inkswamp
Oct 3, 04:00 AM
Ug, I can't believe I just defended a monopoly.
Bear in mind, there is nothing inherently bad in a company having a monopoly, not even Microsoft. What's bad (and illegal) is when a company in such a position abuses its monopolistic power. I have to remind MS defenders of this fact as many of them don't seem to grasp the nuance here. MS wasn't in trouble for being a monopoly (rightly so--being one is not illegal.) MS was in trouble for abusing that power.
Speaking of MS defenders, is it my imagination or are there an awful lot of Macrumors newbies on the board now who seem to bash Apple pretty quickly and at every turn? What's that all about?
Bear in mind, there is nothing inherently bad in a company having a monopoly, not even Microsoft. What's bad (and illegal) is when a company in such a position abuses its monopolistic power. I have to remind MS defenders of this fact as many of them don't seem to grasp the nuance here. MS wasn't in trouble for being a monopoly (rightly so--being one is not illegal.) MS was in trouble for abusing that power.
Speaking of MS defenders, is it my imagination or are there an awful lot of Macrumors newbies on the board now who seem to bash Apple pretty quickly and at every turn? What's that all about?
MacsRgr8
Mar 24, 05:47 PM
Wow.... X years already!!
Well done Steve by saving Computer by evolving NeXTSTEP via Rhapsody and Mac OS X Server 1.x into Mac OS X!!
Some memories:
- Steve showing the OS strategy roadmap: Mac OS 8 / 9 vs. Mac OS X
- "Rhapsody" evolving into Mac OS X DP1
- Mac OS X DP3 incl. Aqua interface
- Mac OS X Public Beta "Kodiak"
- Mac OS X 10.0 "Cheetah"... I got the original CD (yes.. CD..) in Paris, France.
- Mac OS X 10.1 "Puma" and Office v. X
- Mac OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" and Photoshop 7
- Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther" largely regarded as the first real 100% usable version of OS X (not in the least because of app development)
- Mac OS X 10.4.1 "Tiger" Intel Developer Preview
- Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" Universal stuff
- Mac OS X 10.6.6 "Snow Leopard" and Mac App Store
- Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" and optional Server Install
I <3 and Mac OS X
Well done Steve by saving Computer by evolving NeXTSTEP via Rhapsody and Mac OS X Server 1.x into Mac OS X!!
Some memories:
- Steve showing the OS strategy roadmap: Mac OS 8 / 9 vs. Mac OS X
- "Rhapsody" evolving into Mac OS X DP1
- Mac OS X DP3 incl. Aqua interface
- Mac OS X Public Beta "Kodiak"
- Mac OS X 10.0 "Cheetah"... I got the original CD (yes.. CD..) in Paris, France.
- Mac OS X 10.1 "Puma" and Office v. X
- Mac OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" and Photoshop 7
- Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther" largely regarded as the first real 100% usable version of OS X (not in the least because of app development)
- Mac OS X 10.4.1 "Tiger" Intel Developer Preview
- Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" Universal stuff
- Mac OS X 10.6.6 "Snow Leopard" and Mac App Store
- Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" and optional Server Install
I <3 and Mac OS X
yg17
Apr 13, 12:52 PM
And I can get a knife or fork at one of dozens of restaurants inside the terminal post security. What's your point?
George Carlin, once again, is right:
And if you didn�t take a weapon on board, relax. After you�ve been flying about an hour, they�re gonna bring you a knife and fork! They actually give you a ****ing knife. It�s only a table knife, but you could kill a pilot with a table knife. It might take a couple of minutes. Especially if he�s hefty. But you could get the job done. If you really wanted to kill the prick. ****, there are a lot of things you could use to kill a guy. You could probably beat a guy to death with the Sunday New York Times, couldn�t you? Suppose you just have really big hands? Couldn�t you strangle a flight attendant? ****, you could probably strangle two of them, one with each hand. That is, if you were lucky enough to catch �em in that little kitchen area. Just before they break out the ****in� peanuts. But you could get the job done. If you really cared enough.
George Carlin, once again, is right:
And if you didn�t take a weapon on board, relax. After you�ve been flying about an hour, they�re gonna bring you a knife and fork! They actually give you a ****ing knife. It�s only a table knife, but you could kill a pilot with a table knife. It might take a couple of minutes. Especially if he�s hefty. But you could get the job done. If you really wanted to kill the prick. ****, there are a lot of things you could use to kill a guy. You could probably beat a guy to death with the Sunday New York Times, couldn�t you? Suppose you just have really big hands? Couldn�t you strangle a flight attendant? ****, you could probably strangle two of them, one with each hand. That is, if you were lucky enough to catch �em in that little kitchen area. Just before they break out the ****in� peanuts. But you could get the job done. If you really cared enough.
mwswami
Aug 7, 06:37 PM
Makes them a little more attractive to the penny concious buyer.
More importantly, cutting price of the current design signals the arrival of a new design in the not-too-distant-future.
No IR sensor on Mac Pro seems to suggest that as well.
More importantly, cutting price of the current design signals the arrival of a new design in the not-too-distant-future.
No IR sensor on Mac Pro seems to suggest that as well.
more...
milo
Oct 6, 10:23 AM
Apple needs to start working on a new business model while the studios are still suing their customers and the TV boom is still on. If they dont they're going to be beaten overseas. Enough with the legal rhetoric damn it, evolve your business model or you'll lose.
Beaten overseas by who? Who is making it big selling TV shows overseas?
good lord, if anyone actually got through reading all this, can there be any doubt left that all consumers want is DRM-free content??? There's a simple rule that exists - the more complicated the DRM you put on your content, the less likely that people are going to buy it. Hence, people are downloading music and movies for free, and ripping Netflix DVDs to their hard drives to burn their own copies.
You can't put the genie back in the bottle. Until there's DRM-free movies and music for sale online, so-called pirated downloads will continue to dwarf legal downloads. End of story.
Wow, that's incredibly naive. People don't get free content because the free content is "simpler". It's because they're too cheap to pay. If people want no drm, they can just buy cd's and dvd's and rip them. People who download free content, or rip rented discs are just cheapskates who are stealing.
There IS DRM free music for sale online. And in contrast to your theory, people are still stealing it.
Whom are you kidding? Nobody cares that Fairplay's DRM is better than other DRM. Do you think it being "successful" (and that word ONLY applies comparing it to other pay services, not overall downloads) has anything to do with the fact that 70% of all mp3 players are ipods, and only work with the itms?
But if iTunes' DRM was annoying to users, it never would have made it to 70%. Users absolutely care about DRM. But they're not aware of it unless it's too restrictive or inconvenient - if you give them *bad* DRM they will totally notice it and hate it.
Beaten overseas by who? Who is making it big selling TV shows overseas?
good lord, if anyone actually got through reading all this, can there be any doubt left that all consumers want is DRM-free content??? There's a simple rule that exists - the more complicated the DRM you put on your content, the less likely that people are going to buy it. Hence, people are downloading music and movies for free, and ripping Netflix DVDs to their hard drives to burn their own copies.
You can't put the genie back in the bottle. Until there's DRM-free movies and music for sale online, so-called pirated downloads will continue to dwarf legal downloads. End of story.
Wow, that's incredibly naive. People don't get free content because the free content is "simpler". It's because they're too cheap to pay. If people want no drm, they can just buy cd's and dvd's and rip them. People who download free content, or rip rented discs are just cheapskates who are stealing.
There IS DRM free music for sale online. And in contrast to your theory, people are still stealing it.
Whom are you kidding? Nobody cares that Fairplay's DRM is better than other DRM. Do you think it being "successful" (and that word ONLY applies comparing it to other pay services, not overall downloads) has anything to do with the fact that 70% of all mp3 players are ipods, and only work with the itms?
But if iTunes' DRM was annoying to users, it never would have made it to 70%. Users absolutely care about DRM. But they're not aware of it unless it's too restrictive or inconvenient - if you give them *bad* DRM they will totally notice it and hate it.
cal6n
Jan 15, 01:23 PM
iPhone and Touch: Stay jailbroken.
MBA: Sexy but no use to me.
The rest: Meh...
MBA: Sexy but no use to me.
The rest: Meh...
more...
JAT
Apr 16, 09:07 AM
When Apple releases their new HD TV the networks will have complete control on pricing with Apple getting it's cut. Apple will provide a complete hardware delivery system for them that operates seamlessly with a click, and has a magical (could not resist) effect on the end user.
No needing to try all this crap streaming through Amazon and such BS. Could even give Netflix a run.
Tivo already did this, over a decade ago. And look at the mess that has existed for them. First with DirecTV, and now Comcast. Uh, and now with DirecTV again.
No needing to try all this crap streaming through Amazon and such BS. Could even give Netflix a run.
Tivo already did this, over a decade ago. And look at the mess that has existed for them. First with DirecTV, and now Comcast. Uh, and now with DirecTV again.
jarednt1
Sep 8, 12:25 PM
How dare Kanye West be pissed off at something that EVERYONE should be pissed off at. He simply said aloud what everyone else was thinking. I say props to him, and I don't even like rap.
Why does everyone REFUSE to Blame this ignorant Mayor? This mayor they have is a total idiot.
Everyone REFUSES to even hold him partially responsible, instead its easier to blame Bush.
We all no why though, the mayor is black so no one wants to say anything bad.
Why does everyone REFUSE to Blame this ignorant Mayor? This mayor they have is a total idiot.
Everyone REFUSES to even hold him partially responsible, instead its easier to blame Bush.
We all no why though, the mayor is black so no one wants to say anything bad.
more...
Zwhaler
Jan 5, 03:16 PM
Awesome idea, this will be a cool way to discover new products! Ahh...
MacsRgr8
Mar 24, 05:47 PM
Wow.... X years already!!
Well done Steve by saving Computer by evolving NeXTSTEP via Rhapsody and Mac OS X Server 1.x into Mac OS X!!
Some memories:
- Steve showing the OS strategy roadmap: Mac OS 8 / 9 vs. Mac OS X
- "Rhapsody" evolving into Mac OS X DP1
- Mac OS X DP3 incl. Aqua interface
- Mac OS X Public Beta "Kodiak"
- Mac OS X 10.0 "Cheetah"... I got the original CD (yes.. CD..) in Paris, France.
- Mac OS X 10.1 "Puma" and Office v. X
- Mac OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" and Photoshop 7
- Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther" largely regarded as the first real 100% usable version of OS X (not in the least because of app development)
- Mac OS X 10.4.1 "Tiger" Intel Developer Preview
- Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" Universal stuff
- Mac OS X 10.6.6 "Snow Leopard" and Mac App Store
- Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" and optional Server Install
I <3 and Mac OS X
Well done Steve by saving Computer by evolving NeXTSTEP via Rhapsody and Mac OS X Server 1.x into Mac OS X!!
Some memories:
- Steve showing the OS strategy roadmap: Mac OS 8 / 9 vs. Mac OS X
- "Rhapsody" evolving into Mac OS X DP1
- Mac OS X DP3 incl. Aqua interface
- Mac OS X Public Beta "Kodiak"
- Mac OS X 10.0 "Cheetah"... I got the original CD (yes.. CD..) in Paris, France.
- Mac OS X 10.1 "Puma" and Office v. X
- Mac OS X 10.2 "Jaguar" and Photoshop 7
- Mac OS X 10.3 "Panther" largely regarded as the first real 100% usable version of OS X (not in the least because of app development)
- Mac OS X 10.4.1 "Tiger" Intel Developer Preview
- Mac OS X 10.5 "Leopard" Universal stuff
- Mac OS X 10.6.6 "Snow Leopard" and Mac App Store
- Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" and optional Server Install
I <3 and Mac OS X
more...
Rodimus Prime
Jul 30, 11:20 AM
I completely agree.
Perhaps - but maybe that would just cause us to burn more fuel at power plants rather than look for alternative fuels...and who knows what that would do to the price and availability of electricity? To me, it feels like we'd just be exchanging one problem for another.
While that part is true that we would burn more fuel at power planets one advantage you are forgetting about is the power planets are by far much more efficient at producing power than the internal combustion engine on your car. On top of that it is much easier to capture and clean the pollution the power planet produces over what the cars produce. On top of that we can easily most our power over to other renewable choices.
I think we should be less worried (in the short term) about hybrids and electric cars and more concerned with just lowering per capita fuel consumption.
Kayden Kross beautiful
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kayden kross wallpaper.
Perhaps - but maybe that would just cause us to burn more fuel at power plants rather than look for alternative fuels...and who knows what that would do to the price and availability of electricity? To me, it feels like we'd just be exchanging one problem for another.
While that part is true that we would burn more fuel at power planets one advantage you are forgetting about is the power planets are by far much more efficient at producing power than the internal combustion engine on your car. On top of that it is much easier to capture and clean the pollution the power planet produces over what the cars produce. On top of that we can easily most our power over to other renewable choices.
I think we should be less worried (in the short term) about hybrids and electric cars and more concerned with just lowering per capita fuel consumption.
quagmire
Aug 3, 07:35 PM
Well, the Prius carries about a $5000 price premium compared with a comprable Toyota or Honda. But it sells for $24k without as big a tax credit (if any). So I'd have to say that the Prius Premium isn't close to that of the Volt. Plus, you can fit three car seats in a Prius. The Volt is a four-seater.
His point was what was the price of the Prius when it first came to the market? It wasn't at $24K, it was most likely higher. The Volt carries a lot of new technology like the Prius did when it came out. Also like the Prius, it will have a high price tag initially. The battery pack is said to cost $10,000 alone( and GM is still taking a loss on the vehicle).
Yes the Prius is now more affordable to the mainstream buyers, but when it came out it wasn't and it did carry tax credits( the Prius no longer qualifies).
His point was what was the price of the Prius when it first came to the market? It wasn't at $24K, it was most likely higher. The Volt carries a lot of new technology like the Prius did when it came out. Also like the Prius, it will have a high price tag initially. The battery pack is said to cost $10,000 alone( and GM is still taking a loss on the vehicle).
Yes the Prius is now more affordable to the mainstream buyers, but when it came out it wasn't and it did carry tax credits( the Prius no longer qualifies).
more...
Christian247
Apr 15, 01:55 PM
looks like an iphone casket.
Awesome!!!
Awesome!!!
Dagless
Apr 23, 06:12 PM
Oh yay! Another app-store rip off years after the OSX one has debuted.
Don't you mean "Oh yay, another rip off of Steam, XBLA store, Impulse, Gamersgate, PSN, WiiWare or [insert any of the other app download stores that existed years before any of Apple's download stores]."
Hmm?
Don't you mean "Oh yay, another rip off of Steam, XBLA store, Impulse, Gamersgate, PSN, WiiWare or [insert any of the other app download stores that existed years before any of Apple's download stores]."
Hmm?
more...
iW00t
Jan 12, 01:09 AM
That guy was an orphan who made himself into a billionaire with no help from anyone. Until you can do the same he has every reason to be smug.
Even Bill Gates, for what it is worth, grew up in a nice sheltered family with rich parents.
Even Bill Gates, for what it is worth, grew up in a nice sheltered family with rich parents.
inket
Apr 13, 02:54 PM
Seriously ? You are comparing Windows' networking to that of OS X ? Huge difference.
How many menus do you have to go through to share a folder ? Change an IP address ? Change networks order ?
Can you even change interfaces (or "service") order ? I like my Mac to use Ethernet for Internet when I'm connected to both Ethernet and Wifi. Can Windows do that ?
Can you set up "Locations" ? No, not that stupid "Home, Work, Public" wannabe-secure popup-everytime BS.
Not even going to talk about system-wide proxies. Those that Windows apps ignore all the time.
Windows PCs with enabled File Sharing (or whatever they call it, that new confusing Homegroup with a code or password or something) show up in Finder's sidebar. "It just works".
As for low transfer speeds, that could've been Windows' fault. I had the same; couldn't copy files to a friend's laptop at higher rates than 250KB/s and restarting Windows fixed it.
How many menus do you have to go through to share a folder ? Change an IP address ? Change networks order ?
Can you even change interfaces (or "service") order ? I like my Mac to use Ethernet for Internet when I'm connected to both Ethernet and Wifi. Can Windows do that ?
Can you set up "Locations" ? No, not that stupid "Home, Work, Public" wannabe-secure popup-everytime BS.
Not even going to talk about system-wide proxies. Those that Windows apps ignore all the time.
Windows PCs with enabled File Sharing (or whatever they call it, that new confusing Homegroup with a code or password or something) show up in Finder's sidebar. "It just works".
As for low transfer speeds, that could've been Windows' fault. I had the same; couldn't copy files to a friend's laptop at higher rates than 250KB/s and restarting Windows fixed it.
more...
nemaslov
Oct 11, 11:07 AM
we all know this was (is) coming so if you just bought an new updated iPod so what? I just bought an 80GB which is already full of music. I don't want a wide screen TV Movie version. For me "it's the music stupid." *
I for one feel that this wide screen video pod should be just another great option but please keep the other ones too.
* the last time i wrote this line, someone in the UK got pissed that I was calling people here stupid. Those in the US should recall the Clinton 92 campain..."it's the economy stupid."
:D
I for one feel that this wide screen video pod should be just another great option but please keep the other ones too.
* the last time i wrote this line, someone in the UK got pissed that I was calling people here stupid. Those in the US should recall the Clinton 92 campain..."it's the economy stupid."
:D
mikelegacy
Dec 13, 12:23 PM
We can all dream right? I hope to god this is true. I need better service. To me, it'd be worth the $200 termination fee...
BadMoon
Mar 17, 11:18 AM
I would just like people to know a few things about me:
I'm an Indian Shaman and a King
I had coffee this morning
I'm sick of NYC and the scalpers
My P is about 3 inches (from the ground)
I wrote Jobs an email for free **** because I can't wait for shipping
I was raised in the everybody wins society by useless parents
I hate everyone that has an iPad 2 right now
Did I mention the NYC scalpers?
I love useless threads on MacRumors
I'm entitled to whatever I want as long as I say so
There I think I covered just about every useless thread this place has seen lately. :D
I'm an Indian Shaman and a King
I had coffee this morning
I'm sick of NYC and the scalpers
My P is about 3 inches (from the ground)
I wrote Jobs an email for free **** because I can't wait for shipping
I was raised in the everybody wins society by useless parents
I hate everyone that has an iPad 2 right now
Did I mention the NYC scalpers?
I love useless threads on MacRumors
I'm entitled to whatever I want as long as I say so
There I think I covered just about every useless thread this place has seen lately. :D
SPEEDwithJJ
Mar 17, 12:49 AM
I am a reward zone member, the receipt said I paid $530.00 cash.
Haha. Congrats then. :) It looks like you won the lottery at BestBuy! :D
Haha. Congrats then. :) It looks like you won the lottery at BestBuy! :D
balamw
Apr 27, 05:32 PM
One favor, I'm not answering more quiz questions, I get your point.. I still need to learn more fundamentals.. I get it, just please contribute with the thread to find solutions or not.. (there are many Professional Forums).
You clearly have not read the two articles I linked back in post #20 http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=12467980&postcount=20.
You don't "get it".
The "quiz questions" are necessary because we don't know what it is you know or think you know. We can't read your mind. This is how information is exchanged and we can come to the appropriate level or explanation to be able to help you. It can also help you find the answer yourself by talking through it.
Helping you help yourself is the best way we know how to contribute to the thread.
We've all been there, even the hard-core pros. Sometimes you just can't see the answer that is right in front of your eyes until you try explaining it so someone else.
Please answer this question which I posed earlier in the thread. What books, sites, videos, etc... have you been using to get you to this point and what additional resources are you looking to delve into next.
Given the things it is clear you don't understand, picking the right resources to use to learn the fundamentals you are missing is quite important.
EDIT: Finally, just a comment, PhoneyDeveloper pointed out that you had a parallel thread on the Apple Discussion forums. JMHO, but that's poor netiquette and is a waste of both your time and ours. At least link the two conversations, so folks don't end up repeating what someone else said on the other forum. Even just to say "someone over at the Apple Discussion Fourms (link) suggested ..."
B
You clearly have not read the two articles I linked back in post #20 http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=12467980&postcount=20.
You don't "get it".
The "quiz questions" are necessary because we don't know what it is you know or think you know. We can't read your mind. This is how information is exchanged and we can come to the appropriate level or explanation to be able to help you. It can also help you find the answer yourself by talking through it.
Helping you help yourself is the best way we know how to contribute to the thread.
We've all been there, even the hard-core pros. Sometimes you just can't see the answer that is right in front of your eyes until you try explaining it so someone else.
Please answer this question which I posed earlier in the thread. What books, sites, videos, etc... have you been using to get you to this point and what additional resources are you looking to delve into next.
Given the things it is clear you don't understand, picking the right resources to use to learn the fundamentals you are missing is quite important.
EDIT: Finally, just a comment, PhoneyDeveloper pointed out that you had a parallel thread on the Apple Discussion forums. JMHO, but that's poor netiquette and is a waste of both your time and ours. At least link the two conversations, so folks don't end up repeating what someone else said on the other forum. Even just to say "someone over at the Apple Discussion Fourms (link) suggested ..."
B
jholzner
Sep 12, 08:45 AM
please read the thread....
When you come across a bit of information that seems to point to some sort of confirmation to a rumor do you read 9 pages of threads or do you just post it? I scolled through real quick to see if the image had been posted and didn't see it. Lay off.
When you come across a bit of information that seems to point to some sort of confirmation to a rumor do you read 9 pages of threads or do you just post it? I scolled through real quick to see if the image had been posted and didn't see it. Lay off.
twoodcc
May 17, 10:48 AM
Sure did, all 5 of my rigs have a passkey now.
ok good
ok good
BBEmployee
Apr 8, 02:42 PM
I'm a current employee at Best Buy and thought I'd offer my two cents on a few issues.
First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.
That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.
In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.
I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:
1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.
Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.
Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.
Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...
2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.
So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.
All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.
Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.
As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.
Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.
But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.
At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.
Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.
I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.
First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.
That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.
In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.
I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:
1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.
Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.
Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.
Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...
2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.
So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.
All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.
Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.
As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.
Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.
But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.
At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.
Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.
I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.
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