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Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

nytimes.com

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Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#41

Post by quietsegfault »

UnreachableCode wrote: post #36
xnx wrote: post #28

Apple is introducing this now because hardware capability ceilings are being hit and component prices are preventing higher specced components from being used. I buy a new (non apple) phone most years, but I'll probably skip the next 2 years due to flatlining of specs and increasing price.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you buy one new phone every year?

I seem to be hard on my devices. They get nicked, scratched screens, battery worn. I am wealthy enough that this expense is not particularly impactful to my financial goals. So, I upgrade yearly. I am seriously considering not going that way this year.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#42

Post by rob »

gla67890543 wrote: post #21

Own nothing and be happy. Hope people don't fall for this BS. The only thing you can control is to decide where to spend your own money and time.

Oh no, I get to pay $11/month (after trading in my 15 Pro Max) with 0% interest for a new iPhone 17 and return it for another new one in a couple of years, or buy it outright at the end (and own it.) I'm such a sucker.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#43

Post by quietsegfault »

nsagent wrote: post #40
gla67890543 wrote: post #21

Own nothing and be happy. Hope people don't fall for this BS. The only thing you can control is to decide where to spend your own money and time.

If anything, I think the terms for this are almost too good. You never end up paying more than the cost of purchasing the device outright if you decide to keep the device. And considering it can have a term of up to 30 months (24 month lease, with 6 months more before you're charged the remaining cost of the device), you've just gotten a zero percent interest loan for 30 months. That's actually cheaper than buying it…

With the previous iPhone upgrade plan, I upgraded yearly and it was seamless. When I did have an issue where Apple did not register my return of the device, Apple executive customer support was all over things and got me fixed quickly.

I doubt “klarna” will have even 1% of the customer service that Apple provided.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#44

Post by cedws »

microtonal wrote: post #29
xnx wrote: post #28

Apple is introducing this now because hardware capability ceilings are being hit and component prices are preventing higher specced components from being used. I buy a new (non apple) phone most years, but I'll probably skip the next 2 years due to flatlining of specs and increasing price.

Agreed, there is very little happening from generation to generation. Yes, the 17 Pro had a redesign and better thermals, but was very boring otherwise. I don't really see why non-enthusiasts with a 14/15/16 Pro would upgrade. The 17 was a good step up, but it's hard to cheer for finally getting a 120Hz display, while 300-400 Euro Android phones had them for a few years already. The iPhone Air was the only really int…

I have an iPhone 14 Pro and honestly can’t tell the difference between mine and the newest gen besides the different colour options.

Releasing a new iPhone every year at this point is stupid, innovation has slowed right down, but Apple aren’t going to turn down the free FOMO money.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#45

Post by quietsegfault »

harladsinsteden wrote: post #9
sixhobbits wrote: post #7

Not sure why people are so negative about this, macbooks only really last a few years under heavy use anyway and most small businesses would love to pay $100/employee/month to make sure they all have hardware they need rather than trying to manage depreciation accounting and cash flow. Eg often hardware over $1000 gets depreciated over 5 years but employee laptops get replaced every 3 years so subscribing can have a…

What exactly does "heavy use" mean? My MacBook Pro is now in its fourth year of daily development work. It doesn't show any kind of wear. So far I don't see any reason to replace it in the years to come. If nothing major changes I think I'll get another four years out of it.

I’ve never replaced a MacBook because it was worn out, but because I wanted a newer, higher performance version. I have a 2018 MacBook Pro that I just can’t get rid of because it still works great.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#46

Post by quietsegfault »

RunSet wrote: post #16
jb1991 wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have a seven-year-old MacBook Air that is like new and runs just as fast today as it did the day I bought it. Battery lasts acceptably and it’s a joy to use.

It occurs to me that none of those metrics include numbers.

Many people don’t use numbers when evaluating whether their laptop is still capable. Does it last long enough? Does it lag or freeze? Can I still do my job? Then I don’t need to upgrade.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#47

Post by artisinal »

microtonal wrote: post #29
xnx wrote: post #28

Apple is introducing this now because hardware capability ceilings are being hit and component prices are preventing higher specced components from being used. I buy a new (non apple) phone most years, but I'll probably skip the next 2 years due to flatlining of specs and increasing price.

Agreed, there is very little happening from generation to generation. Yes, the 17 Pro had a redesign and better thermals, but was very boring otherwise. I don't really see why non-enthusiasts with a 14/15/16 Pro would upgrade. The 17 was a good step up, but it's hard to cheer for finally getting a 120Hz display, while 300-400 Euro Android phones had them for a few years already. The iPhone Air was the only really int…

The iPhone Air not only lacked in the camera department, it also didn’t have video output, no SIM card slot and it had a titanium housing. And for me personally it was just too big.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#48

Post by artisinal »

pllbnk wrote: post #33
microtonal wrote: post #29

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed, there is very little happening from generation to generation. Yes, the 17 Pro had a redesign and better thermals, but was very boring otherwise. I don't really see why non-enthusiasts with a 14/15/16 Pro would upgrade. The 17 was a good step up, but it's hard to cheer for finally getting a 120Hz display, while 300-400 Euro Android phones had them for a few years already. The iPhone Air was the only really int…

The only phone I would consider upgrading from my 14 Pro Max is Air. I think phone cameras have hit a limit several years ago and stopped improving, the end results looking really weak even with all this heavy post processing. Air finally doesn’t feel like a brick while having a large enough screen. It’s a breath of fresh air, pun intended.

Take a look at the regular 17 then. Only slightly more expensive, a couple grams heavier but it will not be as much of a downgrade from your 14PM. The 17 is very good in the hands with that screen size. And it has an aluminum housing.

Re: Apple introduces leasing program for iPhones and other devices

#50

Post by harladsinsteden »

ta8903 wrote: post #34
harladsinsteden wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> staff always want a refresh regardless if the laptop is good enough or not My personal experience disagrees. A lot of colleagues are absolutely happy with keeping their machines for quite some time. A lot of it - believe it or not - is simply inertia. Apple has made switching MacBooks super easy but still the process of going through the migration process from one machine to the next simply isn't worth the trouble…

Mostly because IT insists that you need to start over with a fresh install. When I last switched laptops, I just did `dd if=/dev/nvmeOldLaptop of=/dev/nvmeNewLaptop` and was good to go with the entire laptop state being replicated, compared to my colleagues who spent a week gradually copying all their stuff over, and still missing a ton. Some time later IT figured out my windows installation ID was wrong and just ass…

No, absolutely not. There is no "IT insists" in our company. Believe it or not we trust our people to do the right thing and to handle their equipment accordingly. There are a couple of applications that are forced by the device management system but other than that: Do what _you_ think works for _you_.
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