The iPad's Price: What Apple's Tablet REALLY Costs (PICTURE)

Wondering whether you ought to shell out $499 (minimum) on the iPad when it hits stores this Saturday?
VoucherCodes has an infographic that will put the iPad's price in perspective: their list highlights the cost of Apple's biggest products since 1976, adjusted for inflation and in present dollars.

By comparison with some of Apple's past releases, the iPad almost looks like a bargain.

See the VoucherCodes infographic for yourself below.

Wondering whether to spring for the iPad? The Huffington Post has a guide to '13 Things You Need To Know About The iPad,' as well as rundown of the '9 Worst Things About The iPad.' See alternatives to the iPad on HuffPost here.

Comments

[farmilyman]

12:16 AM on 04/04/2010

Just because something is available doesn't mean everyone needs to buy it. It might come in handy if you had a long commute on a train. Otherwise I don't really see a big need for it.

[James Croteau]

11:49 PM on 04/03/2010

A little misleading, I think. Someone did a breakdown of parts and labor a few months back. It was around $300. If I remember right, it seemed to be almost a 50% markup. Great for Apple.

Kinda of reminds me of my Bic lighter, when it runs out of juice you throw it away.

[AmeriGus]

11:21 PM on 04/03/2010

I got a $499 iPad but found out I needed to upgrade my OS to get it started.

Went back to the Apple store and they did it there but you need a separate computer to delete songs, sync your data, etc.

If your operating system is old, you may need to upgrade because iPads only speak to computers that have Mac OS 10.5 or Windows7, Vista or XPHome/Professional.

Also the Applecare is $99 to extend to two years.

[larmarch5]

12:35 PM on 04/04/2010

I call this "flushing the toilet to make toast."

[MayorQuimby]

08:54 PM on 04/03/2010

Those prices were back when people actually had some money and taxes were much much lower.

[DoinMyHomework]

09:05 PM on 04/03/2010

lower? you must watch fox news. taxes are lower now than they've ever been in your lifetime. the top bracket used to be 90%

[kankankan]

10:10 PM on 04/03/2010

please, get informed...taxes we higher years ago...but you are right, workers make less, in the 50s, 60s. early 70s when US had major advantages over other countries...incomes in Us were very flat (rich did not make a ton more than middle/poor), rich paid very high taxes...working class people could leave high school and get a job with a pension, makign the equivalent of 60k, buy a house for much less than now etc...50s and 60s when taxes were high, especially on rich, and unions were strong was the best of times for US workers and their income...so I agree with you paritally...however, 80s things were already in mojor decline for workers...

[GaryCharles]

08:48 PM on 04/03/2010

I won't be buying one, simply because everyone is.

[kankankan]

10:11 PM on 04/03/2010

yeah, somone said that about Model Ts...

[MNJim]

10:34 PM on 04/03/2010

I often feel a reverse snobbery abt Apple products as well---- and particularly this one. Several of my friends have/ or are buying one and none of them can succinctly describe for me what it does or how they will use it. It reminds me of a hilarious segment on Onion.com where the "Investigative Reporters" do an expletive-filled piece regarding the introduction of another F^%$#&g piece of $@*! from Sony. Every time I watch it, I laugh out loud.

[rotorhead1871]

08:34 PM on 04/03/2010

this thing is going to be spendy: probably 150-200/month to access all the internet activities plus your apps plus gaming plus any other down loads.= about 2 grand a year!!!!! forever......




enjoy

[Michael Ludin]

08:01 PM on 04/03/2010

And when grandpa was our age, bread was a nickel. Who cares??? I agree, that HP is selling out to do Apple's marketing for ad sales!!

[TallThinMan]

07:43 PM on 04/03/2010

TRY EXPLAINING ALL THIS TO DIMWITS....

http://boyhoodfollies.blogspot.com/2010/04/iwaste-of-time.html

[rosepierre]

11:14 PM on 04/03/2010

agreed -- lots more time wasting to be had by throwing more money down this hole. i don't say it's a horrible thing -- i just say i can live at least a large portion of my life without having to be dialed in to a gadget -- especially when i'm on a computer most days between 6-8 hours anyway. if there's a true emergency then fine -- a cell phone is nice -- but for the majority of life i can get along just fine without the latest apps and toys.

[maribelle1963]

07:22 PM on 04/03/2010

How much is Mr. Jobs paying Ms. Huffington for all this "news" coverage I wonder?

[GaryCharles]

08:51 PM on 04/03/2010

I agree. This just a wee bit over the top.

[Miyake]

06:29 PM on 04/03/2010

Rather lame article

[Rican1]

06:27 PM on 04/03/2010

I thought this article would explain what the costs were for wireless or additional software. This is a meaningless ad. I want the 30 seconds of my life back that I wasted on this "article."

[maribelle1963]

07:21 PM on 04/03/2010

That's exactly what I thought, too.

The headlines HuffPo are the most consistently misleading I've ever seen.

[JackiChan]

06:27 PM on 04/03/2010

That Apple lisa looks pretty bangin.

[justsaynomore08]

05:01 PM on 04/03/2010

Disappointing ad, um, I mean article. I was really hoping they would discuss the cost of producing an ipad (perhaps including development costs as well). Impressive lack of substance or maybe I'm just being ornery.

[Harvee Wallbanger]

05:13 PM on 04/03/2010

Same. I guess they're just not privy to that info.

[Sanity2U]

04:28 PM on 04/03/2010

My teachers warned me about planned obsolescence long ago. It's like a car, drive it out of the parking lot and it devalues instantly. Almost as soon as you buy this latest thing they'll be coming out with something "better". A sucker is born every minute and Huff is acutely blurring the line between news and pitching products.

[liveandlearn]

04:19 PM on 04/03/2010

i thought from the headline that this article was going to tell us the additional costs, like how much wireless will cost per month, to make the ipad workable.

[lavvender]

04:56 PM on 04/03/2010

me 2

[Chanrazig]

05:48 PM on 04/03/2010

Likewise!