Is that because, last time I knew, Brazil has a tariff (or other disincentive) on imported consumer computer products? Someone actually asked me to buy a Dell for them in US and bring it with me on my trip to Sao Paulo.
Yeap! That will be our wonderful "tax on imported goods": 60% on most purchases nowadays if I'm not mistaken, and certainly the reason your friend asked for a laptop. If the ppl at customs had suspected your laptop to be a new one, they would have searched it and, if/upon confirming it was new, would have charged u the tariff. It's one of the reasons why the ps2 was never officially launched by sony in brazil.
Really, at its Ferrari of a phone price tag? I'd agree if the price was $350 instead of $700. $700 targets this device to a very very narrow segment of the customer base. I can't see Nokia growing its maemo customer base drastically at $700 a unit, but I'm sure their bean counters have done the math already and know more than I do.
You must be American - I understand that reality is optional there and should only be applied if it fits with the "correct" world view
How much is an iPhone? Go on - try really hard to get to a number that is near the truth. Not a subsidised contract number - but a real cost number. Is it more than or less than $700? OK - now how many iPhones have Apple sold so far?
So how do you conclude that the N900 targeted at a "very very narrow segment"?
Do you know that on CNET's home page there is not one mention of the N900 - the most significant new device from the world's largest mobile manufacturer in many years. They have 5 lead stories and 16 links to second tier stories and not one would lead you to any info on the N900.
CNET is owned, staffed and run by Americans and its coverage is naturally representative of that country. But if you don't think that CNET is a good example try Engadget (their most recent podcast is so anti Nokia / N900 it's embarrassing) or the recent (July 2009) Forbes article or dozens of other US based media outlets.
US media has no professional standards and is completely cynical, biased and racist against all other countries. Where was the free press when America invaded Iraq (connection to 9/11 being?), and started water boarding, sexually abusing and imprisoning people without trial. And yes, you guys did vote for all that - twice - and then enjoyed the ride.
But my CNET and Engadget comments stand and their "coverage" of the N900 is professionally incompetent and their motivations quite sinister. When the press does not do its job how are people meant to make decisions based on such poor quality information? In the wider sense this naturally leads to politics but in this forum I think it is quite proper to question the US anti-Nokia campaign and bias.
I'll talk to my compadres at CNET and I'm sure we'll have some N900 coverage for you in a few days. Of course, I don't know anyone at CNET, but I am an American and so do have a lot of influence. It's the weekend now, and no news happens on the weekend. But there will be coverage soon.
But my CNET and Engadget comments stand and their "coverage" of the N900 is professionally incompetent and their motivations quite sinister.
Well, the guys in the Engadget podcast WERE clueless. I can understand the 'guys joking around', and 'good cop, bad cop' approach but making a tech podcast talking about a device with this level of informedness is just embarrassing.
Recession? What Recession?
Apple sold 6.3x more iphones in Q2 09 than Q2 08.
"Apple says that it sold 5.2 million iPhones during the quarter, growing an astounding 626% YoY. "
During hard times, more people join religious cults. They do it to escape reality.
