I’m sure that’s with an AT&T contract. So no way, they intentionally steal money from their subscribers.
I make alot of wasteful purchases but can’t count my fancy tech toys among them. My iPhone and laptop get used every single day for both work and leisure so paying a premium to have the latest and greatest doesn’t bother me. Plus gadgets are a hobby for alot of guys. Xbox games, which cost $65 and sometimes only get a smidgeon of use because I just don’t have the time, are another issue.
Basically I need a portable device that takes good quality photos and videos in which I can connect to the web. I plan to start a new blog (in addition to the DUmmie FUnnies) in which I feature the pictures and people of South Florida.
Excuse me but I have noted two features that my phone has long had, of which the Iphone is adding one and not the other.
Why do I have to get all sweaty about an Iphone that can’t do what my phone does, and other phones don’t force me to use AT&T? Iphone doesn’t even have a flash for photography and they just upgraded to a 3 megapixel camera. There simply are other products with superior specs.
I unsderstand Apple is a religion, I own the stock but please there is plenty of stuff out there that does the same, and some do it better.
I Love my iphone. Love it!
The next Iphone, which comes out next week is supposed to be absolutely awesome when it comes to video and the transfer of photos..I have to say that the camera on my Iphone 3G is absolutely fantastic...and it doesn’t even have a flash and it still takes better pictures than any camera phone I’ve ever had.
Who is asking you to become sweaty about it? I truly don’t care about what you like..you came to this thread which is about the IPhone and I’m just telling you that when all is said and done in comparison, the IPhone is heads and tails better than anything out there (although I hear the new PALM PRE is gonna give the Iphone a run for the money.) That should be fun!
You said — I do think a new platform is one the way in the next six to twelve months though.
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I’m not exactly sure what you’re saying there.
If you’re saying that a completely different platform for a phone from Apple is on its way in the next six to twelve months — I would say no...
If you’re saying that another upgrade is due out in six to twelve months — I would say yes..., but that’s been happening ever since it first started.
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I’m reminded here of someone about to buy a computer, but someone tells him to wait, because in six to twelve months, they will be a lot better than now and have additional features.
Then six to twelve months later, he is told to wait, yet again, because in another six to twelve months, there will be even more features added and it will be better still...
And then six to twelve months later... (ummm..., you get the idea... LOL...)
At that rate, the guy never does buy a computer... :-)
That pretty well sums it up for me also. I agree.
Life is short. If you see something you would like to have and you can afford it, why not purchase it and enjoy.
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