There’s little to fault the Apple iPad for, at least as far as the price is concerned. The entry level $499 price is low enough that even those with their reservations about the iPad can pretty much afford to pick one up.
Or can they? According to an analysis by CBS MoneyWatch, the true cost of an iPad over four years is much higher than Apple is claiming.
Basically, the analysis assumes you pick up a 32GB iPad with 3G connectivity, which will run you $729 plus sales tax. Then add in the monthly data plan , and assume some modest iTunes purchases over the course of four years — apps, movie rentals, eBook purchases and the like — and suddenly, MoneyWatch thinks the device costs over $2400, although they then deflate the number by subtracting money “saved” by getting rid of other gadgets that have the same functionality as the iPad.
So what’s the real cost of the iPad, according to Moneywatch? $1600, or more than twice what the 32GB 3G model costs.
Look, do we really need to go into detail about just how horfing stupid this methodology is? You might as well claim the true price of your automobile needs to take into account the price of all the goods and groceries you’ll transport in it, or your television’s true cost needs to take into account your cable subscription and the DVD player and Xbox 360 you have hooked up to it.
It’s utterly facile cost inflation. Sure, the iPad’s media and 3G connectivity will end up costing you money in the end, but if you don’t want to pay, you don’t have to. The app store will still be full of plenty of free apps and ebooks; you can always get by without a 3G subscription, or cancel it month-to-month. An iPad costs exactly what Apple is charging for it, and not a penny more, unless you want it to.
