Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

This is part of the education that Dr. Ari J talked about.

Don't be selfish. You alone is not a big enough market to support a product, let alone a platform.

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

Aunt Sue... the target market for Apple? No wonder I don't enjoy using any of Apple's products...

More power to 'em, I guess. Go Aunt Sue!

What a lame article. The "Aunt Sues" of the world certainly don't drive technology innovation, and they are pretty much a dinosaur of a target market for a technology company. Considering the newer generations are raised on IM, texting, Mysapce, Youtube, etc... I don't think "dumbing down" the technology is such a brilliant scheme for future success. My 12 year old has easily figured out how to use my Nokia and pretty much every other consumer electronic device he has an interest in...

Oh yeah, I like turtles. They look a little like waffles from above, don't you think?

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

Yo, you gotta problem wit dat?? Fuggghetaboudit!!!

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

but will apple allow it into their app store? or will the operators tell apple to either leave it out, or forget about any and all deals?

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

I actually have an aunt the same age as me... Anyway, the main point of the article is, 98% of cellphone users (I'm guessing that advanced and tech savvy are only about 2%) would prefer something that is easy to use - and Apple is tapping to that market, which makes a lot of sense.

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

There's one now but you have to jailbreak the iPhone.

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

It is not about "dumbing down" it is about "working smarter". Examples: Anti-skid brakes instead of pumping your brakes, computer manage engines instead of you under the hood working on it, Tivo instead of your son setting up the VCR, Host Name instead of you typing out xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx, etc etc etc.

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

Thus the "Aunt Sue" analogy? 'Cause "Aunt Sue" is all about working smarter...

Please, give me a break. Frankly I disagree with that article's premise, that Apple is making things for the "Aunt Sues" of the world. The article was just another Apple fanboy creaming himself and screaming to himself. Another chance to "dig" at the competition, however wrong and misguided.

But really, "Aunt Sue" which I read as being older, technically challenged and of limited desire to push the limits of cutting edge technology, isn't an ideal target market for a tech company, and I seriously doubt that Steve Jobs sits around worrying about what some 60 year old grandma wants in a cell phone. Sure it's nice that "Aunt Sue" can manage to work an iPhone, but if that's the goal they have a pretty limited vision.

No, I think that Apple courts the larger market, those who want a stylish, cutting-edge appearing technology that doesn't require a lot of back end fiddling and just "works" out of the box. Better still if they are willing to pay a premium to be the first on their block to have one, and are willing to shell out money again when a newer, "better" and/or more stylish version comes available. There's a market for you, and Apple exploits it brilliantly. "Aunt Sue" - please... how asinine.

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

Your automotive examples are a little weak. ABS (anti-lock braking system) don't work great in all situations (gravel, mud and snow are good examples of areas ABS fails), and computer engine management frequently makes maintenance trickier and more expensive. There are pluses and minuses to all 'easy making' things. ;)

Re: $199 iPhone 2 (3G & GPS and exchange)
 

Nothing is perfect but ABS is such a fine system Insurance Co. will lower your rates if you have it instead of pumping or not pumping your brakes.
now that is a weak response, you can do better than that.