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“Designed by Apple in California” is Obscenely Overpriced and Apple Should be Ashamed

By November 17, 2016New Releases

When I first read the headline that Apple is releasing a $299 coffee table book called “Designed by Apple in California” which will detail the company’s various products from the past two decades, I thought it was a joke. Apple is known for producing expensive products, but hey, they do tend to be high quality and creating a phone/tablet/MP3 player isn’t cheap. The headline had to be a joke, right? Surely even Apple, with all its self satisfaction, wouldn’t seriously charge people $299 for a coffee table book? It seems it would and is.

Look, I get it, I’ve got an iPod Touch that I bought at least six years ago and, despite being used almost everyday through rain, shine, long car journeys and sweaty gym sessions, the tough little music player is still going strong. It was pretty pricey (though not as pricey as the book) but it has been worth every penny. There’s no denying that Apple has certainly made some cool tech over the years, but I really can’t help but feel this is an absolute piss-take from a company that really hasn’t been that innovative as of late.

Let’s talk about the fact the book comes in two different sizes. It seems Apple is actually beginning to confuse iPads with real books and the book itself will come in both small and large. If you’re put off by the $299 price tag of the large version, then why not get the smaller one that’s only $199? What’s that you say? That’s still too much for a glorified picture book? THEN GET OUT OF HERE YOU PEASANT!
It simply blows my mind that Apple, with a completely straight face, is going to sell a coffee table book for that kind of money, and you know what the worst thing about it is? People will buy it.
In an effort to be a voice of reason, I will humbly present you some books that are worth the same amount of money and are infinitely more important to the world of books.



First Edition of David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

Arguably one of the greatest writers of all time, Charles Dickens’ work has been read across the globe and David Copperfield’s opening lines are some of the most famous ever written. You can snap up this first edition for just a few pounds more than the Apple book.

First Edition of The Witches by Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl is one of the most celebrated children’s authors of all time and millions of kiddies first grew to love books thanks to Mr. Dahl. Here you can purchase a first edition of The Witches for a fraction of the price of what Apple wants to charge you

Gorgeous 1928 Edition of Moby Dick

It may not be a first edition, but this 1928 copy of Moby Dick is absolutely beautiful and would look great on anyone’s shelf. You don’t often see many books as well put together as this old tome.

Find Cheap Textbooks - Save on New & Used Textbooks at AbeBooks.com

First Edition of The Tale of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle by Beatrix Potter

Not only is a first edition of one of Beatrix Potter’s best loved novels a prize in itself, but it features beautifully rendered illustrations that would capture the imagination of youngsters both young and old.

Your Choice of Shakespeare from the Folio Society


They may not be first editions, but the Folio Society produces some incredible editions of famous books ranging from a variety of authors and genres. Any of these Shakespeare tragedies would look great on your shelf and would no doubt impress The Bard himself. Surely the genius of Shakespeare is worth more than a coffee table book?

There may be some readers who think Apple’s book is worth every penny, and of course everyone’s entitled to their opinion. It’s nice to own shiny new things, and I’m sure that the book will be very nice to look at, but one of the things that appeals to me about books is the fact they’re in some ways able to transcend the value of other items such as electronics. Paper and ink are both cheap, but the real value of books is not what they’re made of, but the words printed inside. Great books aren’t great because they’re made from expensive materials or because they’re rare, they’re great because of the ideas that are written inside them. You can write with the world’s most expensive pen and paper, but your writing won’t be any better for it.

Want my advice? Take your $300 and go and buy a huge pile of great books at your local second hand bookstore. I promise they’ll be just as good.

 



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