Looks by Dr. Dre • Hacker News Board

Re: Looks by Dr. Dre

#121

Post by coldtea » Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 7:43 AM UTC

moheeb wrote: post #52

coldtea wrote: post #24

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> This article lost me at the part suggesting that Dre Beats are premium headphones. Premium is about price, as in "paid a premium". Dictionary.com definition #11: "of higher price or cost". It also has the meaning of higher quality, but mostly associated with the price and exclusivity (or perceived exclusivity. Premium products, like shoes and clothing, can also be had by millions of people -- it's just that not eve…

You are mixing up the definitions of "premium"; it doesn't have to be about price. People often pay a premium for something that is not worth the extra money...that is the definition of Beats headphones. The other definition of premium is analogous to high end. That is the opposite of Beats headphones.

>You are mixing up the definitions of "premium"; it doesn't have to be about price.

I'm not mixing them up -- they are all valid dictionary definitions of the word.

When people say "premium" in reviews they usually mean "on the expensive side", and regarded as more exclusive with regards to brand, constuction etc.

The same way clothes are called "premium", because they belong to some well known expensive brands, despite being made in China and being totally crude and workman-like compared to fine clothing from a tailor etc.

Re: Looks by Dr. Dre

#122

Post by pjc50 » Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 9:05 AM UTC

threeseed wrote: post #84

tptacek wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

All you had to do was stop before writing that last sentence, and your comment could have been taken seriously. There's still time to edit it (if you do, my comment won't make any sense anymore, and I'll kill it).

No I won't edit it. Painting someone's decision as "fashionable" is a form of condescension. It's hilarious that HN doesn't see this kind of behaviour as a personal attack and downvote accordingly.

"fashionable" is a form of condescension

This is a very social-group-specific point of view. In much of the world describing someone as fashionable is a compliment.

Re: Looks by Dr. Dre

#123

Post by pas » Thu, Jul 10, 2014, 9:21 AM UTC

jarek wrote: post #48

tptacek wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To the extent that you can say the exact same thing about Porsche, I agree; just bear in mind that it takes more than a sense of style to execute on "Porsche". But also look how Apple integrates downmarket. To a first approximation nobody's first car is a Porsche, but the less expensive iPhones are viable first smartphones. There's something powerful about being able, at least in theory, to address the whole market t…

I would suggest that it's more that an upmarket of mobile phones doesn't really exist right now. Pretty much everyone has the same thing. Who's the Porsche or the Rolls of mobile? To a first approximation, much of the first world can afford a 5S if they really want one. Vertu? Heh.

Yeah, but a Vertu is excessive, just as a Porsche. Normcore is the word. You have to look just better than your peers, not everyone at once. So, even though a lot of people couldn't affort a pricier phone than the 5S, even those who can afford a Vertu stay on the 5S and spend on other accessories.