Hacker News new | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submit login

Price is definitely a factor, but one important difference between iPhone vs. Android and the OS wars is that Macs are set to gain a larger share of the PC market than they've ever had, with price being less of a determining factor for PC buyers these days (in the US, at least) than user experience, brand cachet, and the overall value proposition enabled by a given platform. Mac and iPod owners are going to be biased towards brand consistency and quality of product interoperability.

Don't forget that iPod owners looking to upgrade to a convergence device are also likely to be subject to brand lock-in, thanks to purchases made over iTunes. If you buy a smartphone with an eye towards replacing your iPod, and enough of your music library is in m4p format, an Android phone may simply not be an option.




...price being less of a determining factor for PC buyers these days (in the US, at least) than user experience, brand cachet, and the overall value proposition enabled by a given platform

But the US isn't the top market for cell phones at all:

At over 270 million mobile telephones, India has the second largest such phones, after China, which has more than 550 million. India have overtaken America, which has about 240 million cell-phones. Currently, India's growth is the highest in the world, higher even than China's.

(from http://sify.com/finance/fullstory.php?id=14684164)

So there is probably room for both Androids and iPhones :)




Consider applying for YC's Spring batch! Applications are open till Feb 11.

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: