[Samsung Epic 4G Touch] geolemon:
This is my biggest beef with Apple... well, maybe 2nd to ensnaring people in an expensive and difficult to migrate from closed ecosystem.

It's a GREAT idea to take advantage of the system for your benefit, at some iSheep's expense. BRILLIANT!

Compare these two phones, specifically, and be sickened by the greed and profiteering at the customer's expense:

iPhone 4S. They've designed a single phone for all carriers. That means absolute maximum production numbers. They sold 1 Million on day 1 alone. And that reduces all manufacturing costs - all R&D, tooling, setup can be distributed across higher numbers, meaning less cost per unit.

And Apple isn't spending big to begin with - their phones are made in China (Foxconn), saving further on manufacturing costs.

The iPhone 4 (not S) has been manufactured in record volumes for over 16 months now, also benefitting from Moore's Law, which means high-tech computer parts get dramatically less expensive over time. Cutting edge costs money - nothing in a 16 month old phone is leading edge, and component costs at this point are absolutely minimized (past the bell curve).

iSuppli reports that the iPhone 4S actually only costs $0.48 more than the iPhone 4 in terms of cost of parts, an since it shares the same chassis, form factor, screen, and many other parts, due in no small part to not using leading edge parts like processor (dual 800mhz core processors have been out a long time now), and skimping on memory (1/2 gig, same as the iPhone 4 - no upgrade).

Tooling and setup for manufacturing are also minimized compared to the production of an entirely new phone.

Despite all these cost saving measures, and use of technically obsolete parts to make up the iPhone, Apple charges more for all iPhones than any other manufacturer:

iPhone 4S 16 gig - $649

iPhone 4S 32 gig - $749

iPhone 4S 64 gig - $849

Hell, look at what they charge for the expenses-recouped iPhone 4 (16 gig only): $549

Compare that to the Epic Touch 4G-

It's a unique-to-Sprint model, meaning minimal production numbers vs. an iPhone. They may not even sell 1 Million - total (of this unique Sprint version)

It's got a larger, more expensive, newer-technology screen.

It's got a faster, newer, more techologically advanced processor.

It's got more onboard memory.

It's got 16 gig of storage built in, and a memory card slot so I can expand my storage at my choice - and upgrading to add another 16 gig sure doesn't cost $100.

It's got a larger capacity battery, yet is thinner and lighter than an iPhone.

It's an entirely higher-tech phone, with more expensive, more leading-edge componentry, lower manufacturing volume, and yet costs LESS than an iPhone... not just 4S, but 4!

Sprint Epic Touch 4G: $499

I don't want to feel like I just bent over and took it when I buy a phone...

I'd be insulted, just like if you found out that a dealer tricked you into paying $45K for a Ford Fusion. I'd be calling lawyers, consumer advocacy groups...

I certainly wouldn't be "debating" whether my $45K (but not really) Ford Fusion was a "better car" than a more advanced, more powerful yet efficient, better equipped, more reliable $34K Lexus iS that the Lexus dealer was willing to sell to you for $30K on.

And (particularly with an iPhone 5 already perceived to be overdue - don't tell me you didn't hear groans of disappointment from iPhone fans when the 4S was announced rather than the 5), I know which phone I'd feel more comfortable signing a 2 year contract on, which one would survive the 2 years with the least obsoletion. ;)

It's a sad sociological statement that there's so much iPhone hype out there that people find themselves mentally challenged to make a decision. :rolleyes: