Zero-day teardowns are now a staple of major new product launches, and Rapid Repair is eager to do the deed on the
Pre just a few hours after going on sale. Word like "pry," "razor," "spudge," and "difficult" all make appearances in this one, so the long and the short of it is that you don't want to try doing this yourself unless you're a microsurgeon, an electrical engineer, or you have a total commitment and willingness to destroy your brand new Pre in the name of science. Overall, Rapid Repair estimates $170.02 in components -- but as always, this figure doesn't mean a lot since you can't quantify the blood, sweat, tears, and poached engineers from competitors that went into this product over the last several years.
posted Jun 6th 2009 12:21PM
Nice. That is one seriously compact phone.
And seriously cheap. Wow, Palm is making bank on this one.
"and seriously cheap"....
Not true... 170 dlls from the 199 you pay at the door (granted, after instant or mail-in rebate and a contract as every other phone in the US), the ratio of cost of producing vs. price is actually superb for your pocket.
$170 for hardware. But don't forget all the money that went into building the impressive software. Engineers, Programmers etc etc =).
@Rafa: don't you guys in the US have to pay $50 a month for 2 years on contracts? That's like $1200 so Sprint and Palm can share a very nice profit.
Funny how you fail to include the software in the cost of the device. Considering the man-hours spent writing a completely new operating system and the new software to run on it, I would say that you are getting a pretty good deal.
Nobody's 'failed to include' it, how do you quantify development costs per-phone? They're never included in these teardowns.
@G : Indeed that's $1200 distributed over a 2-year span of unlimited everything (so you are getting a good deal for those 1200 bucks). Can you give me the numbers now for the amount spent with att-iphone / vz-storm / tm-g1 over those 2 same years with unlimited too?
If you need a hint.... http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10257430-94.html?tag=mncol
Yes, but it takes around $170 in variable costs to make one more Pre. Fixed costs will be incurred no matter how many you produce. R&D isn't usually allocated to the product because it is not obvious that the R&D will specifically used for the product. WebOS development, for example, can be used for a lot of different Palm phones.
Once up on a time iSuppli Official Estimate iPhone 3G cost at $174.33
.... isn't it ?
please tear it apart and install a larger side keyboard
Wow... Think about it, you guys.
Palm is paying the fabricators in China $170.02 to build this thing and selling it to you for $199. They are making a mere $28.98 on each one out the door (though the subsidy from Sprint will boost that by a lot more). Still, that's $28.98 to pay for teams of hundreds of hardware and software engineers, designers, working extra hours for years to put together an amazing little device. Not a bad deal, I think.
As for Sprint... Indeed, they are just making bank on this.
Nope. Sprint are buying them from Palm for a LOT more than $199. They're selling them to YOU for cheaper.
@StreetStealth: that is not the way things are done in the United States. Sprint buys the phones from Palm, for a lot more than $200 (Best Buy's no contract price is $850 - http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/25/best-buy-lists-unsubsidized-regular-price-for-palm-pre-at-850/). Sprint then turns around and sells it to you for $200, but making you sign up for a 2 year contract, is which will make them about $1200 revenue for the next two years as everyone else has noted.
not sure why you guys are bandying about the $50/month contract. I figure anyone that's going to buy a PalmPre is going to go with Sprint's Unlimited Everything plan which is $100/month. So that would be $2400 for Sprint for a 2-year contract.
Palm Sucks
so does your mom/wife/daughter
you're dog is a whore too!
I'm sure you're the authority on that, vor.
you are dog is a whore? what?
you suck
@VOR
What??? Dang, even Engrish makes more sense than you!
You're all freaking morons (except Ignatius).
Very pretty.
Its actually even prettier on the inside than it is on the outside, I didnt know that was possible.
okay there is nothing wrong with phones, and not a fanboy of any type but seriously engadget cover something else. This site should just dedicate itself to the Pre, because, it seems that is the only thing you cover now.
I suppose you're going to be bitching next week about the next gen iPhone, eh? "Oh c'mon Engadget, stop talking about this new iPhone! I want something new and fresh, like the latest Zune!"
lol first they are apple fanboys, now the pre is out the bloggers must be palm fanboys,.. how about they are just covering the biggest piece of tech news right now, wether it be palm, apple or microsoft
No. :)
"This site should just dedicate itself to the Pre, because, it seems that is the only thing you cover now."
Ya Engadget!! I mean I know today is the actual release date of this brand new TECHY TOY, but how dare you post articles on this TECHY BLOG about current TECHY TOYS!! I mean, when I come here, I expect to hear about Paris Hilton's latest romps, or how I can get chisled abs by taking a pill. To think I get tricked with the multiple visits here per week, only to be disappointed yet again with more current TECHY news on this TECHY BLOG.
You disgust me Engadget! How do you sleep at night?...
Maybe there isn't shit else to cover that is as big as the Pre is at this point in time? Ever think about that?
Considering its one of the most anticipated phones of the year, I think Engadget is giving it just enough coverage.
Lighten up! The iPhone was the talk of the world when it came out and since it's launch day, why wouldn't "E" cover it immensily? Serious, what a dumb comment, people here want to know because it's dubbed the iPhone killer, so lets see what people thoughts are. The idea of a "gadget" site is to post the latest and greatest updated news and keep their reader' notified, which is what's going on here. and it's not the only post lately, it's just BIG NEWS.
xanax...
STOP FEEDING THE TROLLS
Word on the forums has it that engadget is giving birth to Apple's love child.
Strange to see such notions being applied to another brand. It's not right, only Apple is allowed to be the whipping post. I swear if Palm starts getting class action suits for ridiculous claims about battery life or stock shortages I'm going to be really pissed off.
you pay for webOS
In Soviet Russia prostitutes pay for YOU.
........ wait, doesnt that mean that we are the prostitutes now?
no, the pre is...just look at it lying there, doing nothing to resist those advances. 170 dead presidents is a steal for a phone willing to accept such abuse.
but...maybe that sharpened bottom edge can slow down its attacker.
Consumers have always been prostitutes. Haven't you ever applied for a job?
*your*
:::reminder::: when placing a insult make sure to spell simple words correctly
words like "an"?
Wow this place phails ;) when it comes to spelling.
if you work for enterprise rent a car
you can get the pre for 175
and unlimited service is for 55$ a month
not bad
Enterprise rents cars? I thought you guys were just some hack liquidation dealership for Chrysler.
Innards of the Pre -- the little birdy says "cheap cheap". They obviously plan on lowering the price if they get some volume going.
How?
Can someone please tell em what font Palm use for the WebOS/Pre and all the instore ads? Thanks!
Seems to be: http://www.myfonts.com/fonts/linotype/avenir/95-black/
Haven't found a free alternative though....
Try asking here: http://www.myfonts.com/WhatTheFont/ I've had to for various things and people seem quick to track things down there.
yup looks like it - thanks for the response Kspraydad - much appreciated!
BTW there is already an update. I was just able to download 1.0.2. Haven't seen that listed on any sites yet.
ROFTL: http://cultofmac.com/photo-iphone-launch-versus-palm-pre/11437
Yes, and it's well known that Apple paid most of those people to be there. Begone, troll.
If he's a troll, let's see you prove Apple paid anybody to do anything. When you fail, go look in a mirror to find out who the troll is.
Seriously, does this even matter?
Maybe there's not many people waiting because they think that there won't be many devices available. Also, many iPhone lovers are blind fan boys who would queue even apples that have Apple logo on it..
If i'm a troll then why Apple has sold 21.2 million as of Q2 2009?
Here's the link: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2009/04/22results.html
sweet greggo:
You're fooling yourself.
There are plenty of reasons there would be fewer people at the Pre launch (not Palm's first phone, there are more than 2 Sprint stores in NYC), but part of the explanation of the difference is not that Apple paid hundreds of people to stand in line and buy iPhones. Those nutjobs lined up on their own.
youre a troll cause youre posting that on a palm pre thread idiot.
Apple fans line up to find apple fan sex partners :p.
Oh yeah, because hype makes a phone...
The Nokia N97 doesn't have anywhere the hype that Palm and Apple have and that phone can top the iPhone or Pre any day. Not hating on any of the phones, just the fanboys. Get a life.
Exactly how does the N97 top either? Its features are nothing special and its UI is even worse. And YOU'RE calling other people fanboys? Lol.
I have to admit that this is a pretty funny photo, but never the less... FUCK YOU. Palm rules!
Does that surprise anyone, really?
Apple has been selling overhyped products for as long as I can remember. If tomorrow they announce iphone that's two inches thick and weighs 5 pounds, as long as it has a little apple logo on it, thousands of people will still line up to buy it.
In addition, the "iphone launch" photo was most likely taken in front of the biggest Apple store in US, probably in the center of NYC, and who knows where that pre launch photo was taken.
You are a troll, I could sit and tell you that Sony or Microsoft makes more money than apple but what would be the point? I sure every one in this world has more Sony or Microsoft products in their homes than any apple products( i do not have one single piece of apple tech in my house) but what would be the point? Just be happy that you own one and that nobody wants to be like you.
Ahahaha, And you Monkey are just an Apple-haters. Besides you i own Sony (PS3, PSP) and Microsoft products (XBOX, XBOX360 and two PC with Windows on it).
Of course i have an iMac 20", one iPhone 3G, and the last two iPod. But just because i like more my Apple products doesn't mean i'm hating Microsoft or others companies. Bye.
And also not a fanboy(but i do love my ps3), saying this just to piss off ro land.
Sony and Microsoft are better companies who makes more money than apple.
HOW MANY SONY OR MICROSOFT PRODUCTS DO YOU OWN?
Wow, the component density on the main board is unbelievable. Makes the electronic engineer in me glee.
I know what you mean :3
im a fan of the pre, but you guys are all wrong. This thing runs $550 off contract without sprint subsidies. So you're paying $380 for the cost of labor, engineering, etc. And of course, it's not a scale, its not supposed to be balanced, Palm has to make a profit.
The article clearly states that the $170 is the cost of components only. That price tag shouldn't include any of the labor costs or R&D costs.
Wow! I was one person in front of this guy in the line to get the Palm Pre this morning in Kalamazoo. Nice guy who bought it, although he admitted he was going to do the tear-down on it. What a good morning :)
This is a totally pointless analysis. Nothing in this world is provided for the cost of parts without any consideration of intellectual property, not even at the farmers market. Which is about the level of brain power that goes into this sheit.
Stan Winsome graciously made the most intelligent post here yet, but to further expound...the Pre is essentially an opportunity for Palm to recoup their dangerously low market share--their comeback kid, in a sense. But where they'll really clean up is the fact that it's a vehicle for their propreitary software releases and equipment...not to mention the PR they've generated and the new interest they've drummed up in future products.
well yea.. iPhone was made to sell things e.g. software.
the better the phone the more commerce it can initiate... and the less obvious ways e.g. find the nearest restaurant and direct me there.
With all do respect...RTFP, man. It sounds like you have a real hard-on for trashing the iPhone, where I've made no mention of it in my post. You obviously missed my point. What I am saying is, while all products can be looked at with that viewpoint, THIS product is a complete icon of that point. If we must make this about the iPhone, Apple would have done fine with the iPhone, regardless of the fact that they gave it to one carrier only, regardless of how many apps they sold, regardless of licensing involved. They integrated it with already existing programs they had success with (a la iTunes, Safari) and just delivered them to a mobile platform. While the App Store was a real opportunity to make some serious bank, it was not imperative to the success of Apple, Inc. as a company...the Pre, on the other hand, still has many hurdles to jump through to put Palm in the black again, and the primary means of them doing so will not be selling an assload of Pres, but rather, the utilization of the Pre as a vehicle to drive the user toward other revenue-inducing purchases. This is their Hail Mary, no question.
word -> words
I stood in line today to wait for one, and i must say this is the coolest phone I have ever laid hands on. It was well worth the wait!
It is hard to resist posting a contrary opinion.
I have to agree, the wait in line was worth it. Of course I only showed up an hour before the store opened and there were only 8 people in front of me. About another 15 people showed up after me. The guy right behind me in line was actually getting this to replace his iPhone 3G.
I'm reading this in my pre now and it's all 170 bux worth and more!!
boring phone
Good thing I'm an Electrical Engineer
Once again, the title is factually incorrect. The cost of the parts alone is estimated at $170. The blurb here itself mentions this and contradicts the title.
GSM version in other countries pls :3
Buy and iPhone you ,wannathinkdifferenters!
gotta admit looks sweet
But will people flock to buy pre based on innards?
That is real question,.
haha, this is the only thing a pre is good for, to tear apart.
buy and iphone..
This msg sponsored by: Apple Computer Corp.
No, not an apple hater just apple fanboys like you. I could have a descent conversation with a Microsoft fanboy while suporting Sony but still give credit where credit is due but you apple fanboy are full of blind love, nothing is better than the iphone, in yaw opinions. Dummy.
Hey man, if that was directed at me, im not an apple fanboy, I love Microsoft and Apple a little for the iPhone, my opinion is based around the fact that today was the day of the release and... well no1 really cares about the pre so far judging by endgadget..
Don't forget according to them Mr. Apple invented everything including the electricity all computers stole from Apple. I love technology from all companies, I refuse to use Apple because of the zealots that think nothing is better, and the fact that the iPhone was on AT&T.
The last two cents was his own.
I do not care about the Mac Vs everything else arguement, its a pointless as the ford vs chevy. I wanted the palm pre! Today i went to best buy and play with the fake version. There is no way my thubs can type on that keyboard, my thunb kept pressing two at once. Well palm and sprint, i wanted to stayw ith sprint with that phone, now i might as well go to ATT or Verizon and get a phone with a keyboard i can use.
StreetStealth @ Jun 6th 2009 4:17PM
Wow... Think about it, you guys.
Palm is paying the fabricators in China $170.02 to build this thing and selling it to you for $199. They are making a mere $28.98 on each one out the door (though the subsidy from Sprint will boost that by a lot more). Still, that's $28.98 to pay for teams of hundreds of hardware and software engineers, designers, working extra hours for years to put together an amazing little device. Not a bad deal, I think.
As for Sprint... Indeed, they are just making bank on this.
***************
Thats not always the case.
It doesnt cost $170.02 to build it. i'll say probably..... $60, anyone?