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With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

nytimes.com

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Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#651

Post by dkonofalski »

kobeya wrote: post #607
wil421 wrote: post #594

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seriously, if I believe what everyone comments on HN I would think hospitals are turning sick or injured people away.

My mama taught me to not talk about things I don't know anything about. I wish more people listened to their mamas. To the curious Europeans out there, if you lose your job you can stay on your job's health plan for 18 months while you look for new work. If you're unemployed that long then you'd qualify for Medicaid after that, the government insurance program for the poor. If for whatever reason you really didn't ha…

It's not hogwash when actual, documented cases exist of people not going to the emergency room for fear of being crushed to death by the debt from an ER visit. And COBRA doesn't just give you free insurance for 18 months, you have to pay the full premium for it. If you're unemployed, how in the hell do you expect to pay the full premium as opposed to the premium that you were paying before that was subsidized by your employer?

You've clearly never, ever been in a position where money was an issue for you. Especially not to the point where you felt your life was in danger because of it.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#652

Post by virmundi »

PaulRobinson wrote: post #503
wil421 wrote: post #340

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why are you bringing up healthcare on an iPhone discussion? Trying to figure out how it is relevant to the pricing of an iPhone in Sweden.

Because in most of Europe, sales tax (which therefore is added onto the purchase of your new iPhone), will in some part go towards the funding of universal coverage free-at-point-of-use healthcare. In the US you get your phone cheaper. But you buy your healthcare. Most Europeans would prefer to pay more for their phone and know everybody in their neighbourhood gets free medical for life in return.

Before the ACA a family of 4 could get health insurance from the private market for 350 a month or 4200 a year and it's tax deductible. In Germany, a family of 4 making 75k$ a year pay 7.5% or 5,625$.

The US system was cheaper and comparable. Now it's dramatically more expensive for the same cost. All we got from the government is expense. This is why many here are not pro-single payer.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#653

Post by dragonwriter »

virmundi wrote: post #652
PaulRobinson wrote: post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Because in most of Europe, sales tax (which therefore is added onto the purchase of your new iPhone), will in some part go towards the funding of universal coverage free-at-point-of-use healthcare. In the US you get your phone cheaper. But you buy your healthcare. Most Europeans would prefer to pay more for their phone and know everybody in their neighbourhood gets free medical for life in return.

Before the ACA a family of 4 could get health insurance from the private market for 350 a month or 4200 a year and it's tax deductible. In Germany, a family of 4 making 75k$ a year pay 7.5% or 5,625$. The US system was cheaper and comparable. Now it's dramatically more expensive for the same cost. All we got from the government is expense. This is why many here are not pro-single payer.

> Before the ACA a family of 4 could get health insurance from the private market for 350 a month or 4200 a year and it's tax deductible.

Or not at all, depending on pre-existing conditions, continuity of past coverage, and other factors.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#654

Post by nto8e90nt3 »

dogruck wrote: post #612
dfabulich wrote: post #548

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's a lot more expensive than it used to be. https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.XPD.PCAP?locations=U...

Ok, the price increased. And, let's ignore related factors such as the increased cost of medical education and advances in medical care (my aunt got a new heart a year ago!) My view of the mainstream story is that things went from ok to chaos within the past, say, 3 years. Instead, the costs have been steadily rising while voters have repeatedly opted not to make changes. Thought experiment: what if gas or milk price…

> Instead, the costs have been steadily rising while voters have repeatedly opted not to make changes.

Have voters done that, though? I mean look at the trouble Republicans are having repealing the ACA. Voters seem to not want to repeal it. It seems like only the Republican leadership actually wants it repealed. My understanding is that when you ask individual voters of all stripes, they agree that pre-existing conditions should not stop you from getting affordable healthcare, and that lifetime limits are unfair across the board. But those are the things the Republican leadership wants to axe first.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#655

Post by saagarjha »

jcelerier wrote: post #589
YSFEJ4SWJUVU6 wrote: post #364

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's odd, considering their first phone was launched in stores less than 4 years ago. In any case, I used to have one too until about 2 weeks ago when it finally broke down (tbh, possibly due to moisture). While it's not odd they still release updates for their phone OS for the only phone they've ever sold to regular customers, I can't brush away GP's point entirely. The hardware is definitely sub-par by now (it wa…

Naye, you could get one in late 2013

…that's less than four years.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#656

Post by saagarjha »

em3rgent0rdr wrote: post #227
saagarjha wrote: post #199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My criticism was mainly aimed at Android, which has a tendency to drop support for devices within 1-2 years.

which is why should use Lineage OS.

Not every device has an unlocked bootloader or support in the Lineage OS device tree.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#657

Post by kobeya »

dkonofalski wrote: post #651
kobeya wrote: post #607

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My mama taught me to not talk about things I don't know anything about. I wish more people listened to their mamas. To the curious Europeans out there, if you lose your job you can stay on your job's health plan for 18 months while you look for new work. If you're unemployed that long then you'd qualify for Medicaid after that, the government insurance program for the poor. If for whatever reason you really didn't ha…

It's not hogwash when actual, documented cases exist of people not going to the emergency room for fear of being crushed to death by the debt from an ER visit. And COBRA doesn't just give you free insurance for 18 months, you have to pay the full premium for it. If you're unemployed, how in the hell do you expect to pay the full premium as opposed to the premium that you were paying before that was subsidized by your…

> You've clearly never, ever been in a position where money was an issue for you.

I have.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#658

Post by [deleted] »

tertius wrote: post #566
twothamendment wrote: post #549

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My healthcare plan costs me $1,200/month for my family of 4. It went up nearly 30% this year and is expected to do the same next year. Give it a few years and it will be $2,000! I have a good job, but if that keeps going I won't have any choice but pay the fine/tax. So back to the $1,000 phone. If all phones cost $1000 - I'd be more likely to go without one.

If you're Christian check out medishare (and other alternatives). Disclaimer: I'm not a still for them.

[deleted]

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#659

Post by csours »

millstone wrote: post #13
csours wrote: post #6

For $1,000 can it be durable as well as good looking? How about a serious IP (Ingress Protection - dust and water) rating?

Honest question, what does the rating actually mean? The Galaxy S7 was IP68 certified but did not survive immersion https://www.consumerreports.org/smartphones/samsung-galaxy-s... This might be a case of under-promise, over-deliver.

I guess I mean IP capability, not rating.

Re: With a $1k Price, Apple’s iPhone Crosses a Threshold

#660

Post by csours »

developer2 wrote: post #47
bitdeveloper wrote: post #33

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Even the slimmest of cases makes that invisible.

For a company (and its customers) that rave about the design and look of the phone itself, covering it all with a case seems like the exact opposite of what one would expect to be the norm.

This is exactly what I'm talking about. I have a Pixel by Google, and it's gorgeous, but I'm terrified of ever using it without a case.
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