| Item | Cost in 2009 (1977) USD |
|---|---|
| Apple Ⅱ w/4kb RAM | $4,542.41 ($1,298) |
| 16gb WiFi iPad | $499 |
| Developer Program | $99 |
| 13” MacBook Pro | $1,199 |
| Subtotal | $1,797 |
| Difference | $2,745.41 |
Even if the iPad/iPhone ecosystem is less open in the comes-with-schematics sense, it’s far more accessible. For less than $2,000, you have access to the same tools and marketplace as anyone else.
For every get-off-my-lawn iPad curmudgeon, I bet there’s a half dozen kids who see slick apps and decide to go build their own.