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The $2,000 iPad
WSJ ^ | 3/31/11 | Brett Arends

Posted on 03/31/2011 7:36:01 PM PDT by harpu

When someone asks me if I've changed my mind yet and now want one of Apple's new iPads, I tell them: "Well, even if I did, I probably wouldn't want to spend $2,000 on one."

They generally looked at me, baffled. "What do you mean, $2,000? I thought they started at $500." But I figure $2,000 is the minimum that Steve Jobs's new toy is going to cost me.

How come?

Simple. If I don't spend that $500, I'll invest it.

Historically, the stock market has produced average long-term returns of maybe 5% a year above inflation. (More on this below.)

At that rate, in 10 years' time my $500 will have grown to about $800. That's in today's dollars—after inflation. In 15 years it'll be about $1,000, and in 30 years, $2,000.

I figure I'll be retiring in about 30 years, which is when I'm going to need lots of capital. I can have the iPad now, or about $2,000 then.

Thanks, but I'll take the $2,000.

(If I were younger the iPad would cost me even more. If you're 30 or younger and you just bought one, congratulations: It probably cost you about $3,000.)

Yes, I typically do these mental calculations, at least in the back of my mind, for most things. I typically come back from the mall with no bags, gleefully clutching my future millions. (Warren Buffett, as Jason Zweig reminded us over the weekend, takes a similar view.)

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: apple
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To: harpu; ~Kim4VRWC's~; 1234; 50mm; Abundy; Action-America; acoulterfan; AFreeBird; Airwinger; ...
By this guy's plans he will die RICH and very bored, with piles of money and no possessions, haven eaten only beans, rice, and water for his entire life, having bought only the bare necessities. . . sad, isn't it?—PING!

Please, No Flame Wars!
Discuss technical issues, software, and hardware.
Don't attack people!

Don't respond to the Anti-Apple Thread Trolls!
PLEASE IGNORE THEM!!!


Future investors plan book Ping!

If you want on or off the Mac Ping List, Freepmail me.

81 posted on 04/01/2011 7:05:58 PM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone.)
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To: IncPen
Yes, I typically do these mental calculations, at least in the back of my mind, for most things.

OK, I'll bite.

"Well, aren't you something."

82 posted on 04/01/2011 7:10:54 PM PDT by martin_fierro (< |:)~)
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To: wrench
In case you weren’t around then, we went to the moon, designed nuclear bombs, built the Hoover Dam, and thousands of other feats we can’t seem to figure out how to do today. And all these accomplishments were done without all these “look at me, I am important” toys.

True. The Manhattan Project didn't have computers -- just $1.2 billion worth of brainpower (just at Los Alamos -- the total project was about $21B in 1996 dollars). Apollo didn't need computers -- just tens of thousands of people and about a $170 billion 2005 dollars. Hoover Dam was a bargain at a mere $180 million of today's dollars.

Suddenly an iPod doesn't seem so extravagant.

83 posted on 04/01/2011 8:01:52 PM PDT by ReignOfError
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To: tacticalogic

It’s that many refuse to acknowledge there is any reason to buy an iPad, and actively put down any suggestion it is anything other than a money wasting toy. What, really, was the point of the lead article? Not the value of thrift, that is clear.


84 posted on 04/01/2011 8:39:04 PM PDT by ctdonath2 (Great children's books - http://www.UsborneBooksGA.com)
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To: Swordmaker

Yes, it’s sad.

Building memories has always been at the top of my list in life. If I listed all of my memories, one could easily see why I am not horribly wealthy, yet one could also see that over my lifetime, I certainly have been and in some ways I still am.

My grandpa taught me to save my pennies and squeeze my nickels. He also taught me that you can’t take it with you.

Wealth is sometimes a perception. I can’t do many of the things that Obama can afford to do, but I am far wealthier than he will ever be.

A successful life of dreams, building memories and realizing my dreams... is a balance, not an either/or.

I love my iPad. :>)


85 posted on 04/01/2011 8:51:51 PM PDT by Gator113 (I'll be voting for Sarah Palin, Liberty, our Constitution and American Exceptionalism.)
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To: IncPen

Had he used the $500 to buy Apple stock, he could have bought about one and a half shares, he would have done even better.

The truth is, if we all acted as he suggests then sales of everything would be down drastically and his future projections would not be met.


86 posted on 04/01/2011 10:02:07 PM PDT by Mind-numbed Robot (Not all that needs to be done needs to be done by the government!)
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To: ctdonath2
It’s that many refuse to acknowledge there is any reason to buy an iPad, and actively put down any suggestion it is anything other than a money wasting toy.

There may be a few, but even the people who would consider it just a toy still like their toys.

Depending on how the iPads capabilities line up with your particular business needs, it might or might not be cost justified.

For some people it will do that nicely. For others, not so much and maybe not at all.

There are probably a lot of cases where given sufficient effort it could be made to line up and work, but it would have to be substantially better than what they have now to be worth the effort and many times it won't be. You might disagree, but it's their time, money, and effort so that's their call to make.

It can still be a very cool toy for people who don't really have a good business case to make for it, but we can't spend all of our money on toys.

IMHO

87 posted on 04/01/2011 10:13:35 PM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: USNBandit
I would have gotten another iPad 2 if I didn't need to access and work on my work computer.

Your iPad can do that.

88 posted on 04/02/2011 3:19:22 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone.)
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To: USNBandit
I would have gotten another iPad 2 if I didn't need to access and work on my work computer.

Your iPad can do that.

89 posted on 04/02/2011 3:19:30 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone.)
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To: Gun142
Every person I know who had to get an iPad 'first' now all claim they're great dust collectors. Loyal customer base (some call "fanboys") bought them up but not that many people actually use them for day to day [anything].

BS!! Loads of it!

90 posted on 04/02/2011 3:24:25 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone.)
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To: buccaneer81
I taught myself how to drive a manual transmission with that car in the early '80s.
A pet peeve of mine is that the manual on driving a manual xmission was wrong. It said to gradually let out the clutch pedal when it started biting. That's not what you actually do; you actually let out the clutch until it starts biting, then pause there while the car gets moving smoothly. After that pause you can gradually let the clutch out the rest of the way.
Anyone who tries to continue letting out the clutch when it starts to bite finds himself bucking, probably stalling the engine - and certainly looking like a fool.
</rant>

91 posted on 04/02/2011 4:52:26 AM PDT by conservatism_IS_compassion (DRAFT PALIN)
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To: tacticalogic
Neither proposition seems to warrant the resultant animosity

The animosity towards you results from your repeated invasion of iPad and Apple threads with the same litany dispite repeated refutation by numerous posters that they DO INDEED use the iPad for productive work and as a replacement for their laptops and have provided numerous links to evidence of many business and professional people doing so in enterprise level work yet you repeatedly question and ridicule it and demand MORE proof. In my book, and many others, that makes you a troll.

92 posted on 04/02/2011 4:57:24 AM PDT by Swordmaker (This tag line is a Microsoft product "insult" free zone.)
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To: conservatism_IS_compassion

I drove a Firebird with the proverbial Muncie M22 “rock crusher” tranny. That thing was gas - dump and hang on. I could run through a set of G70-15’s in about two weeks if I wanted.


93 posted on 04/02/2011 5:03:48 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed, and I do not give a damn.)
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To: Swordmaker
I'm the guy that asked you about a windows partition on a MacBook Air (that went off without any major issues.)

I work in a small federal agency where almost all our work is law enforcement sensitive. As a result I have to use a special USB key in a windows environment to connect to my work computer.

The nice thing is that I get every functionality, including law enforcement databases on that system without leaving a trace on the external machine. The company that supplies the USB key makes a Mac compatible version, but the feds haven't bought it yet. Maybe someday.

94 posted on 04/02/2011 5:19:50 AM PDT by USNBandit (sarcasm engaged at all times)
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To: Swordmaker

I admit to not being inpressed with gratuitous superlatives and request that terms like “many” and “extensive” be objectively quatified. I’m a bad person.


95 posted on 04/02/2011 6:06:28 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: Melas
True, but that point completely ignores any RoI from a consumer product you may purchase, as well as the 'pleasure' you may derive from a purchase. Do I need a firearm, or art for the walls, or an mp3 player? No, not generally, but they still give something to me. Firearm: security, peace of mind, and fun at the range. Does this produce anything for me? No, but I enjoy it. (unless, of course, your main use is hunting for meat). Art: completely worthless, but it makes your house look nicer. Aesthetic value. Mp3 player: helps when you're bored. Doesn't do anything for you, just something else that makes your life a bit more fun.
96 posted on 04/02/2011 10:15:55 AM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: tacticalogic
Depending on how the iPads capabilities line up with your particular business needs, it might or might not be cost justified.

Well, even if it doesn't line up with your business needs and is really just a toy, its still a good business expense ;)
97 posted on 04/02/2011 10:18:13 AM PDT by Svartalfiar
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To: harpu

And, if one charges a $500 IPad on their credit card the cost also may end up being $2,000 over time.


98 posted on 04/02/2011 10:18:30 AM PDT by unique
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To: Svartalfiar
Well, even if it doesn't line up with your business needs and is really just a toy, its still a good business expense ;)

Good theory until the government starts doing it :(

99 posted on 04/02/2011 10:27:45 AM PDT by tacticalogic
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To: metesky

“Boys have toys; men have tools, men have equipment.
Sorry little boy.”

You my friend, desperately need a sense of humor ... I pity you and your childish post, it is sad.


100 posted on 04/02/2011 12:52:50 PM PDT by Breto (never accept the premise)
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