Apple releases $300 book containing 450 photos of Apple products

[Guest]

On April 1, 1976 two men named Steve started a company in Cupertino, California

No, it wasn't an April's fool joke, it was the day one of the most valuable and influential companies was founded

Well, the very company decided to release a coffee table book "Designed by Apple in California"

 

 

Quote

Running out of Christmas ideas for that diehard Apple fan in your life? Well, how about a $299 coffee table book filled with 450 photographs of Apple products. The iPhone-maker unveiled just such a tome today, announcing that the book will go on sale tomorrow at Apple.com and in select Apple retail stores. It’s a hardcover edition, bound in linen, and is available in two sizes: $199 for a smaller 10.20" x 12.75" version, and $299 for a larger 13" x 16.25" edition. The book is simply titled Designed by Apple in California — a name that somehow manages to be both humble and incredibly pretentious at the same time.

 

 

 

Apple is no doubt one of the most recognizable companies in the world, a company that redefined decades of design and technology albeit at sometimes outrageous prices

This table book is no exception from their formula, and it seems to be true with the price as well

I personally have some gripes with the company but I can never deny their success and influence on the world 

 

No Dongles Included

 

Sources: Apple, The Verge

[iRileyx]

How can a book be that expensive lmao.

They must be making about 2000% profit on that thing

[Miller1218]

But does it have a headphone jack, because if it does, it is not courageous!

[michaelocarroll007]

Just now, RKRiley said:

How can a book be that expensive lmao.

They must be making about 2000% profit on that thing

they just applied Apples typical Profit margins 

[Herman Mcpootis]

$300? for something that we could print for $10 or google for free? oh right, apple tax.

[PlayStation 2]

I would get it just to scan the fucker.

[iRileyx]

Selling apple books $50 each, contains 450(not the same as this book) pictures.

pm for info

[tlink]

i mean they have to get their R&D money back so the price is completely justified, and a company needs additional funds to reinvest. capitalism at its finest.

[Skircher5]

Just now, tlink said:

i mean they have to get their R&D money back so the price is completely justified, and a company needs additional funds to reinvest. capitalism at its finest.

correction, corporatism at its finest, no self respecting capitalist would be so outrageous

[tlink]

3 minutes ago, Skircher5 said:

correction, corporatism at its finest, no self respecting capitalist would be so outrageous

those 2 are not mutually exclusive. corporatism and capitalism function exactly like intended together. 

[Guest MrE]

See final edit, I am done.

Is it expensive, yes, would I buy it, no .. I don't care for books.
However, the price is not as bad (still expensive sure) as you guys circle jerk about.

They are catering to the same people who would pay a few 100 usd on books of art and what not.

Now I am not saying that means their book is art, but merely that the market is clearly not you but that expensive books containing just picture is a thing...

 

EDIT: looking into this thing further, it does look like it is high quality paper and printing. Those things are not as cheap as you might think (depending on the GSM, coating etc.). That is, if it is high quality material etc. I did not spend enough time to dig into this... because frankly .. its a book.

 

EDIT 2: Just to be clear, in case that somehow was not obvious already. 300 USD for a book with picture, from a tech company, sure that is in my opinion expensive. I would never and could never justify such a purchase. But some people can and will, because they put value into these in ways some/most of us dont.
Why does some paintings sell for stupid money? Because for some people they have that value. Why would anyone buy this book? Because some people think it's worth the money.

Instead of bashing anything (in this case apple) which does not pose a certain value to you, it does not mean that is how everyone should or does think. Instead, try to understand the reasoning (or insanity in some cases) behind it. Don't fall victim to confirmation bias and circle jerking.

 

EDIT 3: Examples of "similar" books, try look up books of car manufacturers, like Aston martin or ferrari, they are (in the UK) around 100 GBP or ~125 USD each. Long way from 300, absolutely, but its pretty much the same thing (in terms of the type of product). Just saying there are books out there with a high price tags, consisting only of pictures of products. 300 is a lot, absolutely, at least in our opinion (seems to be the general consensus in these comments),  but not as stupid as many in this comment section make it out to be.

 

Final Edit: seems like trying to apply simply reasoning for why it might be priced where it is and why people might be buying this means I am trying to depending the high price. You know who you are, did you even read what I wrote, like really? There is a massive difference between eg. and home epson printer and a higher printing process. never said the price wasn't high, nor saying I didn't find it expensive. I merely try bridge the apparent massive gap in understanding at least to some degree why it might be priced like that and why some people would buy it - this would be for any such item (in this case a book, and from apple). How many times do I really need to point this out? I am done.

 

The below picture really resonate strongly in this community..

[vanished]

Wow, just, wow.  This seems like a whole new level of narcissism, even for Apple.  Do they really think people will pay $300 just for the great privilege of witnessing their glorious products?

[Tech_Dreamer]

$300 ?

22 minutes ago, DatSpeed said:

No Dongles Included

 

[NumLock21]

Imagine apple made a dictionary. It would cost about the same as a macbook pro.

[ZestyJalapeno]

"Actually pretty good value" 

 

- First year university students 

[zMeul]

3 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Imagine apple made a dictionary. It would cost about the same as a macbook pro.

and it will all be white pages

[Guest]

7 minutes ago, NumLock21 said:

Imagine apple made a dictionary. It would cost about the same as a macbook pro.

*Opens dictionary

*goes to letter D

*scans page

Dongle - an object that is required to enjoy any of our products

*laughs

 

*goes to the letter P

*scans page

Pro - a word required to sell a more decent albeit more expensive product

*laughs

 

*goes to H

*scans page for the word Headphone Jack

*fails to find word

*laughs 

 

[NumLock21]

12 minutes ago, MrE said:

Is it expensive, yes, would I buy it, no .. I don't care for books.
However, the price is not as bad (still expensive sure) as you guys circle jerk about.

They are catering to the same people who would pay a few 100 usd on books of art and what not.

Now I am not saying that means their book is art, but merely that the market is clearly not you but that expensive books containing just picture is a thing...

 

EDIT: looking into this thing further, it does look like it is high quality paper and printing. Those things are not as cheap as you might think. That is, if it is high quality material etc. I did not spend enough time to dig into this... because frankly .. its a book.

Stop ass kissing.

Its expensive for a book.

[VerticalDiscussions]

What in the actual price!? Apple has gone nuts beyond belief!

 

Does the book have 22K gold letters embossed or sometin .-.?

 

[Sauron]

32 minutes ago, RKRiley said:

How can a book be that expensive lmao.

They must be making about 2000% profit on that thing

Nah, large paperback books are actually quite expensive, it's probably closer to 100-120% margin.

[TidaLWaveZ]

I was waiting for someone to post this so I could say that I think it's stupid.

[bigneo]

Wonder if this book has a picture of itself?

[dtaflorida]

Where's the rose gold cover option? It better come with a Milanese bookmark that magnetically clasps to the pages so it won't fall out if you hold the book with the open side down

[malon]

300 dollars for an artbook of appleproducts.

well can't say i saw that comming(the artbook that is, the price is no suprice).

Here is hoping it commes with a 300dollar voucher for a new app,e product of choice

[Tech_Dreamer]

  " We've meticulously designed the new book in such a way that, To see the next picture, You just simply swipe the page with your finger, similar to a force touch, just like you'd do on an iPhone or an iPad "   - Jonathan Ive (Apple Chief Design Officer)