It's a satire

So don’t expect it to be fair or serious, but there is truth in most of the points.

  • The DRM comment is really about iTMS more than the iPod. The idea that DRM is a feature the user wants is being satirized here. And no, iPods won’t play as many formats as an open computer will, because you can’t install new codecs as they become available.
  • Even 4 or 8gb is small for a video iPod at this price, but I agree that this is a legitimate engineering decision
  • If the iPhone were open, you could immediately use it in any country with any GSM carrier, and you could get local SIMs to avoid the obscene roaming charges or use VoIP where available to avoid the charges.
  • The Nokia N61, with a keyboard but not as nice a screen, sells for $350 unlocked on eBay. Typical carrier subsidy for locked phone is $200. Due to subsidy, most smartphones are sold (with a contract) for less than their manufacturing cost.

In spite of all this, while I want to be critical of the iPhone being so locked up, I do think, as I have said in other posts, that it is a fascinating device, and contains new UI elements (the really important thing about it) that are the wave of the future.

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