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Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

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Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#311

Post by dagw »

ashelmire wrote: post #271
chrisseaton wrote: post #262

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why does it have to be cheaper or have more expensive components? If people value the smaller form factor as they say why aren’t they willing to pay the same as or even more than a larger phone to get it?

Nobody likes to feel like a fool. Paying $1000 bucks for a phone when you can get a similar phone from a competitor for $100 makes you feel like a fool.

I'm an Android fan, so I'd love to know your source for $100 Android phones that can match (or even come close to) a $1000 iPhone in specs and build quality. I will order 3 this afternoon.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#312

Post by arihant »

cyxxon wrote: post #275
RubberbandSoul wrote: post #250

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think they run a real risk of diminishing returns. To use a car analogy; first they were the BMW of phones, then the Ferrari and maybe soon the Bugatti. Along the way consumers will start to tap out and leave Apple's ecosystem altogether. Maybe that's already set in motion, people are keeping their phones for much longer so it will take a while for the effects to be noticeable.

O, definitely. Anecdote, but count me among these people. I had 4 or 5 iPhones, and 1 Android phone sometime in the middle (before my 6s). I am currently on the Xs, but if Apple keeps this pricing strategy I will not buy another iPhone again. Outside the US it is really hard to justify with the added tax and "export fee" on top. I just hope it will be ok for 3 years.

This is true. I bought the X in India but with assumption that I’ll use it for at least 3 years. Maybe more. This doesn’t sound hard to achieve given how long Apple continues to provide upgrades.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#313

Post by AnthonBerg »

kgwxd wrote: post #297
rahoulb wrote: post #293

Much as I love the small phone (I had a 5S and an SE) ... the link is for the refurb store. So this isn't anything about Apple restarting production of these - just that they've had some returned that they are now reselling. If you want one, it's probably the best way to get hold of one, but it's not a long-term, or even medium-term solution to the "no decent small phone available" problem.

5S was the perfect size, if only it could run Linux.

What I like to use is:

  - Blink shell
  - hooked to a tmux session
  - connected with Mosh
  - over a ZeroTier network
  - to a UNIX machine in the cloud or at home (Linux, macOS, whatever).
The effect is a really snappy and powerful shell in a full UNIX system that stays up and connected even though your connection is dropped or moves from wifi to cellular, and your networks still stay closed and secure.

It's not the same as running Linux on the phone. However, in some respects it's better. It's trivially easy to move the session to another device (phone/tablet, or computer), and you don't need to use the phone's battery for processing. And you can summon a ton of computing power if you need to.

Blink shell, an iOS terminal emulator: https://www.blink.sh

tmux is like screen. It's a bit arcane at first but it's worth it. (Mouse scrollback is recommended. It works inside blink.) Introduction: https://hackernoon.com/a-gentle-introduction-to-tmux-8d784c4...

mosh enhances ssh and adds roaming, supports intermittent connectivity, and cuts perceived lag a lot by being smarter about the interface vs. the network roundtrip. (It works kind of like a online game engine that predicts network events). https://mosh.org

ZeroTier is an open-source secure virtual network layer that's good at hole punching so you can just have the real network completely walled off: https://www.zerotier.com/

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#314

Post by whieee »

gambiting wrote: post #284
kanishkdudeja wrote: post #192

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Lenovo Thinkpad X1 Carbon / Dell XPS line should keep you happy.

I considered both, and ended up buying a Razer Blade Stealth 13 - it's literally a black macbook that happens to run windows. The quality is definitely on par if not better(mhmmmm mat screen).

How is Razer's customer service these days? I considered their laptops in the past but was put off by the poor customer service. As much as I think Apple need to fix the MBP, their customer service is some of the best I've seen (albeit not perfect) for an electronics company.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#315

Post by arihant »

kinkrtyavimoodh wrote: post #151
dijit wrote: post #124

I’m going to add to the dogpile here and add: I am really not sure how I can vote with my wallet more than I currently do. I had a 5S; upgraded to a 6S and spent a year with it, but I really hated the size of the phone and realised that small phones were entirely gone by the end of my time with the 6S. I tried Android for a while but it was Samsung’s Android and was not for me, I was frustrated and annoyed after ever…

The same is going to happen for Apple's "Professional" Macbooks. 2015 I think was the last year they made a decent Macbook? Since then it's been the touch bar (annoying but functional but potentially useful) and an absolute shit-show of a keyboard.

I have a 2015 with screengate issue. Basically the anti glare peeling off with regular use. Solved by removing the whole coating with Clorex cause can’t give in the laptop for 5 days.

Dangers of living on the edge.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#316

Post by microcolonel »

AnthonyMouse wrote: post #159
dijit wrote: post #124

I’m going to add to the dogpile here and add: I am really not sure how I can vote with my wallet more than I currently do. I had a 5S; upgraded to a 6S and spent a year with it, but I really hated the size of the phone and realised that small phones were entirely gone by the end of my time with the 6S. I tried Android for a while but it was Samsung’s Android and was not for me, I was frustrated and annoyed after ever…

Selling a new small phone is a market problem for Apple. The form factor inherently makes it less expensive to manufacture. Bigger screens cost more etc. Which creates a pricing problem for them. If they price it like a small phone (i.e. lower price) they cannibalize sales of larger phones with higher total margins, and lose money. If they price it with the same total margin as the larger phones, it'd still be the lo…

> but smaller phones have less room for a big battery

The nice thing about the SE form factor is that it is enough thicker than the 6 and later form factor to offset much of the battery concern. If they made an SE form factor phone with an OLED display (thinner), kept it precisely as thick overall, and shifted even more of the circuitry to the chin and forehead of the phone, then they could get a pretty big battery in there, and as a bonus, the OLED would generally be more efficient as well.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#318

Post by throwawaymath »

emsy wrote: post #251
AnthonyMouse wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Selling a new small phone is a market problem for Apple. The form factor inherently makes it less expensive to manufacture. Bigger screens cost more etc. Which creates a pricing problem for them. If they price it like a small phone (i.e. lower price) they cannibalize sales of larger phones with higher total margins, and lose money. If they price it with the same total margin as the larger phones, it'd still be the lo…

>Selling a new small phone is a market problem for Apple. I'd argue that Apple making product decisions for mainly financial reasons is a recent problem. My memory could betray me though.

I disagree. Fundamentally, every company makes product decisions primarily for financial reasons.

Apple has been focused on finances for most of its existence as an entity. If it appears they have become more focused on financial success recently, I would argue that's more likely due to market saturation than it is to any categorical change in their priorities.

EDIT: Changed and removed some wording to make the tone less condescending. Sorry about that.

Re: Apple iPhone SE Available on Apple Store Again

#320

Post by johnnyfaehell »

RubberbandSoul wrote: post #205
AnthonyMouse wrote: post #159

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Selling a new small phone is a market problem for Apple. The form factor inherently makes it less expensive to manufacture. Bigger screens cost more etc. Which creates a pricing problem for them. If they price it like a small phone (i.e. lower price) they cannibalize sales of larger phones with higher total margins, and lose money. If they price it with the same total margin as the larger phones, it'd still be the lo…

That's a dangerous strategy considering that an iPhone is the "window" to their ecosystem: App store, Apple Pay, the iOS UX experience, etc. I know many people who love Apple's ecosystem but who won't pay through the nose for a "premium" phone that's way overpowered for their needs.

To backup the point of the iPhone is the gateway to their ecosystem. They increased the size of the iPhone and I stopped buying new iPhones, since then I've switched from an iPhone to Android, Macbook to Dell XPS, and iPad to a bog standard Windows 2-in-1 tablet/mini-laptop.
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