The latest must have: a $22,000 smartphone

[VaultBoy]

What's the subsidized price on that?

[HansTWN]

Nokia sold Vertu a while ago, apparently that business model doesn't make much sense outside of China and Russia. But there people buy some items exactly because they are outrageously expensive.

But to each his own, if someone can afford it and enjoys it, why not? After all, they worked hard to make that money.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

But to each his own, if someone can afford it and enjoys it, why not? After all, they worked hard to make that money.

I totally agree with you. It's a kind of "inverse snobbery" to be scornful of people who like nice things. Not everything in life has to be purely functional and cost the absolute minimum.

[faithbw]

Originally Posted by HansTWN

But to each his own, if someone can afford it and enjoys it, why not? After all, they worked hard to make that money.

There are a lot of people in the world who can afford that phone who didn't work for their money at all (but that is another conversation altogether). I have to admit if I had that type of money lying around, I'm still not sure I would spend it on a phone but to each his/her own.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by faithbw

There are a lot of people in the world who can afford that phone who didn't work for their money at all (but that is another conversation altogether). I have to admit if I had that type of money lying around, I'm still not sure I would spend it on a phone but to each his/her own.

Actually it is more the newly-rich-self-made entrepreneurial types that go for such products. For them it is a way to show "look, I can afford this, I have made it". I see it in China all the time. A few months ago I saw a Ferrari on a terrible road. Must be a real pain to drive it there, your foot will cramp up driving below 20 miles/30km all the time, your behind will hurt like hell, and you will have a hard time avoiding pot holes and bumps. But they feel the need to flaunt it. This type of person probably walked into a Benz dealership, looked at the S600 and then asked "don't you have anything more expensive"?

Do I feel it is stupid to buy such phone? Yes, I wouldn't want to buy it even if I had a few billions. But who am I to judge others? I myself like to nice things and would never settle for something I don't like just because it is cheap and "good enough".

[Freeshadow]

I think it's rather stupid to buy a common phone encrusted in jewels. That organisational addon service Vertu offers, at least has a usable value. Thus - would I have millions. I'd maybe buy it. Not the gold coated variant but the rest sounds fine

[cromag]

Sadly, in this case, first I must have a spare $22,000 lying around.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Freeshadow

I think it's rather stupid to buy a common phone encrusted in jewels. That organisational addon service Vertu offers, at least has a usable value. Thus - would I have millions. I'd maybe buy it. Not the gold coated variant but the rest sounds fine

Having a diamond as the replacement for the "Home" button on an iPhone sounds very uncomfortable to use.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Having a diamond as the replacement for the "Home" button on an iPhone sounds very uncomfortable to use.

Your bodyguard (the one you had to hire to watch your phone) will do it for you and hold it up to your ear.

[HarryT]

Of course - I hadn't thought of that .

[Freeshadow]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Having a diamond as the replacement for the "Home" button on an iPhone sounds very uncomfortable to use.

Ack exactly what I meant. There's a difference between costly - well made (highest quality materials, special functions, etc.) and brainless money sponge design.

[Apache]

I do not see how a Round Brilliant Diamond would be uncomfortable to use. The diamond facets are highly polished and smooth. The only problem I see would be if the diamond is raised higher than the original depression it would make it easier to accidentally activate the button. And look on the bright side, it would be very difficult to scratch or break the home button.
Now if the could inexpensively make the glass front out of synthetic diamond.
Apache

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by Apache

...Now if the could inexpensively make the glass front out of synthetic diamond.
Apache

You could be on to something here! That would take care of easily scratching the screen.

[Apache]

In the early '90s, Synthetic Diamonds were decried as the evil that would destroy the Jewelery Industry by De Beers.
The truth of the matter is that they are still more expensive to produce than natural diamonds and they quality sucks. Of course that does not mean that one day the will destroy my livelihood. Of course I should be retired and or dead by then.
Apache