This is the single biggest difference between Google and Apple. Apple designs very elegant software (and hardware) so that they can sell hardware at a high premium. Google views all monetization through search optimization. Search, Maps etc. Now maybe there will be commerce streams (Play, Wallet?) too soon which makes having a direct relationship very key.
So somewhere Google has a stat that says "A regular user is worth $22 a year to us" or something (more sophisticated) but like that. If those users buy an Apple device it's less and less clear they'll have a path to Google services now.
If they can acquire that consumer "for free" (sell them a device that hooks them into the platform at a wash) then it's a good deal. If they gave it away for free then it would take x number of years to break even on that person. So that $200 or whatever does matter. And Google has a very good idea about what an Android/Google services tablet user is worth to them.
So somewhere Google has a stat that says "A regular user is worth $22 a year to us" or something (more sophisticated) but like that. If those users buy an Apple device it's less and less clear they'll have a path to Google services now.
If they can acquire that consumer "for free" (sell them a device that hooks them into the platform at a wash) then it's a good deal. If they gave it away for free then it would take x number of years to break even on that person. So that $200 or whatever does matter. And Google has a very good idea about what an Android/Google services tablet user is worth to them.