This reputation for being expensive has spawned a nickname that has become popular with critics of the company: “Apple tax.” The thinking went that customers were willing to pay more to have the famous Apple logo adorn their products.
Recently, however, we have reported that Apple seems to be backing away from its expensive image — offering its Apple Watch and AirPods at competitive prices that won't break the bank. The tech giant’s latest move came on Tuesday, when it announced that its new standard iPad would cost only $329 — which is remarkable considering the original iPad cost $499 when it was released in 2010.
This might truly mark the beginning of a new era for Apple, so we thought it would be fitting to look back on some of the most expensive products that the company has ever offered.
SEE ALSO: This iPhone 8 concept design is the best we've seen yet — check it out
Apple LISA (1985) — $9,995
If you saw Aaron Sorkin's 2015 biopic "Steve Jobs," you'll likely remember the Apple LISA. Jobs, played by Michael Fassbender, spends most of the movie saying the computer wasn't named after his daughter Lisa, until he finally admits it was.
What the movie doesn't spend too much time on is the fact that the LISA cost a whopping $9,995 in 1985. For those keeping score at home, that means the LISA would cost just over $24,000 today, after inflation.
For that price, buyers in 1985 were getting a true technical pioneer — the LISA was the first mouse-operated computer to have a graphical user interface system.
Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh (1997) — $7,499
The Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh — or TAM, as those in the know called it — was a truly unique piece of technology. It was released in March 1997, but despite not fitting into any Apple product line, it was the prehistoric ancestor of the modern-day iMac, with all the components held in a slim body behind the screen.
What set it apart from the pack was that it was significantly more expensive than any other Apple offering at the time. The TAM could be had for $7,500, which would be about $11,200 today.
However, in a little less than a year, the price got slashed to $1,995 to clear stock. When the TAM was finally sold out, it was discontinued.
Macintosh Portable (1989) — $7,300
In September 1989, Apple unveiled its first "portable" computer. I put "portable" in quotes because although the computer wasn't connected to the wall by a cord, it still weighed a back-breaking 16 lbs — the same as an enormous bowling ball.
For the privilege of being able to lug around this machine, the company asked only that you write them a check for $7,300 — about $14,300 today.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider