Quote:
Originally Posted by tubemonkey
Where can you get a $200 unlocked smartphone in the US with the same specs and feature set as a Galaxy Player 4 or 5?
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On Amazon, Newegg, ebay, etc. Heck, for an extra $100, there's the Nexus 4 if you want a high-end phone and don't require a microSD slot or HDMI out. The cellphone market isn't the same as it was before. What was considered high-end in 2010/11 can now be had for $150-250 without contract. Heck, the really low-end Android smartphones, you can now get for $60 or so without contract.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaKing
1. You neglect the total cost of a smartphone which includes not only the cellular part but the cost of a phone/data package. Somewhere between $1000 to $2000 or more per year.
$150 to $300 for a player is still less than $400 to $600 for a unlocked smartphone that is not used as a phone.
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Not anymore. While that used to be the case, there are now plenty of prepaid options available. Heck, I've got a Galaxy Nexus on a 10 cent/minute plan (as low as $100/year). If I don't need cellphone service, then I can just opt not to install a SIM card. Phone still works and battery life is longer in airplane mode.
Quote:
Originally Posted by SeaKing
3. And finally, you are thinking that with no more unneeded parts to throw into players, why should Samsung or anyone bother to manufacture some parts for their android players. While of course Apple will do this.
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Because Apple has the cachet to sell $200-500 iPods since their latest generation smart phones cost $650+ unlocked. Meanwhile, Samsung, et al. also sell $150 smartphones so for them, that's less reason to manufacture a separate player which probably saves them at most $10.