Apple banning Facebook in all retail stores

[Luke1robb]

http://tinycomb.com/2009/02/05/apple-store-bans-facebook-for-life/

Thoughts?

Personally, I'm glad they've made this decision. Less people just wasting time in there, more time for people to experience the computers.

[Sky Blue]

Personally, I'm glad they've made this decision. Less people just wasting time in there, more time for people to experience the computers.

Yup, sounds good to me.

[SteveMobs]

Hopefully it's the first nail in Facebook's coffin. I'm really start to get tired of it and I could see how it would annoy Apple if people come into their stores just to check facebook. Good looks apple.

[liquidtrend]

sounds good. now if they could only put an age restriction on the built in cameras. i hate standing in line as grade school children take pictures of themselves, then with julie and stacy, then just stacy, the just julie and stacy...and repeat with every effect possible.

[miniConvert]

Personally I think Apple should, within reason, let folk do what they want on the in-store demo units. The point is that people are in the stores and using Macs. Even if they just ran in to check the train times, they got to experience a Mac first hand and the idea is that the experience will be positive and stay with them.

[dukebound85]

i approve of this move

[Abstract]

sounds good. now if they could only put an age restriction on the built in cameras. i hate standing in line as grade school children take pictures of themselves, then with julie and stacy, then just stacy, the just julie and stacy...and repeat with every effect possible.

I approve of this move as well, but what you said about testing PhotoBooth is completely different, IMO. PhotoBooth is one of those fun features that Apple wants kids to be hooked on.

[NT1440]

I think its a great move for several reasons (besides my loathing of what it has done to my generation). The most important being that I have personally walked into the apple store, opened safari and instantly had access to at least 6 peoples facebooks (with revealing information such as location). For some reason people just cant seem to figure out they need to log out, ESPECIALLY on a public computer.

[Abstract]

The stores usually set Safari so that no cookies or any form information is kept.

I guess people change those settings, but if done correctly, it shouldn't be a problem.

[redwarrior]

Hopefully it's the first nail in Facebook's coffin. I'm really start to get tired of it and I could see how it would annoy Apple if people come into their stores just to check facebook. Good looks apple.
Killing Facebook is like getting rid of grocery stores cause people try to give away kittens at the front door. This has nothing to do with Facebook specifically, only in keeping people from abusing the ability to use the demo computers with no intention of buying.:)

The stores usually set Safari so that no cookies or any form information is kept.

I guess people change those settings, but if done correctly, it shouldn't be a problem.
I would think they could use some form of deep freeze.

[NT1440]

The stores usually set Safari so that no cookies or any form information is kept.

I guess people change those settings, but if done correctly, it shouldn't be a problem.

I meant people just leave the store without logging out and have their page open to whoever goes on next.

[Abstract]

Ok, but those people deserve to have their status changed to something idiotic, and their friends spammed.

[wako]

http://tinycomb.com/2009/02/05/apple-store-bans-facebook-for-life/

Thoughts?

Personally, I'm glad they've made this decision. Less people just wasting time in there, more time for people to experience the computers.




they banned myspace awhile ago. its really annoying when the teeny boppers come in and just play with photobooth FOR HOURS doing stupid stuff and load it up on facebook (or myspace back then before it was banned). Its about time it was banned in my opinion

[hacksaw-C87]

Facebook has a limited shelf-life for each individual user: either you grow out of it and it loses its appeal or the specific reasoning for your usage of the site goes, i.e. spreading the word for a business/charity/good cause etc. I still think facebook has a valuable part to play in social networking, it' just that each person gets tired of it within a limited time and then new, more fresh faced, young'uns come along to take up the mantle.

As for Apple banning it in stores I personally think it's a good move but, playing devil's advocat, Ahem.

This is a bad move because it will put off younger users who want to come in and try out Macs as they might see Apple as somewhat 'closing-their-doors' to them.

What do people think?

[schizoidwoman]

I think it's a really good move but I am not so sure about it being a) primarily teens and b) a limited shelf-life with users.

In our department there are at least three people who are always all over Facebook; all are women in the their mid to late thirties and all have been "Facebook, Facebook, Facebook" for well over a year now. Not having Facebook is considered really odd and you are always asked why you haven't and why you don't think it's as wonderful as they do. Personally, I think they answered the question themselves when one of them changed her status to "eating a baked potato" and then, at the end of lunch, changed it to "thinking about the potato I just ate"... it's really earth-shattering stuff, people!

[hacksaw-C87]

That's a fair point. But maybe facebook's utility for your friends is just a Mid-Thirties insecurity? Slightly harsh maybe lol. I hate the status function... I've got a friend who regularly updates his status from 'chilled' to 'quite chilled' or 'well chilled'. Enlightening.

[dukebound85]

That's a fair point. But maybe facebook's utility for your friends is just a Mid-Thirties insecurity? Slightly harsh maybe lol. I hate the status function... I've got a friend who regularly updates his status from 'chilled' to 'quite chilled' or 'well chilled'. Enlightening.

im amused, quite amused, and well amused by your friend:p

[schizoidwoman]

That's a fair point. But maybe facebook's utility for your friends is just a Mid-Thirties insecurity? Slightly harsh maybe lol. I hate the status function... I've got a friend who regularly updates his status from 'chilled' to 'quite chilled' or 'well chilled'. Enlightening.

In one case, you definitely right about the insecurity and, unlike your friend, she's never, ever chilled... her status is usually a place to rant (I know this because she reads out her status to her other FB friend across the room at the start of every day).

I just realised - they are verbally Facebooking!

[hacksaw-C87]

I hate it when social conventions become verbs. I facebook, You facebook, He/She/It facebooks. Eurggh. Can you imagine in hundreds of years time? Apple will have probably released some sort of 'Learn to Speak Old English' program teaching small children to speak? ...Bet it wont be banned from the Apple store then.

[SimonTheSoundMa]

Personally I think Apple should, within reason, let folk do what they want on the in-store demo units. The point is that people are in the stores and using Macs. Even if they just ran in to check the train times, they got to experience a Mac first hand and the idea is that the experience will be positive and stay with them.
I have noticed new style HMV stores with their 20-30 computers that can be used for the web in each store seem to have had a big effect with kids wasting time in the Apple Stores. Apple stores seem to be empty, and HMV heaving. Good to know all these computers are iMacs.

[kockgunner]

I thought Apple stores were supposed to be a place with free wifi and stuff so people can go there and hang out?

[sunfast]

Great move. I hate people using the place as a glorified internet café

[DoubleU]

Keep those low spending kids away.

[mogzieee]

GOOD. I hate all the hipsters that hang around dicking around on Facebook when I really want to go and test a product I want to buy.

[netdog]

I think that it's a pathetic decision.

[.Andy]

I didn't realise it was universally cool to hate on facebook already :eek:. I just got on board :(. What's the new comparable site that still has indie cred :cool:?

[gotzaiPhone]

I think its a good idea. There is nothing that you can do on safari on a mac that you can't do on a windows based computer with safari loaded on it. Meaning that, there is no "Ohhhhh.... this is how a mac works" factor when using safari. If they want to ....urgh..... "facebook", they can go to the local public library and get on the internet for free that way. Those macs are there to explore a mac, not waste hours on the internet.

Also too, facebook went down hill the moment they allowed anyone to have one. Back when where a user needed a .edu email address to access the site, the site actually had some real purpose....

[MasterNile]

Meh, never been in an Apple Store, never used Facebook, never used MySpace, I am cooler than all of you :cool: (yes that's just my way of saying none of my friends have the internet and I fear large groups of people)

[arkitect]

What's the new comparable site that still has indie cred :cool:?

I don't think Facebook ever had that… unless you were 12 or so.
;)

[yoppie]

Good move. It should free up some computers for people who really are interested in buying.

[.Andy]

I don't think Facebook ever had that… unless you were 12 or so.
;)
I'm so out of the loop.

[garybUK]

This is bad, the only way people are going to buy mac's are if people can use them, they are getting their all touted visitors into their stores if they start doing this then no one will come in.

Though Apple are only interested in selling iPhones now anyway, :rolleyes:

[arkitect]

I'm so out of the loop.

Don't fret. :p
Most of my friends - all well into their 40's and 50's have just discovered Facebook and are looking up school sweethearts.

Oh, the humanity!
:D:D

[MasterNile]

I'm so out of the loop.

LOL, revive an old style and make your own angelfire.com page, that's what me and my friends did when we were teenages (before myspace.com and what not), maybe you'll get lucky and retro will come into style and you'll be the coolest one ever, for the next 5 minutes. :cool:

[drlunanerd]

Great move. I hate people using the place as a glorified internet café

+1 (http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=7024872&postcount=13) :D

[Celticsun]

Meh, the geeky users will just use a Proxy Bypass..

It is bloody annoying though waiting to actually use a product in view of purchase but you can't get near due to the plethora of Emos all looking at their lives and there sad freinds lives who are stood next to them! :mad:

[Royale w/cheese]

I guess I have mixed emotions, well not much, because I really don't care either way. Banning sites could have the effect of warding off loiterers, but there may be some people that are put off by not being able to try out whatever it is they may want to on a potential computer purchase. I mean lets face it, we all know someone who just about the only thing they do on their computers is the "social networking" crap and email. These people also need to upgrade their computers occasionally, and if they can not try it out on the Macs, they probably will be fine with just going with the usual big box discount crap. So it might thwart some sales for Apple, which I don't like. But like I said, I don't really care. If we need to try something out, we sooner or later get to do it.

[LEStudios]

Personally I think Apple should, within reason, let folk do what they want on the in-store demo units. The point is that people are in the stores and using Macs. Even if they just ran in to check the train times, they got to experience a Mac first hand and the idea is that the experience will be positive and stay with them.

I agree with everybody else! Think about it as a business point of view. Apple make their money from hands on experience from people who are new to Mac OS X and they ready to buy right there now but can't cause somebody is not buying can't be finance or just plainly not eligible to buy at all. I wouldn't want to lose a customer who buying a loaded Mac Pro with 30" Cinema Display with AppleCare for a dumb kid who just surfing the web. As always Apple gets my support! From a stockholder point of view we want more sales revenues to increase that stock shares! :D

[macbookfan]

I dont see what the big deal is. :confused: when i was shopping for my macbook i talked to a sales person in the apple store and he asked some teen girls useing photo booth to go to a different computer so he could show it off to me. :cool:

[Veri]

I hate it when social conventions become verbs. I facebook, You facebook, He/She/It facebooks.
Consider it the user's way of acknowledging his or her own shortcomings.

"I facebook" = "I provide information about myself on the Internet, but I rely on the lackadaisical privacy policy of a third party to override social conventions about information I distribute to or expect from others."

"I google" = "I search on the Internet from only one place, because I'm unaware of meta-search tools or domain specific search tools that are more likely to get me what I want. I measure reliability according as ordering of Google search results."

"I podcast" = "I make a video/audio stream available on demand while displaying an ignorance of or affinity for Apple's lawyer strongarming (over use of the three letters `pod'). This all reflects my lack of recognition of the history of Internet streaming media and of the open principles of the Internet in general."

"I blog" = "I write an online journal, then inflate its importance out of all proportion and make sure to use this broadcast medium - rather than thoughtful one-to-one conversation - as a channel for communicating with those whom I still dare to call friends."

The only relief is that "to Web 2.0" isn't yet a verb. I hate web apps, whether that's MobileMe's complex interface or this bulletin board (that doesn't mean I hate you or the board's content, dear sensitive reader, just the app). Use a suitable protocol for communicating the content and let people use dedicated clients suitable for the given application - so I can read all web boards in the same client, etc. The whole "but then you can use it everywhere" argument is nonsense - if Java/.net weren't such good ideas so awfully implemented then it'd be accepted practice to be able to run your set of efficient sandboxed apps anywhere by accessing your profile from any PC anywhere.

Here endeth my sermon on how the Internet should be. Tongue-in-cheek, don't kill me, etc.

[michaelsviews]

Applause applause applause, this is fantastic, either buy the computer or device or MOVE ALONG :eek:

[Dagless]

Good, I guess. Personally I've never seen people using Facebook in an Apple store. All the kids and such just mess around on Photo Booth and hog all the MacPros with keyboards hooked up.
I even asked an assistant if I could test out the model because Iw as thinking of buying a Midi keyboard, but they couldn't move them along. Another shop got my moneys.

Hopefully it's the first nail in Facebook's coffin. I'm really start to get tired of it and I could see how it would annoy Apple if people come into their stores just to check facebook. Good looks apple.

That's possibly the biggest jumping the gun I have ever seen.

[colonels1020]

GOOD. I hate all the hipsters that hang around dicking around on Facebook when I really want to go and test a product I want to buy.

True that. Nothing more annoying when you go into an Apple store looking to buy a new Mac and all the demo units are being hounded by all these kids checking their facebooks. Why can't they just check it at home, on their phone, at a library, or something?

[stefanjobs]

Personally I think Apple should, within reason, let folk do what they want on the in-store demo units. The point is that people are in the stores and using Macs. Even if they just ran in to check the train times, they got to experience a Mac first hand and the idea is that the experience will be positive and stay with them.

I 100% agree with you. Apple stores (especially the flag ship stored) are arranged so allow as many people to touch their products as possible. I can only imagine this is because Apple believe that their products sell themselves and once people pick them up they wont want to put them down.

Even if people were using demo units without any direct intention to buy at least these people have gained hands-on experience of OS X, and of course they are in the store so they know where to go and buy one when or if they ever choose to.

[h.21]

FaceBook? Is there any way I can get a FaceBook Pro?

[JollyRogers]

Personally this should be on a case-by-case basis on the stores usage. For example.

I use the ONLY store w/in 50 miles of me and it is always crowded. It is really annoying when I am there to purchase a new laptop or computer and all these teens are in there using every single one of the computers... surfing the internent!!! Someone who is purchasing can't even try the the product... I think all internet access here should be controlled and only usable if there is a sales person working with the customer OR if you have your own device with you. This store has designated youngster iMac stations, but it's only for the little kids.

On the other hand, I have visited stores while on travel in Cal and HI, and needed their internet, was not purchasing a CPU machine, and only browsing (umm yea I bought something). These places where empty!!!, so sure thing... whatever it takes to get people in there. Just block the porn! Nothing else...Kids/teens, bring their parents. Parents try Macs. Parents like it and buy for themselves and kids.

[Sijmen]

FaceBook? Is there any way I can get a FaceBook Pro?

FaceBook is just a lot of hot Air. Okay that was bad :P

[iOrlando]

Personally I think Apple should, within reason, let folk do what they want on the in-store demo units. The point is that people are in the stores and using Macs. Even if they just ran in to check the train times, they got to experience a Mac first hand and the idea is that the experience will be positive and stay with them.

they do allow internet in apple stores...so your demand is met. Having facebook open to people serves apple no purpose at all.

i personally dont understand why there are always so many people in apple stores seemingly doing nothing --referring to those who I have observed stay at the same computer for a good 20-30 minutes...(i was purchasing something and thats why I was there so long) I am guessing they are just waiting for their parents to finish shopping somewhere else.

All-in-all..i have no problem with having it packed..Its a psychological thing as well. People see this store packed...(its the only store packed these days) and people think oh they must have something good in there...let me see..and there you go..its a great strategy...but taking facebook out is a good move.

[Rhalliwell1]

i find safari to be very unstable on facebook. It could have something to do with this.

[numbersyx]

It is a bit frustrating to see all of these people hogging the Macs for hours on Facebook and you're waiting patiently to access your Hotmail account....er, I mean try out OS x.......

[smooth]

I have only been to an Apple store 3 times and all 3 times they were packed. From what I hear, the stores are always busy. So it makes sense to try to keep their demo units as just that - not letting them serve as public access terminals.

I am also surprised by the anti-Facebook comments on here. I only recently signed up, but it's a convienent way to keep in touch with friends and it's cool to re-connect with old acquaintances. However, I do see a trend with the younger generation who feel that their lives, thoughts, opinions, etc should be everyone else's top priority. Because they blog, they are experts on whatever it is they are talking about. Because they can update their status, everyone is dying to know what they are doing at any give moment. I see the me-me-me mentality on these boards too sometimes. Quite often I've seen this disclaimer to start off a post - "I didn't read any other replies but..." as if other posts are not nearly as important or as insightful as what they have posted.

There's my social commentary for the week....

[odinsride]

I think this is a good thing. Damn teenagers and their music, and their Facebook. :mad:

[GeekLawyer]

And you kids get off my lawn! :rolleyes:

[LinMac]

This is great. :D

I've been waiting to buy an iMac until after the refresh and I'll be going in to buy one after that. The first thing I'm going to want to do is see Facebook on a new 24" iMac before I buy "because I want to see how nice my Facebook page looks on an iMac".

Note: I'm not even a member of Facebook or any social networking website unless you consider using Twitter as a lazy solution for downtime announcements social networking. :D

[DYER]

I am quite pleased they took that decision...I can remembr when I was considering what display to get I had a group of school children around the damned thing and they just wouldn't move despite me asking em nicely... they were all logging into facebook.... i then undertook some drastic measures (i killed the mbp by casually pressing the powerbutton and telling em they broke it - never seen kids disperes so quickly lol) i then finally had my time ti inspect it... lucky i did as i went for an older ACD in the end ^^

Good move on apple though

[sushi]

Good for Apple. Like their decision. :)

[Niiro13]

Maybe it's just me, but I haven't seen any use of Facebook in Apple Stores...

I hope they don't ban Google...I still use that to compare products.

[xioxyx]

Why not just allow facebook on a limited no of machines?

[overcast]

Consider it the user's way of acknowledging his or her own shortcomings.

"I facebook" = "I provide information about myself on the Internet, but I rely on the lackadaisical privacy policy of a third party to override social conventions about information I distribute to or expect from others."

"I google" = "I search on the Internet from only one place, because I'm unaware of meta-search tools or domain specific search tools that are more likely to get me what I want. I measure reliability according as ordering of Google search results."

"I podcast" = "I make a video/audio stream available on demand while displaying an ignorance of or affinity for Apple's lawyer strongarming (over use of the three letters `pod'). This all reflects my lack of recognition of the history of Internet streaming media and of the open principles of the Internet in general."

"I blog" = "I write an online journal, then inflate its importance out of all proportion and make sure to use this broadcast medium - rather than thoughtful one-to-one conversation - as a channel for communicating with those whom I still dare to call friends."

The only relief is that "to Web 2.0" isn't yet a verb. I hate web apps, whether that's MobileMe's complex interface or this bulletin board (that doesn't mean I hate you or the board's content, dear sensitive reader, just the app). Use a suitable protocol for communicating the content and let people use dedicated clients suitable for the given application - so I can read all web boards in the same client, etc. The whole "but then you can use it everywhere" argument is nonsense - if Java/.net weren't such good ideas so awfully implemented then it'd be accepted practice to be able to run your set of efficient sandboxed apps anywhere by accessing your profile from any PC anywhere.

Here endeth my sermon on how the Internet should be. Tongue-in-cheek, don't kill me, etc.
You are out of touch with reality.

[Kar98]

Bunch of grouchy old men here :-)

Admittedly this is not empiric data, but the teeny daughter of a friend of mine walked into an Apple store, found the Photobooth and iChat apps, and was so enthralled with both she bounced off the walls until her dad laid down the dough to get her the then new Alu iMac. Almost three stacks, with accessories and stuff.

So while I'm utterly indifferent as to whether myfacespace is blocked or not, people of all ages test-driving the product is a huge part of what sells same product. And if _you_ complain that there's always kids hanging around in the store...well, how do _you_ know? Oh, that's right, you're always hanging around in the store. Probably rubbing yourself against the teeny boppers.

:D

[aristobrat]

IMO, all Apple blocking sites in stores does is teach the mall kids about proxy sites. At the Apple store near me, kids use ninjaproxy and hidemyass all of the time to get on myspace. I'm sure Facebook will be the same.

This is also going to affect the Creatives, as they won't be able to cover the iPhoto '09 uploading to Facebook feature in their One-to-Ones anymore, which is something they've been getting a lot of interest in (by the crowd that doesn't hate Facebook as much as some folks here appear to!)

[darthraige]

I'm all for the ban.

[BKroll1223]

As a former Apple Store employee I can honestly say that if Apple wants to really make a difference with the aforementioned issue, they need to consider taking Photo Booth off the machines as well.

[Chupa Chupa]

Do people really spend that much time loitering on FaceBook. Asking b/c I really have no idea. I kinda have mixed feelings about this though. On one hand Apple isn't a Internet cafe, but on the other, isn't loitering in Apple Stores part of the experience? Isn't that part of capturing the hearts and minds of future computer buyers?

Whenever I'm at the mall, which, honestly, isn't that much, it seems the Apple Store is the only one that is really "alive." Sure much of it is people waiting to see a genius, and the so-called FaceBook loiterers, but, nonetheless, it gives the non-Apple faithful the sense that something is happening which they are missing out on. That helps the brand even if it doesn't directly sell hardware.

It seems to me if Apple is going to get rid of loiterers they are going to have to start banning a lot more sites. That will only transform it into a "hard sell" vendor, at which point I think the "buzz" generated in the store will quiet into a museum.

[mogzieee]

True that. Nothing more annoying when you go into an Apple store looking to buy a new Mac and all the demo units are being hounded by all these kids checking their facebooks. Why can't they just check it at home, on their phone, at a library, or something?

Quite Agree. I guess they do it at an Apple Store because it's free, and they're using a cool, quick computer :D

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 2_2_1 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/525.18.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.1.1 Mobile/5H11 Safari/525.20)

I wonder if it is banned when you are connected through Apple's free in store wifi on you own personal device or if it is just banned on the computers in the store.

All in all this is probably a good thing since every Apple Store I've ever been in is always crowded.

[PaulCJr]

They need to also ban Youtube. I don't know how many times I've been in a store and these kids as well as those gangsta kids are watching music videos on the systems. They stand around playing the video really loud until someone asks them to stop. Banning Youtube will also help out this problem a lot.

[sishaw]

I thought Apple stores were supposed to be a place with free wifi and stuff so people can go there and hang out?

I always thought it was a store. A particularly nice store, but nonetheless a store. You know, to buy things.

[sishaw]

As a former Apple Store employee I can honestly say that if Apple wants to really make a difference with the aforementioned issue, they need to consider taking Photo Booth off the machines as well.

That's a trickier call because it's a feature Apple wants people to play with (and take home). But as a general matter, it is annoying if you're a serious shopper and can't try out a computer because of folks who have no intention of ever buying anything just playing around. But Apple can't big brother everything...although I think taking social networking sites off is a good move, those are real time wasters and don't particularly showcase the strengths of Apple's computers. Heck, you can social network just fine on a netbook.

Speaking for myself, when I buy my replacement for my venerable but still functional iBook, perhaps this Spring, I will probably try to get to the store at an off-peak time.

[::Lisa::]

Good on them! It must be frustrating for them to see random people come in and just play on the computers loading up networking websites. It's just use and abuse of what the computers are really there for.

Next they need to ban others like twitter and bebo etc.

[L3X]

What morons go to an Apple store to browse the net anyway? I say, just enable the Apple site and that will take care of those idiots.

[yamabushi]

Potential switcher comes into store and starts to use a Mac. This customer then tries to use the internet sites they use often and finds them unavailable. "Gee, Macs suck. This Safari thing cant even load Myspace or Facebook." Customer quickly leaves store with a bad initial impression of Macs and tells their friends how they think Macs suck.

Or, to put it another way...


Young users regularly crowd into the stores to use the display models without the intention of buying soon. They begin to love the Macs and tell their friends how Macs are pretty good. They even go so far as to use the included software to post demonstrations of what can be done on social networking sites. Since word of mouth and social networking are very powerful methods of marketing a new generation of potential customers becomes interested in finding out more and maybe buying a Mac.

Then Apple shuts all of this down because stores full of people while good for business, even if they don't buy anything on that visit, makes the store too crowded. This blocks the view of the product and store interior design which destroys the the intended museum-like atmosphere. Customers obediently go away and fill up other empty stores nearby. A few loyal repeat customers get all the attention they want without having to compete with new customers. Sales growth slows down despite flashy marketing campaigns because switchers are turned away at the store.

Sure, the scenarios might be extreme but I wonder how many times something like this happens. What is the point of building a brand and luring customers in, just to turn them away before they make a purchase? The average new customer visits a store several times before they make a purchase. They also usually heard something positive about Macs from somebody besides an Apple employee.

Reminds me of when the stores were still new and I saw many people turned off by poor performance of the display model. Of course the display models at the time had the default amount of RAM which was insufficient at the time. They also usually had a dozen application open at the same time with some of them doing active work in the background. I managed to sell a few Macs to other customers in a store without trying just by pointing this out to them.

It's stupid to spend millions on advertising and and then fret over the cents it costs in bandwidth and occupied floor space in a store when the advertising works.

[valdore]

I'll admit I have gone to my friendly neighborhood Apple store to check and send email and whatnot when my home connection was out. :o

Didn't do any Facebooking though... I didn't want to see if my luck would run out.

[aafuss1]

Does the Facebook ban apply to US Apple stores only?

[Abstract]

Even if people were using demo units without any direct intention to buy at least these people have gained hands-on experience of OS X.....

Apple still allows people to use the computers for as long as they want, surf the net, etc. They just blocked Facebook. The rest of the internet is still available for you to "try". Besides, they're not going to lose a single sale because the computer at the store can't get on FaceBook.

In terms of restrictions, Apple stores are nearly unrestricted, save a few websites.

[TheSpaz]

I hate myspace and facebook.

[pmpknetr21]

I didn't realise it was universally cool to hate on facebook already :eek:. I just got on board :(. What's the new comparable site that still has indie cred :cool:?

You made me laugh out loud with this comment. It was funny. Thank you.
:)

[pmpknetr21]

Meh, the geeky users will just use a Proxy Bypass..

It is bloody annoying though waiting to actually use a product in view of purchase but you can't get near due to the plethora of Emos all looking at their lives and there sad freinds lives who are stood next to them! :mad:

Believe it or not, they apparently have that covered, too. Proxies don't work, from what I've heard.

In any case, I think it's a great move.

Though admittedly, iPhoto has a Facebook upload, so if you wanna demo it, you can't. I guess.

[pmpknetr21]

And you kids get off my lawn! :rolleyes:

This made me laugh out loud, too. Thanks.

God... You peeps are funny.
:)

[TuffLuffJimmy]

I hate myspace and facebook.

alrighty.... then I guess you should do all of your browsing at Apple Stores, they're both blocked.

PS: You're super cool for not liking networking sites!

[pmpknetr21]

Bunch of grouchy old men here :-)

Probably rubbing yourself against the teeny boppers.

:D

Creepy much?

[Schtumple]

Thank god, I tried to go into the Bluewater Apple Store and it was packed with teenagers all on Facebook, there was a sales rep who was trying to sell a MBP to a gentleman, and he couldn't actually show him any because of all the kids everywhere...

Also annoys me when they come in, turn all the iPhones music on, get the volume up max, then just walk out.

[TheSpaz]

alrighty.... then I guess you should do all of your browsing at Apple Stores, they're both blocked.

PS: You're super cool for not liking networking sites!

By the way... I'm not trying to be "cool". I just don't care for them. I didn't know that I had some sort of image to maintain. I don't browse myspace or facebook on my home computer either. However, I do have FaceBook on my iPhone because my girlfriend has FaceBook and sometimes that's how I find out what she's doing, but I still don't have to like it.

Also, I don't go into Apple Stores to play with the computers... I go there to look at all the cracks in the iPhone floor models and to remind myself how I'm so glad I didn't get black.

PS: I just realized that I took your last line as sarcasm. If it wasn't sarcasm, then I'm sorry for the above.

[pmpknetr21]

As a former Apple Store employee I can honestly say that if Apple wants to really make a difference with the aforementioned issue, they need to consider taking Photo Booth off the machines as well.

Mmmm, not so much....

Facebook is a website that anyone can access and doesn't necessarily keep a buyer from buying a Mac.

Photobook is a feature of the Mac and must be on and working to demonstrate to potential buyers. Understanding the features and benefits of any potential buy is critical in the purchasing process.

Just my 2 cents.

[branjosef]

I am all for banning facebook in the apple store. The one near my house has tons of teenagers in it all the time hogging the computers, iphone, ipod touches all on facebook with their parents walking around drinking starbucks with this confused look on their face . Eventually parents see other parents they know and start chatting. Apple Stores are the new Chucky Cheese apparently. I don't mind the little kids or people who are actually buying stuff, but I can only handle so many obnoxious rich white tweens and teenagers. We need a good plague to thin out the ranks a bit. :rolleyes:

[Niiro13]

What morons go to an Apple store to browse the net anyway? I say, just enable the Apple site and that will take care of those idiots.

Some educational institutions do not issue identification cards or at least don't issue it very easily.

Because of this, the only way to prove that you qualify for the educational discount without having to come back another day with a letter is being able to log into email or something.

Therefore, you cannot just enable the Apple site.

I also use Google at the Apple store to quickly compare different brand accessories.

Anyway,
I'd say if anything, ban meebo. I see that all the time at our Apple stores. Facebook is one thing. Some people don't chat, rather they just post stuff on walls and check their notifications, just like many people quickly check their email. Not really loitering...but meebo is solely chat.

[JPIndustrie]

Damn. Why did they do this?

Great. Now all the noobs won't be leaving their facebook accts logged in so I can go in and mess up their facebook lives. :(

[Schtumple]

Damn. Why did they do this?

Great. Now all the noobs won't be leaving their facebook accts logged in so I can go in and mess up their facebook lives. :(

Ha! I noticed that before with a hotmail account, luckily I was nice and logged them out :p

[RedTomato]

Bad move Apple.

Focus on the real issue, not the symptoms.

First, let me say that I don't really like FaceBook or MySpace much. But Apple has gone the wrong way here.

Goal: Sell more computers. Get more people having hands on time with store computers.

Problem: Kids spending too much time on FB and MS.

Apple's solution: Ban FB and MS.

Wrong. As mentioned above, people will think macs don't work with FB or MS.

A different solution: Limit the amount of time people can spend on machines. Be generous - e.g 30 mins (each store might be different - maybe 10 mins at busy times). This could be through picking up a token from staff, or dispenser or some other Apple high tech way. When your time runs out, join the queue for another time slot.

Advantages:

- When time runs out, people will be left wanting more.
- Get used to using FB and MS on macs
- Less time pressure once you have a slot
- Fairer allocation of vacated computers.
- keep stores full and busy, but still give sales people the ability to jump the queue to give a customer hands on time.
- like it or not, FB and MS people are social networkers, and are able to influence others. Banning FB and MS loses this influence.

Disadvantages

- Makes the mac store more of a netcafe, which maybe Apple don't want.
- More regulation of people - perhaps Apple quite likes the casual anarchy we have at the moment.

x RT x

[plumbingandtech]

Bad move Apple.

Focus on the real issue, not the symptoms.

First, let me say that I don't really like FaceBook or MySpace much. But Apple has gone the wrong way here.

Goal: Sell more computers. Get more people having hands on time with store computers.

Problem: Kids spending too much time on FB and MS.

Apple's solution: Ban FB and MS.

Wrong. As mentioned above, people will think macs don't work with FB or MS.

A different solution: Limit the amount of time people can spend on machines. Be generous - e.g 30 mins (each store might be different - maybe 10 mins at busy times). This could be through picking up a token from staff, or dispenser or some other Apple high tech way. When your time runs out, join the queue for another time slot.

Advantages:

- When time runs out, people will be left wanting more.
- Get used to using FB and MS on macs
- Less time pressure once you have a slot
- Fairer allocation of vacated computers.
- keep stores full and busy, but still give sales people the ability to jump the queue to give a customer hands on time.
- like it or not, FB and MS people are social networkers, and are able to influence others. Banning FB and MS loses this influence.

Disadvantages

- Makes the mac store more of a netcafe, which maybe Apple don't want.
- More regulation of people - perhaps Apple quite likes the casual anarchy we have at the moment.

x RT x

Good move apple.

Have you ever wanted to check out a mac TO BUY only to have to wait for some kid checking on his meaningless life and his meaningless friends lives for 30 minutes?

It's called an APPLE STORE. Not an APPLE CAFE.

Boo Hoo. the kiddies have to go home to use facebook on their mom's computer.....

That's life kids. Get used to it.

[Rojo]

I think banning ANY website (other than porn, of course) is a really bad idea. Especially popular sites like MySpace/Facebook. If someone is testing out a Mac for the first time, there's a good chance they'll be checking out one of their social networking sites first. Banning one of the first sites they go to doesn't necessarily leave a good impression. The person is NOT going to think "oh, they banned it because other people are taking up too much time on these sites. Good for Apple!" No, instead they're going to think "WTF?!? I can't even access a completely harmless site like Facebook? Lame!!! Apple is a bunch of censoring Nazis. No wonder all my friends hate them." Etc., etc....

Honestly, I don't understand why Apple can't figure out a way to just set a time limit for such sites? Surely there's an easy way to do it? Make it so a time-limit prompt pops up any time you enter such a site, and then after a certain amount of time shut off access to that site for the username that they used (so they can't go right back in). New users who are just testing a Mac out probably won't be on MyFaceSpaceBook that long anyway, and if they are, they at least got the time-limit prompt in the beginning and will be more understandable about it when they have to sign off it (rather than just cutting off their access completely).

EDIT: Just noticed RedTomato said basically the same thing (my bad for not refreshing). I agree, though I think 30 minutes is waaaaay too long. Even 10 minutes is stretching it, but acceptable. I would say between 5-10 mins. And don't make it so you have to do anything in order to be able to log in -- just log in like normal, with a warning that you will be logged off after a certain amount of time so that others can use the computer too.

[plumbingandtech]

If someone is testing out a Mac for the first time, there's a good chance they'll be checking out one of their social networking sites first. Banning one of the first sites they go to doesn't necessarily leave a good impression. The person is NOT going to think "oh, they banned it because other people are taking up too much time on these sites. Good for Apple!" No, instead they're going to think "WTF?!? I can't even access a completely harmless site like Facebook? Lame!!! Apple is a bunch of censoring Nazis. No wonder all my friends hate them." Etc., etc....



Right... someone is going to decide whether to buy a mac or not based on access to facebook...
:rolleyes:

They can always ask an apple employee to turn it on to test IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT buying which is the point.

The kids hogging up the machines checking out which of their moron buddies saw katie last night and "texted" her don't buy.

And IF they do, it's their mom's money and mom is going to say, "do you want it or not, we are leaving for the dell store next if you don';t"
:p

and any kid that doesn't deserves a DELL.

try any way you want to spin this, but this is directed to the kids that treat it like an Internet cafe, that don't spend money and actually cost apple money buy sitting in the "showroom cars" taking them for a spin, without ever buying the car.

These are the facts.

Apple knows this. The adults know this. and this is why apple after MUCH thought and way later IMO decided on this policy.

To the rest, whining, please don't cry over spilled facebook milk.....

:rolleyes:

[63dot]

This is probably a good idea, and if they can ban MySpace, too. I do like MySpace more than Facebook as it seems more secure. Facebook most often uses real names and idiotic people put everything on there that a hacker/cracker would dream of having.

People come into the local Apple Store, surf some, but most often buy software, iPod accessories, iPods, and Macs (but Macs very rarely as Mac Mall and other online places give free RAM and printers with purchase of Mac). The Apple Store mostly has the computers as window dressing and decor and they get dirty very fast, scratched, and are replaced. The computers bring people in and the other "stuff" makes the margin of profit and pays the rent. But even if every Apple Store "nets" a break even point, or even loses money in the costs from "gross" to "net", those stores are great advertising.

I saw one accessory, of medium quality, for Garage Band and the Apple Store had it for $70 dollars. A much higher version of the same thing is $31 dollars online. This is what makes "net". People buy a ton of impulse software and stuff for their Macs at the Apple Store. :)

[AbSoLutely]

Great move Apple retail! Whenever I try to see new hardware first hand at any of the NYC stores, every machine is occupied by some freeking tourist checking their email or Facebook. Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail next, please!

[RedTomato]

If 30 mins is too long, fine. Let it be whatever.

But set a time limit. The problem is not FB.

If FB is banned, then they'll go to webmail. If webmail is banned, they'll go to flash games. If flash games are banned, then they'll go to forums. If forums are banned then they'll go somewhere else.

You end up banning the entire web.

[Cassie]

Facebook is really that popular? No one I know has one. (It's all Myspace here :rolleyes:)

Also, I can see bad word of mouth coming from this decision. Kids who couldn't access their facebook telling their friends "macs suck" because of that. I don't know, I just think it's a bad idea.

If you need to check out a Mac, ask an employee to throw one of the kids off. They have the power to do so.

[LEStudios]

Bad move Apple.

Focus on the real issue, not the symptoms.

First, let me say that I don't really like FaceBook or MySpace much. But Apple has gone the wrong way here.

Goal: Sell more computers. Get more people having hands on time with store computers.

Problem: Kids spending too much time on FB and MS.

Apple's solution: Ban FB and MS.

Wrong. As mentioned above, people will think macs don't work with FB or MS.

A different solution: Limit the amount of time people can spend on machines. Be generous - e.g 30 mins (each store might be different - maybe 10 mins at busy times). This could be through picking up a token from staff, or dispenser or some other Apple high tech way. When your time runs out, join the queue for another time slot.

Advantages:

- When time runs out, people will be left wanting more.
- Get used to using FB and MS on macs
- Less time pressure once you have a slot
- Fairer allocation of vacated computers.
- keep stores full and busy, but still give sales people the ability to jump the queue to give a customer hands on time.
- like it or not, FB and MS people are social networkers, and are able to influence others. Banning FB and MS loses this influence.

Disadvantages

- Makes the mac store more of a netcafe, which maybe Apple don't want.
- More regulation of people - perhaps Apple quite likes the casual anarchy we have at the moment.

x RT x
Yeah right! People can get use to Myspace and Facebook at home! Well as porn sites too! :D

[iParis]

Eh, I don't really care.
They've had MySpace blocked for awhile.
Ironically, I go onto MacRumors whenever I'm in the Apple Store.

[Rojo]

Right... someone is going to decide whether to buy a mac or not based on access to facebook...
:rolleyes:

Um, have you actually heard the really stupid reasons why people won't buy Macs? Many of them are for even dumber reasons than that.

You can argue that those kind of people might not buy a Mac anyway, finding any excuse. But then again, with some people, it really only takes that ONE THING to turn them off. So why give them more ammunition? Is it petty to be turned off by one little thing like that? Sure. But the point is, some people ARE that petty. And at the end of the day, the end result can still be a lost sale. And while it's true that person might be an idiot to give up on a Mac due to something as lame as having their Facebook banned, Apple is being JUST as silly for not thinking of a BETTER solution to handle the computer-hogging problem.

Why BAN a harmless website, when there are so many other simple alternatives you can do that will ALSO limit people's time, but not turn anyone off to your product? It just doesn't make sense to me...

[Veri]

I think banning ANY website (other than porn, of course) is a really bad idea.
I recall a graph recently illustrating that social networking sites have for the first time beaten adult sites as the most popular to visit at certain peak times for non-work Internet usage - of course, both are far ahead of any other sort of site.

So, Apple has gone from banning one of the two most popular sorts of site to banning both. Now, I can understand banning Facebook, but why ban porn? It seems to me that social networking sites will have a far greater impact on the teenager's social development than a naked body (which he will be madly browsing for on the home computer anyway).

I'd like to see an Apple store being erected in old Pompeii: enough real-life social amenities and images of the natural human form that Facebook would be redundant and porn would be passe. Shame about the volcano, but perhaps some MBA-style core throttling would fix that. OK, OK, it's not from the core...

[TheSpaz]

Um, have you actually heard the really stupid reasons why people won't buy Macs? Many of them are for even dumber reasons than that.

You can argue that those kind of people might not buy a Mac anyway, finding any excuse. But then again, with some people, it really only takes that ONE THING to turn them off. So why give them more ammunition? Is it petty to be turned off by one little thing like that? Sure. But the point is, some people ARE that petty. And at the end of the day, the end result can still be a lost sale. And while it's true that person might be an idiot to give up on a Mac due to something as lame as having their Facebook banned, Apple is being JUST as silly for not thinking of a BETTER solution to handle the computer-hogging problem.

Why BAN a harmless website, when there are so many other simple alternatives you can do that will ALSO limit people's time, but not turn anyone off to your product? It just doesn't make sense to me...

Maybe instead of just restricting access to the site, they could redirect the person to a page stating that the site is only banned because it causes unnecessary congestion and loitering in the store.

[arkitect]

I'd like to see an Apple store being erected in old Pompeii: enough real-life social amenities and images of the natural human form that Facebook would be redundant and porn would be passe.

Well the sight of ol' Priapus weighing his meat and two veg on a dainty scale is certainly enough to make Facebook instantly forgetable.
:D

[tcphoto]

Next thing you know, the deadbeats will be expecting a latte and snack while they check their email at The Apple Store. It's a computer store not a Starbucks or Cyber Cafe where you buy time on a computer.

[network23]

At first, I was agreeing with the decision until I thought about it some more.

An earlier post made an excellent observation. Free usage of the Macs will create a positive impression. Kids use the Macs and they discover how easy they are to use and fun to play with. Even if they have no intention of buying one, the thought is certainly implanted and might just make them think of or suggest a Mac when either the family considers purchasing a new computer or the kid is old enough to buy one for themselves.

By banning myspace and facebook, unless you have a very clear and simple message telling them exactly WHY they can't access those sites, I believe the initial reaction is going to be "Wow. No wonder no one has Macs. They can't even load Facebook!" They will see Safari's inability to load what is, in their minds, one of the most popular and important sites as a sign that Macs can't do what they want them to do. They could be instantly turned off on Macs and that positive experience becomes a decidedly negative one. Instead of recommending or wanting a Mac in the future, they will ridicule and be opposed to the thought of owning a Mac.

[SFStateStudent]

Gawd, why don't they just sit in their cars and FB from their iPhones! lol :p

[TheSpaz]

Instead of recommending or wanting a Mac in the future, they will ridicule and be opposed to the thought of owning a Mac.

But, it will be fun to prove them wrong when they tell us that "Macs can do facebook!"

By the way... Macs can't game. Just so you know.

[mklos]

I would think they could use some form of deep freeze.

I could be totally wrong but...

I believe the demo units in the stores are re-imaged either every night or every morning before the store opens.

[Rojo]

Maybe instead of just restricting access to the site, they could redirect the person to a page stating that the site is only banned because it causes unnecessary congestion and loitering in the store.

By the way, what DOES happen now if you try to access MySpace? Is there a message explaining anything? Or does it just not work or show up?

Redirecting to a page that explains why it's banned is still banning a basically harmless website. Just because it helps Apple curb loitering, doesn't mean it's still not going to piss off someone who's testing out their machine.

Again, it's silly of Apple to do this when there are other, non-censoring alternatives they can apply to cut down on loitering.

[smooth]

Next thing you know, the deadbeats will be expecting a latte and snack while they check their email at The Apple Store. It's a computer store not a Starbucks or Cyber Cafe where you buy time on a computer.

What a great way to get exposure for their products - if their stores were also cyber/internet cafes. There could be a clear separation for demo products and those available for free usage - with a cafe to go with it.

But I'm convinced Apple does not want a large market share so they'd never consider this...but that's another thread.

[jayducharme]

I find Apple's decision ironic, because the company has been using Facebook for the distribution and exhibition of its Insomnia Film Festival. I guess the Apple employees won't be telling customers about the festival....

Surely Apple's software engineers could devise a more elegant solution for the stores' computers. For instance, how about a routine that would simply close down Safari after a pre-set time if the browser was at either MySpace of Facebook? Isn't it natural for potential customers to want to see how the sites they regularly browse to look on a Mac?

Or how about this novel idea: if there are kids in the store wasting time using Facebook and MySpace, have the Concierge tell them to leave.

[arkitect]

What a great way to get exposure for their products - if their stores were also cyber/internet cafes. There could be a clear separation for demo products and those available for free usage - with a cafe to go with it.


Imagine all the threads that would get started:

"Waaaaaah! I spilt my Apple™ Latte over a MacBook and now Apple is sueing me"

[ortuno2k]

Good decision.
Although I am a FB user, I find it annoying for the young kids who hang out on these social networking sites all the time, MySpace being one of them. GOSH I HATE THAT SITE! :mad:
Good job Apple <3

[ortuno2k]

I find Apple's decision ironic, because the company has been using Facebook for the distribution and exhibition of its Insomnia Film Festival. I guess the Apple employees won't be telling customers about the festival....

Surely Apple's software engineers could devise a more elegant solution for the stores' computers. For instance, how about a routine that would simply close down Safari after a pre-set time if the browser was at either MySpace of Facebook? Isn't it natural for potential customers to want to see how the sites they regularly browse to look on a Mac?

Or how about this novel idea: if there are kids in the store wasting time using Facebook and MySpace, have the Concierge tell them to leave.

I disagree with your last idea. Telling them to leave would not look so nice, regardless of what they are doing. I've gone to the Apple Store and see people spend time checking their emails and doing other personal stuff, but no one should tell them to leave.
I think silently banning access to the site makes the abusers do less damage and waste other people's time.

[queshy]

Not a good idea...people will think that the "Mac" won't let them use facebook. Everyone uses facebook. The more people you have using the Macs, the more people will want them. The best strategy is to get employees to ask FB'ers "Can I help you" every so often so they'll get the idea that they're not supposed to be there for an hour on the computer (if the store is busy).

[nagromme]

Awesome! Now just ban MySpace and Facebook from all my friends' computers please :)

Facebook serves one purpose: to remember high school--which I worked long and hard to forget.

MySpace serves... no purpose at all that I can see. I already have better email and IM services.

I've tried both, and I just don't get what my friends see in them.

Not a good idea...people will think that the "Mac" won't let them use facebook. Everyone uses facebook.

I'm sure this has been suggested, but if I were Apple I'd simply make blocked sites bring up a nice explanation and apology page--making it clear that lots of people had been using MS/FB... and therefore that Macs certainly can use them.

[TheSpaz]

Awesome! Now just ban MySpace and Facebook from all my friends' computers please :)

Facebook serves one purpose: to remember high school--which I worked long and hard to forget.

MySpace serves... no purpose at all that I can see. I already have better email and IM services.

I've tried both, and I just don't get what my friends see in them.


I'm the same exact way.

[jayducharme]

Telling them to leave would not look so nice, regardless of what they are doing.

Well, if the store is slow that day and no one else is using the computers, what's the harm in someone browsing whatever sites they want? However, if the store is busy and other customers want to try out a Mac, I don't see anything wrong with politely asking someone who's been on Facebook for hours to step aside and let someone else use the machine. I think most people (especially kids) would be okay with that.

[n8236]

I think this move is silly. People surf the web, check their emails, the weather, etc all the time already...how is checking Facebook any different?

[JackMaurer]

I think its a great move for several reasons (besides my loathing of what it has done to my generation). The most important being that I have personally walked into the apple store, opened safari and instantly had access to at least 6 peoples facebooks (with revealing information such as location). For some reason people just cant seem to figure out they need to log out, ESPECIALLY on a public computer.

Thats such an obvious lie, when a new user signs in whoever was on before is automatically signed out...

[Eric S.]

I think it's a good move generally, but they might have a "designated Facebook machine" and whoever wanted to use it could line up there.

[chilipie]

"I google" = "I search on the Internet from only one place, because I'm unaware of meta-search tools or domain specific search tools that are more likely to get me what I want. I measure reliability according as ordering of Google search results."
Find me a better search engine, and I'll use it.

"I podcast" = "I make a video/audio stream available on demand while displaying an ignorance of or affinity for Apple's lawyer strongarming (over use of the three letters `pod'). This all reflects my lack of recognition of the history of Internet streaming media and of the open principles of the Internet in general."
Podcasting doesn't involve streaming - you download a file to your computer and then on to a portable media player.

[iNash]

Personally I think Apple should, within reason, let folk do what they want on the in-store demo units. The point is that people are in the stores and using Macs. Even if they just ran in to check the train times, they got to experience a Mac first hand and the idea is that the experience will be positive and stay with them.

I agree completely, we often joke at work about the different views of Apple demo units and our own ones.

The jokes usually roll out like this:

Kev: "So, Apple have a really good idea because you look in their store and there's about 8 employees and 200 customers easily, and all they're doing is playing with the laptops"

Me: "Yeah, but they aren't buying anything"

Kev: "Yeah but they don't have to, so, Apple know that there is people checking emails and going on facebook and they wont buy anything.

But the experience they get and they think, oh this is pretty good, I've never used a Mac before but I quite like the way I can do whatever on it.

So when they want to buy a computer, we know they will come and buy a Mac. Or they will tell there parents, I was in the Apple store and this was really cool... can I have one, and that's why Apple are always so busy and will beat everyone in this shopping center"

Me: "Ok, so why don't we just do that, let kids come in and use Facebook?"

Kev: "Because all our managers in stores will just walk over and say, are you going to buy that? No, well it's a demo unit so can you stop going on facebook"


This really sums up why Apple is so great, they allow you to have a full experience.

I know that when I am walking around and I need to check an attachment or download something I don't bother carrying my laptop I just go into the Apple store and do it.


I think this is a bad move.



Rant over ;)

[MojoWill]

you go into any apple store and 80-90% of the people in there are not ever going to buy anything, maybe an iPod yet you can't near any of the hardware you might be interested in buying for people messing around. I hate apple stores because of this. I go in wanting to BUY something and end up leaving with nothing but stress and annoyance and end up buying it online or at a 3rd party retailer.

This will hopefully get rid of the wasters who generally populate apple stores!

[bretm]

I don't think Facebook ever had that… unless you were 12 or so.
;)

facebook? It's kinda blah and boring for kids, no? I always thought it was the
Myspace for adults that don't want to post their favorite music and make an ugly neon home page.

[minik]

I have a Facebook account and use it religiously. However, I never used any of the social networking site on public computer.

Apple should not block the site at all.

[Rojo]

Awesome! Now just ban MySpace and Facebook from all my friends' computers please :)

Facebook serves one purpose: to remember high school--which I worked long and hard to forget.

MySpace serves... no purpose at all that I can see. I already have better email and IM services.

I've tried both, and I just don't get what my friends see in them.

Well I don't see what people see in MySpace either, as it just seems like an assault to the senses (and not in a good way) to me...

BUT -- Facebook is entirely different. It's almost Apple-like in it's implementation (not quite, of course, but closer to Apple than any other social networking site). And it really doesn't have to be about remembering high school friends you want to forget, or getting requests to add stupid apps to your page, or participating in lame list memes, or requiring a complete lack of privacy, or any of the other things people complain about Facebook. It CAN be those things, if you allow it. However many people fail to understand that it can also be tweaked and customized to your heart's content to be exactly the experience you want it to be. YOU have the choice to block or limit people, apps, your news feeds, whatever. I personally have it set up to block almost all applications, and limited my news feeds to see only news from people I actually WANT to know about. Because of this, I'm a lot more connected to the friends I really care about, know a lot more about them, and have gotten better relations with them because of it. I've also met new people, and participated in activities that I wouldn't have known about otherwise. I'm made aware of important events and people's birthday's (VERY helpful), and get to learn so many new things every day. If I ever get a little tired of Facebook, I just don't log in that day. Now worries. It's always there whent I want to return to it.

Facebook and sites like it only work for you if you're a very social person, OR if you are at least interested in what other people are doing. If you're not that social, and don't care about what other people are doing, Facebook definitely isn't for you. Also, your general experience has a lot to do with the kind of people you're actually friends with that also use it. I'm lucky and have a lot of great friends on FB who are always doing fascinating things and have fun and witty stuff to say, or have interesting activities to bring to my attention that I normally wouldn't know about. I can see how someone's Facebook experience would be much different if their friends just weren't that interesting...

No one has to like Facebook or want to join it, but it baffles me why some don't "get" why other people might enjoy it or find it useful. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean others aren't getting a lot of usefulness out of it.

[batchtaster]

I thought Apple stores were supposed to be a place with free wifi and stuff so people can go there and hang out?

You thought wrong. It's a store, not a community service.

And, oh please. People pretending that Facebook "testing" is an important factor in determining whether to buy a computer. Any browser, any platform, and you already know how the damn thing works. No person on Facebook in Apple Store is buying - they're updating their sad little lives more often than anyone cares.

Besides, if you were really a "true", hardcore Facebook user, you would have already bought an iPhone and you wouldn't even need to duck into a Store and sponge off Apple while screwing an actual customer out of some face-time with a new model Mac.

P.S. I'm not on Facebook or MySpace (where every page is ugly and completely unreadable). I refuse to be. I get incredibly bored when people go on about it. And it's even stupider when they use it for something for which there is a much better site. eg: I know people who use Facebook just to show photos - when PicasaWeb, Flickr, and plenty of other sites actually specialize in photo hosting.

[bretm]

you go into any apple store and 80-90% of the people in there are not ever going to buy anything, maybe an iPod yet you can't near any of the hardware you might be interested in buying for people messing around. I hate apple stores because of this. I go in wanting to BUY something and end up leaving with nothing but stress and annoyance and end up buying it online or at a 3rd party retailer.

This will hopefully get rid of the wasters who generally populate apple stores!

But you bought one. The stores are a great big Apple billboard. Apple doesn't care WHERE you buy your mac. If you're like me, the stores are simply a place to touch an item before ordering online somewhere. You'd have to be nuts to purchase stuff there.

It mustve really been an issue and a problem to can the facebook and myspace. Because Apple does want people loitering. Especially kids. They may not have the funds now, but when they do they'll want an Apple. Why do you think getting Apple laptops in schools is such a big deal?

[rva1]

http://tinycomb.com/2009/02/05/apple-store-bans-facebook-for-life/

Thoughts?

Personally, I'm glad they've made this decision. Less people just wasting time in there, more time for people to experience the computers.

Good move. This will allow more people to get there hands on a Mac at those retail locations.

All of the negativity in the posts here are really non-issues. Some people only need to SEE a Mac and they are sold, others need to TOUCH one, or EXPERIENCE the awesome software that comes out of the box. Being able to access Facebook, MySpace, your favorite porn site, etc... will NOT be the deciding factor in buying a Mac.

[Veri]

Find me a better search engine, and I'll use it.
There is no "best" for everything, but I did mention meta-search (http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/MetaSearch.html) services such as Dogpile (http://www.dogpile.com/). That's not to say there aren't some independent search engines that often give better results than Google. Compare a Google cat (http://www.google.com/search?q=cat) with a Gigablast cat (http://www.gigablast.com/search?q=cat) (and remember when Google was all about simplicity?).

Podcasting doesn't involve streaming - you download a file to your computer and then on to a portable media player.
As far as my experience goes, even the best podcast series include a lot of rag-chewing, suffering the same problem as blogs: a sense that the authors are more interested in their own voice than in imparting information.

So, I could do as you suggest, or I could just stream episodes I find interesting to my PC/portable. Similarly, I don't have to read every edition of some magazine from cover to cover, but would be better off downloading individual articles as I want them.

I can treat a podcast as I treat traditionally labelled streaming media, just as I can treat collections of streaming media as a podcast - though podcasts do helpfully more often come with metadata to group related streams.

[MatLane]

i agree. Stops idoits just going in there to check there Facebook and MSN mail

[phalewhale]

I 'get' why facebook can be useful. It's a lot more visual, personal and fun than e-mail and SMS, and a lot cheaper than video calls. But, the majority of students and colleagues I see using it, update it with piffling nonsense! What is the point in telling everyone that you've just had a big meal and feel full!??? I mean, jee-whiz have you not got anything more useful or entertaining to do with your life?!! One fella I work with actually has a half naked picture of himself posing to a camera with his bare chest exposed. In the timeless words of good old Alan Partridge, that's just "sa-ah-aaad!"

Not to mention the fact that people are so nonchalant when it comes to posting personal information like full names, dates of birth and contact details. AND the names of their little one's which in a lot of cases is actually their password! These people then have the intelligence level of a small crab to go and post that information for all to see on the Internet.

No, you can keep your social networking sites for me, shove 'em where the big ball of brilliant bright light in the sky does nay shine.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that Apple can ban facebook ALL day as far as I'm concerned!

[batchtaster]

No one has to like Facebook or want to join it, but it baffles me why some don't "get" why other people might enjoy it or find it useful. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean others aren't getting a lot of usefulness out of it.

What exactly is Facebook's practical "usefulness"? It's a vanity system, plain and simple. It's the Internet equivalent of those sidewalk street numbers.

There are 2 problems with Facebook, MySpace, YouTube and a whole raft of other "Web 2.0" services:
1. People are deluded about how interesting/fascinating they are. Videos, blog posts, status updates, all sorts of other junk that they imagine the world wants to know about them. I can't tell you how many hours I know are being completely wasted at my work by people spending all day on Facebook. Now multiply that by the number of people on the damn thing.
2. The hunger for "fame". (http://www.google.com/search?rls=en-us&q=be+famous+on+the+internet+site:answers.yahoo.com) All trying to be the next "big thing" on the Internet, even though everyone who has ever been a "big thing" is universally hated. As a result you end up with people spamming their videos, blogs and other garbage into other areas. Take a look around on any average YouTube video at the people begging others to watch and subscribe.

And in any case, yay to the banning of Facebook in Apple Stores. Reduce the sponging and the "tourists".

[gkarris]

1. People are deluded about how interesting/fascinating they are. Videos, blog posts, status updates, all sorts of other junk that they imagine the world wants to know about them. I can't tell you how many hours I know are being completely wasted at my work by people spending all day on Facebook. Now multiply that by the number of people on the damn thing.

^^^ Tell me about it. People (all ages) ask me "Are you on Facebook/Myspace". I say "no... too much computer stuff to keep track of already". They're like, "oh, too bad..." (kinda like, you're a "looser" for not being on :eek:).

Eh, I don't really care.
They've had MySpace blocked for awhile.
Ironically, I go onto MacRumors whenever I'm in the Apple Store.

LOL.... same here..

Great move by Apple. Last I was there for an hour I was trying out the new iLife '09 with some sample videos from the web of a camcorder I was thinking of buying. Wanted to make sure the camcorder vids work with iLife '09 and try out the Image Stabilization (the camcorder didn't have it).

The new White MacBook was the only one in the store loaded with iLife '09, so would not have been happy if I had to wait for a person fooling around in Facebook or MySpace - go use the MacPro... :eek:

:D

[Rojo]

And it's even stupider when they use it for something for which there is a much better site. eg: I know people who use Facebook just to show photos - when PicasaWeb, Flickr, and plenty of other sites actually specialize in photo hosting.

Just because Flickr and Picassa are technically better services for photo hosting, it doesn't mean it's necessarily the best way to share photos with friends. If all your friends are already on Facebook, all you have to do is simply upload your photos, and it's up to your friends to view them or not (they'll get a news anouncement about it on their feeds, if they've set up their profile to receive news fom you that is).
However, not as many people are on Flickr -- so in order to share your photos to all your friends you have to send e-mails to them all with links to your Flickr page, which can get really annoying (if done too often) and obtrusive. I have close to 300 friends on Facebook, but maybe only 5 on Flickr. Hmmm....I wonder what's the best way to share my photos? ;)

Look -- I know it's fun and popular to Facebook-bash, but it's become apparent that the haters either don't really know it well, and don't understand why it's beneficial to use -- OR -- they seem to have lots of uninteresting and/or vain friends who like to post boring details about their lives (in which case I can understand why it seems lame to you). Again, your experience varies greatly depending on (A) how you customize it, which is completely in your control, and (B) how interesting your friends are (not as much your control -- then again...just find more interesting friends). :D

[true777]

Finally, Apple. It's about time. Now if only they also banned gmail and Yahoo! mail then maybe those losers would go away who use the Apple Store as their personal office for hours, running businesses out of the Apple Store and dicking around mailing their friends for hours completely ignorant to actual customers lined up behind them who genuinely would like to try out a product. Each and every time I go to an Apple Store I end up waiting for about 10 min behind some loser who is doing his email, until I decide it is hopeless and leave without ever being able to test the product. I basically don't go to Apple Stores anymore for this reason -- it is hopeless.

I would be most happy if they shut down internet access to anything but apple.com altogether -- good riddance. NONE of those loitering losers buy Macs. If they did they would be checking their email from their own Mac and not clogging the Apple Store for weeks and months -- it's always the SAME people. Seriously, get lost, folks.

[Royale w/cheese]

Um, have you actually heard the really stupid reasons why people won't buy Macs? Many of them are for even dumber reasons than that.

You can argue that those kind of people might not buy a Mac anyway, finding any excuse. But then again, with some people, it really only takes that ONE THING to turn them off. So why give them more ammunition? Is it petty to be turned off by one little thing like that? Sure. But the point is, some people ARE that petty. And at the end of the day, the end result can still be a lost sale. And while it's true that person might be an idiot to give up on a Mac due to something as lame as having their Facebook banned, Apple is being JUST as silly for not thinking of a BETTER solution to handle the computer-hogging problem.

Why BAN a harmless website, when there are so many other simple alternatives you can do that will ALSO limit people's time, but not turn anyone off to your product? It just doesn't make sense to me...

Exactly. My girls Aunt always gives her crap when she sends something that doesn't work right because she didn't do something right, and then blames it on the mac that it doesn't work. She is always using facebook and myspace and this translates into her badmouthing macs because of problems my girl has with her aunt's inane files. And of course she is always having trouble with her dell. If she did ever think about getting a mac and she went into a Apple Store, she would most def be turned off when she would not be able to log into those sites.

But I will be the first to tell you she is a moron.

[hero4higher]

When the Apple Store first opened Steve encouraged people to come down and burn CDs and make home movies. They also had kid sections that were set up so that kids could play games. Free WiFi for all was also a promise, and actually in New York's 5th Ave store a deal with the city requires Apple to provide free wifi, because the store was built underneath a public space. I don't regularly go to the Apple Store because I don't live close to one, so maybe this has changed. However it's worth remembering that no one thought the Apple Store would work, because Gateway was losing their shirts in the retail business, there was no iPod halo, and the Mac was losing marketshare. In a way, Apple was begging people to come look at its computers. Of course, as the Mac is increasingly mainstreamed it makes sense that the classic "macaddict" will be replaced by... well, by the people on this forum, but I think Apple will do well to remember what makes them special in the first place.

I still remember when I bought my Power Mac 6500 at CompUSA. Not only were there no demos, but I had to ACTUALLY CONVINCE THE SALES PERSON TO SELL ME A MAC. It took more than five minutes of me saying over and over "I know what I want: Power Mac 6500/250" and then him trying to sell me a wintel box. I can't imagine the people posting to this thread that they won't upgrade their iMac because teenagers wouldn't let them launch calculator.app on a black/aluminum model were buying Macs back then.

[gkarris]

When the Apple Store first opened Steve encouraged people to come down and burn CDs and make home movies. They also had kid sections that were set up so that kids could play games. Free WiFi for all was also a promise, and actually in New York's 5th Ave store a deal with the city requires Apple to provide free wifi, because the store was built underneath a public space. I don't regularly go to the Apple Store because I don't live close to one, so maybe this has changed. However it's worth remembering that no one thought the Apple Store would work, because Gateway was losing their shirts in the retail business, there was no iPod halo, and the Mac was losing marketshare. In a way, Apple was begging people to come look at its computers. Of course, as the Mac is increasingly mainstreamed it makes sense that the classic "macaddict" will be replaced by... well, by the people on this forum, but I think Apple will do well to remember what makes them special in the first place.

It's nice when life mimics perfection... :eek:

But the computers are there for people to "try things out", not "use instead of" their own...

[rdowns]

AT least according to a blog at Fortune (http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/06/apple-has-not-banned-facebook/?source=yahoo_quote).


How do these rumors get started? Or, more to the point, how do they get perpetuated?

Late Thursday, a site called tinycomb (”Hand-Picked Tech News”) reported that Facebook had been banned “for life” from every Apple (AAPL) store in the United States — some 207 retail outlets in all, by my count.

This must have been one of those facts that was too good to check, because I’m pretty sure none of the half-dozen newspapers and blogs that repeated and embellished the story bothered to do any legwork to confirm it.

It certainly seems that most of the readers who applauded the reported ban — a couple dozen at tinycomb, nearly 40 at Digg, more than 120 at MacRumors — took it as fact.

“Why has this been kept under the radar?” asked SherwinNero at tinycomb.

“Has it really been kept under the radar,” answered Max, “or was it considered ‘not significant enough’ to put it on the front pages everywhere?”

Or is, just possibly, not true?

I know from experience that some Apple stores put limits on where on the Web you can take their demo machines — sometimes restricting Safari to Apple’s promotional pages.

And it’s certainly possible that individual stores have blocked Facebook — as MySpace has been blocked since May 2007 — because some of its members were hogging the machines.

Indeed, Ars Technica quotes an unnamed Apple employee who says his store has been blocking Facebook for about a month.

“It’s just trying to find a balance between letting people try out the computers, but not tying them up so others can try them as well,” he told Ars. (link)

But a person at Apple headquarters in a position to know assures me that there is no nationwide ban on Facebook in effect — permanent or otherwise.

I’m headed to the nearest Apple store to check it out. If you’re in one now, let us know in the comment stream where you are and whether the demo machine you’re using will let you get to your Facebook page.

[Rojo]

AT least according to a blog at Fortune (http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/06/apple-has-not-banned-facebook/?source=yahoo_quote).

So sounds like selective banning, depending on how bad traffic is?
Well that's a little bit better. But still...I think any kind of banning is unnecessary if there are other alternatives...

[cav23j]

you can just go on a iphone or itouch there and go on facebook through the web browser on it or jump on a proxy that would work on a mac and go on any site

[sniper308]

Yeah it's a silly move...

[chr1s60]

Even though I am one who will go in an Apple store to play around on the new models, I think this is a good idea to keep people from sitting on a computer for 30 minutes or more when they have not intention of buying the computer.

[TheSpaz]

Isn't MySpace and FaceBook only for girls?

I wish my girlfriend would stop using them...

...she wishes I'd stop going to MacRumors ;)

[slicecom]

I didn't realise it was universally cool to hate on facebook already :eek:. I just got on board :(. What's the new comparable site that still has indie cred :cool:?

Once over 50% of your friends have something, its instantly cooler to hate it than to like it. It proves you're unique and cool because you're in the minority. :rolleyes:

As for Apple's decision, I agree with it. While I'd like to be able to go into an Apple store and test a fully capable computer, going to any site within reason, hopefully this will get rid of some of the people who think the Apple store is an internet cafe.

[nagromme]

No one has to like Facebook or want to join it, but it baffles me why some don't "get" why other people might enjoy it or find it useful. Just because it's not for you, doesn't mean others aren't getting a lot of usefulness out of it.

I never said other people aren't getting something out of it--in fact, as I mentioned, my friends clearly are. I, personally, am not :)

And I agree that it's a well-designed site, unlike the MySpace extravaganza.

[Unspeaked]

Friendster 4eva.

[Rojo]

Once over 50% of your friends have something, its instantly cooler to hate it than to like it. It proves you're unique and cool because you're in the minority. :rolleyes:

Yep - I never understand this mentality. And it seems to apply to everything. I often see people who are obsessed with a certain band, and then all of a sudden one day they decide they don't like them. When I ask why, they say "they became too popular." It's never "I don't like their music" or "their stuff doesn't do it for me anymore" -- but they're turned off simply due to the fact that others happen to enjoy the music too, and they don't feel "special" like it's just for THEM anymore. I really can't stand people like this, who can't seem to judge something on its own merits, but rather how popular (or not) it is.

There's a lot of people who once enjoyed Facebook when it was limited, but suddenly don't like it because there's too many people on it now, and they don't feel "special" anymore. WTF?!?
It's really quite sad....
[/rant]

[Unspeaked]

There's a lot of people who once enjoyed Facebook when it was limited, but suddenly don't like it because there's too many people on it now, and they don't feel "special" anymore. WTF?!?
It's really quite sad....
[/rant]

If it helps any, I've disliked Facebook since the very first time I heard of it when it was still a student-only thing.

And I'll even go one further and admit I like MySpace a little.

(If only I had voted for John McCain, I could complete the trinity and be The Human Paradox.)

Edit: I also like Beverly Hills 90210. And Barry Manilow.

[hero4higher]

Yep - I never understand this mentality. And it seems to apply to everything... I really can't stand people like this, who can't seem to judge something on its own merits, but rather how popular (or not) it is... It's really quite sad....
[/rant]

You've opened my eyes. I'm switching to Windows.

[Lord Blackadder]

Good on Apple...too many people camp on the Macs in the Apple store, and Facebook is one of the usual culprits. A little surfing is one thing, but it's a store, not some coffee shop.

I'm not a big fan of social networking websites like Facebook. It's a big time-waster and 90% of the communication on it is pretty inane. I much prefer communicating via email, phone or preferably face-to-face.

Some people have a large number of friends and enjoy socializing and meeting new people (a few of my friends are this way), and Facebook et. al. is a great way to keep track of hundreds of "friends".

But that's not me. I am on Facebook, but only because many of my friends refused to keep up an email correspondence and I more or less had to join up so I could keep in touch. It has it's uses, but many of my friends get frustrated because I don't check it for days and I miss all theur little status updates and whatnot. :rolleyes:

[BenRoethig]

On one hand, this probably a good thing from a practical standpoint. The last thing the Apple stores need is teenagers clogging up the Macs using facebook. On the other, this is Apple's clientele now.

[Unspeaked]

On one hand, this probably a good thing from a practical standpoint. The last thing the Apple stores need is teenagers clogging up the Macs using facebook. On the other, this is Apple's clientele now.

Yes, the Apple Stores I go to usually consist of:

85% - Kids who work in the mall food court and/or Foot Locker checking their MySpace and/or Facebook along with their Hotmail and/or GMail.

10% - Mac users of various ages and genders (but mostly young males) who already own at least one relatively new Mac (and usually an iPhone) who insist on dragging their Windows using friends to show off the latest iPod or MacBook. Most of the time, the fact that the friend couldn't care less about computers in general and the Apple Store specifically and really just wants to go to Orange Julius and Old Navy makes no difference.

4% - Smart-ass power users (who in all likelihood have MacRumors accounts) intentionally asking the sales people questions that they themselves already know the answer to so they can starts threads on tech sites complaining about the aforementioned staff's lack of knowledge.

1% - Middle aged women who saw the hardwood floors and black furniture and mistook it for The Gap.

[TheSpaz]

Yep - I never understand this mentality. And it seems to apply to everything. I often see people who are obsessed with a certain band, and then all of a sudden one day they decide they don't like them. When I ask why, they say "they became too popular." It's never "I don't like their music" or "their stuff doesn't do it for me anymore" -- but they're turned off simply due to the fact that others happen to enjoy the music too, and they don't feel "special" like it's just for THEM anymore. I really can't stand people like this, who can't seem to judge something on its own merits, but rather how popular (or not) it is.

There's a lot of people who once enjoyed Facebook when it was limited, but suddenly don't like it because there's too many people on it now, and they don't feel "special" anymore. WTF?!?
It's really quite sad....
[/rant]

Speaking of bands. Yes, there are quite a few bands that I used to like when they were un-popular and underground... The difference is, when they sellout, you can tell they sold out because they sound like every other pop band out there that is sold out. It's not why I got into them.... I liked them for their unique sound and then they sellout and sound like the trash on the radio. I've never liked MySpace or FaceBook and I don't plan on it.

However, I used to like SpyMac... when it was just a small community, but now it has NOTHING to do with Macs and looks like a MySpace/YouTube CLONE. It's garbage now... just like when a band sells out. www.spymac.com

[Norco]

Half the posts in this thread look like they've turned into some sort of trash facebook campaign...

I think Facebook offers some great features. It's much easier now for when I move out of state to keep up with all my college friends. I'm a guy, and I'm not big into using the phone. So instead of calling every person on the phone, "What are you up to now?", I just check their profile.

The ability to keep contact information up to date is huge too. Just look at that Classmates Finder website. Those people probably wish they had something easy like Facebook; they wouldn't be trying to find out what the hell happened to their old friends.

Professional Appeal -- sort of an unforeseen effect, but if you work in some industry, lets say your a reporter, and you're hoping to get some information about a company, you go to facebook, and oh look, someone you knew works at that company. Instant in. You could also do this if you wanted to work at such a company... etc.

[asdavis10]

Apple hasn't banned Facebook like how they banned MySpace. Managers of stores are allowed to ban specific sites if they see a trend among their employees to visit those sites while they are on the clock and neglecting their duties. Facebook works just fine at my store. Logged in just before I clocked in. This is a dumb, unfounded, rumor.

[Consultant]

Apple hasn't banned Facebook like how they banned MySpace. Managers of stores are allowed to ban specific sites if they see a trend among their employees to visit those sites while they are on the clock and neglecting their duties. Facebook works just fine at my store. Logged in just before I clocked in. This is a dumb, unfounded, rumor.

Yes. Debunked.
http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/02/06/are-apple-stores-battling-internet-cafe-vibe-by-banning-facebook/

[iNash]

...she wishes I'd stop going to MacRumors ;)

Is she feeling ok? ;)

[Lord Blackadder]

Apple hasn't banned Facebook like how they banned MySpace.

Well, that's a shame

[atszyman]

Personally, I think they answered the question themselves when one of them changed her status to "eating a baked potato" and then, at the end of lunch, changed it to "thinking about the potato I just ate"... it's really earth-shattering stuff, people!

There's the major flaw in this plan. If the Facebookers can't log on to find their friends' status, how are they supposed to know if any of their friends might be in the same Apple store when they're there?

[iOrlando]

there are reasons why certain stories never make it to the front page...a) insignificant b) false ...


both apply to this thread.

[Eric S.]

there are reasons why certain stories never make it to the front page...a) insignificant b) false ...


both apply to this thread.

Yes, but ... what can we do when Apple isn't even dropping any crumbs of real news, and topics like "will iMacs be dual-core or quad-core" are all talked out and then some?

C'mon Apple, we're dying here.

[mavfan11]

I went to an Apple store and someone was doing email and facebook type stuff on the only 15" macbook pro for a long time. I wanted to try it out so after a while I just stood there over his shoulder reading what he was doing and he got annoyed and looked at me as if to tell me I should go. I'm 6'3" 220 so I just smiled and said "very interesting stuff you're doing" he logged off and left.

[REBELinBLUE]

I've got no objection to people using them of course, but it is frustrating when you are actually there to test a product and can't get at them because of all the teenagers browsing social networking sites. So if they decide to ban it (and bebo as well) I wouldn't object ;)

Just after the new cinema displays came out I went to the White City store (London) to test it out and they only had 1 set up, I gave up and left after waiting for 25 minutes for the 2 teenage girls to finish browsing bebo.

Apple nearly lost a decent sale that day, at least they might have if it were someone else (but I had already decided I was very interested in getting one).

[SydneyDev]

Why not just ban anyone under 18? They don't have any money to spend anyway.

The Apple Store would be a lot more pleasant shopping experience for me if it was just adults.

[Dmac77]

At least they haven't banned MacRumors yet. It really pisses of the manager when he sees me on MacRumors. But he doesn't do anything about it. I'm waiting for him to say something:D

I get off of the computer when someone wants to look at it though, so IMO it's OK.

Don

[NT1440]

Why not just ban anyone under 18? They don't have any money to spend anyway.

The Apple Store would be a lot more pleasant shopping experience for me if it was just adults.

http://img214.imageshack.us/img214/1382/facepalm2ly3.jpg

[chilipie]

Why not just ban anyone under 18? They don't have any money to spend anyway.

The Apple Store would be a lot more pleasant shopping experience for me if it was just adults.

Yeah, that's a great idea. I'm 17, and I've only got £1500 of Apple gear sitting in front of me, so that'd really work.

[.Andy]

Look at everyone in this thread pretending they only go to the apple store to legitimately purchase computers rather than to just ogle at the techo porn.

[Dmac77]

Why not just ban anyone under 18? They don't have any money to spend anyway.

The Apple Store would be a lot more pleasant shopping experience for me if it was just adults.

That's a stereotype. In the last 2 years, I have spent over $2500 at the Apple Store, and I'm only 14.

Don

[dukebound85]

Why not just ban anyone under 18? They don't have any money to spend anyway.

The Apple Store would be a lot more pleasant shopping experience for me if it was just adults.


i remember a ton of people on this board supporting this notion when a mall enacted this policy of requiring minors to have an adult with them to enter the mall

yup, here it is
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=502594

[*LTD*]

Um . . .

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/06/apple-has-not-banned-facebook/

[ogee]

what gets me is that people come into the store and spend hours on iPhones calling abroad. Im really surprised Apple doesnt block international calls. must cost them a fortune. I was in a store a few weeks back and some guy, looked arabic, had his own head phones and voice mic plugged into the phone chatting in arabic. I was in the store for a considerable time and he was on it the whole time.

As for blocking face book, whats next, hotmail, Microsoft, Sports sites ? there are so many sites people waste time on.

[Eric S.]

Look at everyone in this thread pretending they only go to the apple store to legitimately purchase computers rather than to just ogle at the techo porn.

I drop by once in a while just to inhale the Apple atmosphere. :cool: I rarely buy anything there.

[jayman99]

when i worked at the apple store i remember when they blocked myspace... it was great!!! there were less shenanigans, and less teenies screwing around. it's a great step blocking facebook too now. the apple stores arent there for mingling, its not a cafe. they sell product. the specialists need machines available to demo software, hardware, etc for new and current mac customers. if computers are filled for socializing, they have come to the wrong place. apple stores are a business, bottom line. not to mention the bandwidth that gets used up and clogged from these vistors. afterall, the floor demo machines are all sharing a dsl connection at the apple stores, nothing fancy. even all the creative computers are on the same network.

[johata3]

I think it's a good decision at least. I won't be seeing kids fooling around with websites and isight cameras at the apple stores now.

[gkarris]

Um . . .

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/06/apple-has-not-banned-facebook/

Well, so what, not ALL have banned them...

They can ban it at the store I frequent - it's a small store and there's just not a lot of machines to go around for all the visitors...

[hgfds8765432]

actually, the apple stores need facebook to demo its interaction with iPhoto '09 . there is probably something wrong with the stores you are visiting. it is not blocked, myspace however is.

[lftrghtparadigm]

I think that it's a pathetic decision.

Using facebook in an Apple Retail store = pathetic.

Period.

[branjosef]

Using facebook in an apple store because your girlfriend is acting a little grouchy and having mood swings = period :D


Wow..if they made apple stores "18 and older only" then we could have alcohol with mild violence, suggestive language and brief frontal nudity. It will be like a real life quenten tarrantino movie. They could can Justin long and John Hodgman and replace them with Samual L. Jackson and Dave Chapelle. I could see the commercials now ...

"Hello, I'm a mac.. Motherf**ker!!!"
"And I'm a PC ...B*tch!"

Ah, to be king for a day... :rolleyes:

[Royale w/cheese]

I went to an Apple store and someone was doing email and facebook type stuff on the only 15" macbook pro for a long time. I wanted to try it out so after a while I just stood there over his shoulder reading what he was doing and he got annoyed and looked at me as if to tell me I should go. I'm 6'3" 220 so I just smiled and said "very interesting stuff you're doing" he logged off and left.

HA! I didn't want to be the first to say I do this also. If there is something you want to look at, stand in line, works everywhere else. Or asking someone how fast the computer is at whatever they are doing.

what gets me is that people come into the store and spend hours on iPhones calling abroad. Im really surprised Apple doesnt block international calls. must cost them a fortune. I was in a store a few weeks back and some guy, looked arabic, had his own head phones and voice mic plugged into the phone chatting in arabic. I was in the store for a considerable time and he was on it the whole time.

The Apple stores I have been at never even had iPhones that could make calls, but to be fair, I have only tried twice. But the last time i tried was only about 2 weeks ago, then once about a month after the first gen release.

[QCassidy352]

Facebook has a limited shelf-life for each individual user: either you grow out of it and it loses its appeal or the specific reasoning for your usage of the site goes, i.e. spreading the word for a business/charity/good cause etc.

I haven't experienced that at all. I use it as a way of keeping in touch with people - why would I "grow out of that?" Do people grow out of emailing each other or sending texts?

[MojoWill]

But you bought one. The stores are a great big Apple billboard. Apple doesn't care WHERE you buy your mac. If you're like me, the stores are simply a place to touch an item before ordering online somewhere. You'd have to be nuts to purchase stuff there.

It mustve really been an issue and a problem to can the facebook and myspace. Because Apple does want people loitering. Especially kids. They may not have the funds now, but when they do they'll want an Apple. Why do you think getting Apple laptops in schools is such a big deal?

Actually I didn't go into an Apple store until after I had bought my first mac, that being a 17" MBP and I didn't buy it direct from Apple. For me the Apple store is a convenient place to buy software or accessories, but I don't think I would make any serious purchases in there simply because of the congregation of retards and kids that always seem to be in there. Apple have some serious problems they need to address if they are ever going to really take on the PC. However as much as I love my mac Apples will never overtake PCs and that is mainly down to Apples attitude nothing else. You go into any other computer store and you can't just mess around on social networking sites etc yet they still manage to sell more units than Apple, don't even get me started on meeting actual consumer demand (rather than telling consumers what they want) or over pricing! :mad:

[canucksfan88]

they banned myspace awhile ago. its really annoying when the teeny boppers come in and just play with photobooth FOR HOURS doing stupid stuff and load it up on facebook (or myspace back then before it was banned). Its about time it was banned in my opinion

yes, but isnt this the market apple should be targeting? you probably already own a mac, so why would you care if "they" are on the macs for long periods of time.
what are you really going to do on the instore demo units? see how quiet they are? run programs? type? send an email? video edit? chances are..probably not.
apple has those demos to let users play around, and if they want to photobooth and facebook, go ahead. it gets them familier with macs. Long run, it will get them "hooked" on macs.

if anything, they should ban current mac users from using macs, but then that would be an even stupider idea? thats about the same logic as the banning of facebook

[Dmac77]

yes, but isnt this the market apple should be targeting? you probably already own a mac, so why would you care if "they" are on the macs for long periods of time.
what are you really going to do on the instore demo units? see how quiet they are? run programs? type? send an email? video edit? chances are..probably not.
apple has those demos to let users play around, and if they want to photobooth and facebook, go ahead. it gets them familier with macs. Long run, it will get them "hooked" on macs.

if anything, they should ban current mac users from using macs, but then that would be an even stupider idea? thats about the same logic as the banning of facebook

The reality is, that most teenagers can't afford to buy a computer, much less a Mac. There are some teens (like me) that can afford to spend thousands of dollars at the Apple Store each year, but most will only buy an iPod Nano, and be done with it. Whereas I have bought $3000 worth of merchandise over the past year and a half. Stupid idiot popular girls who treat the Apple Store like a Internet Café shouldn't be allowed to use Facebook, Myspace, etc.

Don

[TuffLuffJimmy]

The reality is, that most teenagers can't afford to buy a computer, much less a Mac. There are some teens (like me) that can afford to spend thousands of dollars at the Apple Store each year, but most will only buy an iPod Nano, and be done with it. Whereas I have bought Aperture, iLife, iWork, Final Cut Express, Logic Studio Express, PhotoShop, Illustrator, an iPhone, a iMac (end of 2007), and AEBS, and tones of iPhone accessories, within the last year and a half. Stupid idiot popular girls who treat the Apple Store like a Internet Café shouldn't be allowed to use Facebook, Myspace, etc.

Don

Did you come here just to brag about the various things you've purchased?

[Dmac77]

Did you come here just to brag about the various things you've purchased?

No, I'm simply pointing out that there are some teens that use the Apple Store for its actual purpose, but that most teens only use it as an internet café. Apple shouldn't ban teens outright (as was mentioned earlier), but that they should take measures to stop the store from being used as an internet café. I'll edit my earlier post.

Dom

[.Andy]

I have the most legitimate claim to be in the Apple store because I....

[arnette]

Thank. God.

[kockgunner]

The reality is, that most teenagers can't afford to buy a computer, much less a Mac. There are some teens (like me) that can afford to spend thousands of dollars at the Apple Store each year, but most will only buy an iPod Nano, and be done with it. Whereas I have bought $3000 worth of merchandise over the past year and a half. Stupid idiot popular girls who treat the Apple Store like a Internet Café shouldn't be allowed to use Facebook, Myspace, etc.

Don

Posters who feel they have a need to declare how much they spent at the Apple Store should not post at all.

[alexlovesmacs]

They should ban all websites except apple.com IMO.

[dukebound85]

I have the most legitimate claim to be in the Apple store because I....

um no, i do because i bought an iphone dammit.....:p

[Dmac77]

Posters who feel they have a need to declare how much they spent at the Apple Store should not post at all.

It's not that I'm bragging. I'm just trying to say that some teens actually use the Apple Store for its purpose (to buy things).

Don

[thomahawk]

i think this is great! i dont have to see all these wannabe middle school kids and high school underclassmen crowding up the apple store when im trying to get inside to WORK!

[TuffLuffJimmy]

It's not that I'm bragging. I'm just trying to say that some teens actually use the Apple Store for its purpose (to buy things).

Don

Yeah, you listed very specific things.

:rolleyes:

[Dmac77]

Yeah, you listed very specific things.

:rolleyes:

And I removed the list, afterwords. I had no intention to brag. I don't know what else you want me to say.

Don

[Eric S.]

I'm just trying to say that some teens actually use the Apple Store for its purpose (to buy things).

"To buy things" was actually not Steve Jobs' original main goal for the Apple Store. As he introduced it, the emphasis was on trying out Apple's products, doing anything you want on the Internet, running your favorite programs, bringing your kids to play games, actually experimenting creating media content, and getting your questions answered. Check it out, it's an interesting blast from the past:

http://www.edibleapple.com/flashback-steve-jobs-introduces-the-first-apple-store/

[Abstract]

"Hmmmm, I wonder how this internet browser works?"



*pretends that s/he has just discovered the internetz for the first time*

[southernpaws]

for everyone adding to the list of "great! next they need to ban..."

That would just be bad business. They want to keep the atmosphere of coming in and playing on the computers.

for the people who say banning facebook is killing the atmosphere that they were trying to create.

it's not. people will still come in and hang around and check email and so on. the internet has plenty of things to keep people mindlessly entertained. sure people will complain that they can't get on facebook and they'll keep complaining as they check their email and do whatever else until eventually they get distracted and forget to keep complaining.

so the impact this decision has on the apple store vision is minimal. if you think about it.

I don't know about the logistics, but i would consider having the computers in the front of the store accessible to facebook. just to get people gathered there to make the store always look full. then again that could backfire and make people think it's too crowded to go in. BUT then again...(continue ad naueseum)

[alphaod]

Awesome decision; I hate waiting for people when they spend 30 minutes checking their Facebook instead of letting potential buyers look at the machine.

[Elven]

I am all for the ban. However if you want to demo a computer, why not book a viewing?

[iOrlando]

http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2009/02/06/apple-has-not-banned-facebook/


mods..this is a forbes article about how the rumor is false..apple PR states nothing is banned in all stores. anyway of getting this posted or something? I mean this whole thread is about untrue stuff...i know its just for discussion..but it can be misleading to the innocent noobies.

[bbotte]

iPhone 3G
Full Bars
Facebook App
Me checking facebook in apple store.

[chilipie]

iPhone 3G
Full Bars
Facebook App
Me checking facebook in apple store.
Has someone robbed you of the ability to form a semi-coherent post? Or is it some kind of minimalist poetry?

[The Flashing Fi]

It would be nice if Apple did block facebook then...

[bbotte]

Has someone robbed you of the ability to form a semi-coherent post? Or is it some kind of minimalist poetry?

Ever seen a checklist?

[Royale w/cheese]

Has someone robbed you of the ability to form a semi-coherent post? Or is it some kind of minimalist poetry?
Seemed coherent to me, or at least semi.

[Unspeaked]

Seemed coherent to me, or at least semi.

Semi
In Agreement
End Post

[bbotte]

Semi
In Agreement
End Post

perfect.

[cav23j]

The reality is, that most teenagers can't afford to buy a computer, much less a Mac. There are some teens (like me) that can afford to spend thousands of dollars at the Apple Store each year, but most will only buy an iPod Nano, and be done with it. Whereas I have bought $3000 worth of merchandise over the past year and a half. Stupid idiot popular girls who treat the Apple Store like a Internet Café shouldn't be allowed to use Facebook, Myspace, etc.

Don


good for you

[chgojcs]

I, for one, am glad to see this. Although I am on Facebook, I do tire of the uneventful tripe that people deem important. Please, update your status every five minutes and let me know how boring and trite your life is. "So and so is at the gym.". "So and so just had a great salad at Applebees."
Who cares?
It is a covenient way to maintain networking contacts and friendships that you don't really have the energy and time to invest in, but it is also becoming a way for people to share their little lives and inflate and affirm their own sense of worth and self-importance.

Man, that rant came out of nowhere.

[puckhead193]

yay no more teens "chillin' in the apple store anymore..
is MR banned as well?

[DiamondMac]

Who the hell goes to Apple to go to Facebook and stay online for quite some time?

I mean, I have browsed on their computers to see how it reacted to a site so I get those going to facebook to see HOW it reacted and all that

But to go there and stay on the site for awhile? Really? Go home and do that

[Doctorzongo]

EDIT: Oops. Okay, it didn't happen (although, CNN doesn't exactly have a great track record either) but my point still stands.

Am I the only one who thinks that people who think that Macs suck because FaceBook doesn't work in the Apple Store are too dumb to own a computer?
(Or, you can just limit that to people who think Macs suck :D)

I mean, really! If people are influenced that much by some loser screaming about how "Macs are teh suxorz" because the Apple store bans FaceBook ... those people are not likely to have the brain capacity required to run a computer.

Maybe I'm strange, but the first thing I would look at would be support for developing. So I would argue that Apple needs to have XCode installed and easy to get to on each Mac, along with Front Row, Photobooth, and other features of awesomeness. Even non-programmers would love XCode -- you don't need to know anything to make a dashboard widget!

[MacDaniel007]

Great move. I hate people using the place as a glorified internet café


Isn't that the point though? Like chairs in a book store.... Maybe they just need time limits, or a section of computers with "serious" applications and blocked social-networking, e-mail, weather bug, IM, etc......:rolleyes:

[willdev]

Personally I think its a good thing although I am not sure how much effect it will have in UK stores (if the ban applies in the UK).

In my experience in UK Apple stores most of the kids spend their time taking silly photos on Photo Booth. Of course Apple wont ban the use of Photo Booth but if they did there would be a lot less kids around!

[McBanjo]

I don't like this. It's really pretty stupid.

The first thing my friend did when he walked into the Apple Store was jump on Facebook on a Macbook Air and post on all his friends' walls that he was in the Apple Store on some cool thin computer.

If that's not great advertising I don't know what is.

[SPUY767]

http://tinycomb.com/2009/02/05/apple-store-bans-facebook-for-life/

Thoughts?

Personally, I'm glad they've made this decision. Less people just wasting time in there, more time for people to experience the computers.

If I had a dime for every ******* I saw on a computer in an apple store who was on facebook for the entire time I was in the store, I wouldn't be typing this at work.

[Kar98]

Has someone robbed you of the ability to form a semi-coherent post? Or is it some kind of minimalist poetry?

Have you ever TRIED to use the iPhone keyboard? :cool:

[Kar98]

Am I the only one who thinks that people who think that Macs suck because FaceBook doesn't work in the Apple Store are too dumb to own a computer?

Man, if people who are too dumb to own a computer weren't allowed to own one, many of us would be out of work. And computers would still be in the stone ages.

[Hawkeye411]

Good for Apple!!

I don't understand the atrraction of facebook anyway. Why anyone feels a need to share information in this fashion is beyond me. :eek:

Young people these days!!!??? :D Not a clue!!!;)

[dotcommie]

Um, it's not banned. For certain in at least in 99% of stores.

End of story.

[kingtj]

There's nothing wrong with any store restricting which web sites people can visit on the demo computers. I've been to plenty of stores where the machines didn't even have Internet access at all. People still tinker around on them enough to figure out the approximate speed they perform at, etc. and they still buy them afterwards.

Apple tries to raise the bar by encouraging full use of their systems on the net -- but if a certain site is just drawing the wrong crowds in (people with no intention of buying at all, etc.), then it makes sense to block those sites.

That said though, I think Facebook is a really useful tool for those of us in our 30's or 40's. I always got the impression that myspace was the site taken over by mostly teenagers competing to see who could collect up the most "friends", and make the "hippest, coolest" backgrounds on their pages. By contrast, Facebook tends to look much "cleaner" and more professional on the typical user profile page one visits.

Sure, it can be a bit addicting - but as a late 30-something myself, I know how many of my old friends have drifted away over the years. Facebook was an incredible tool for locating most of them and linking everyone back together again. (Friends of yours see other friends you added who they also know, and then they add each other too, re-connecting the whole "chain" of friendship.) The "status" part? Sure, people update it with boring/dumb stuff most of the time. But as much as anything, it's a way to easily see that someone you know "checked in" recently - and over time, it really does give you a better sense of what your good friends do in a typical day.



I think it's a really good move but I am not so sure about it being a) primarily teens and b) a limited shelf-life with users.

In our department there are at least three people who are always all over Facebook; all are women in the their mid to late thirties and all have been "Facebook, Facebook, Facebook" for well over a year now. Not having Facebook is considered really odd and you are always asked why you haven't and why you don't think it's as wonderful as they do. Personally, I think they answered the question themselves when one of them changed her status to "eating a baked potato" and then, at the end of lunch, changed it to "thinking about the potato I just ate"... it's really earth-shattering stuff, people!

[HarleyMan]

Good Move! Its a store and a place to test equipment, not an internet cafe for schmoozing and wasting time doing real "important' things on Facebook. Good Move Apple!

[mklos]

I think that it's a pathetic decision.

I think anyone who goes into an AppleStore just to use FaceBook are pathetic people....

[mklos]

Why not just ban anyone under 18? They don't have any money to spend anyway.

The Apple Store would be a lot more pleasant shopping experience for me if it was just adults.

Say what? Yeah, lets just say piss on Apple's future customers. Children, you have to stay outside the store while mom and dad shop. :rolleyes:

Screw all the potential iPod/iPhone sales, or the fact that some need help with their purchase or help after their purchase. Just because of the age of someone, doesn't make them any less than you. Its not like teens are coming in and vandalizing the store.

Jesus dude...think before you speak!

[bbotte]

My 2 year old daughter loves to play on the imac for kids in the store. Yes she can use a mouse at 2. :) It's one of her favorite stores.

[smooth]

My 2 year old daughter loves to play on the imac for kids in the store. Yes she can use a mouse at 2. :) It's one of her favorite stores.

When I picked up my MacBook, we were in the store a good 20 minutes at least before we walked out of there. My daughter was 3 at the time and had a blast on one of the iMacs. If we were at any other store for 20 minutes, I would have heard "Can we go yet?" a good dozen times.

It's interesting that one of the biggest compaints about Facebook is that its users are self-centered and delusional that their lives, photos, blogs, opinions, etc are more important and more interesting than anyone else's. Yes, I agree that with the teenage/young adult generation this is exactly the case - with Facebook and with daily life. But it's funny that so many people come on here expressing this opinion as if it is the only correct and logical opinion. All generations are guilty of this to some extent...just look at this site....

[hacksaw-C87]

Consider it the user's way of acknowledging his or her own shortcomings.

"I facebook" = "I provide information about myself on the Internet, but I rely on the lackadaisical privacy policy of a third party to override social conventions about information I distribute to or expect from others."

"I google" = "I search on the Internet from only one place, because I'm unaware of meta-search tools or domain specific search tools that are more likely to get me what I want. I measure reliability according as ordering of Google search results."

"I podcast" = "I make a video/audio stream available on demand while displaying an ignorance of or affinity for Apple's lawyer strongarming (over use of the three letters `pod'). This all reflects my lack of recognition of the history of Internet streaming media and of the open principles of the Internet in general."

"I blog" = "I write an online journal, then inflate its importance out of all proportion and make sure to use this broadcast medium - rather than thoughtful one-to-one conversation - as a channel for communicating with those whom I still dare to call friends."

The only relief is that "to Web 2.0" isn't yet a verb. I hate web apps, whether that's MobileMe's complex interface or this bulletin board (that doesn't mean I hate you or the board's content, dear sensitive reader, just the app). Use a suitable protocol for communicating the content and let people use dedicated clients suitable for the given application - so I can read all web boards in the same client, etc. The whole "but then you can use it everywhere" argument is nonsense - if Java/.net weren't such good ideas so awfully implemented then it'd be accepted practice to be able to run your set of efficient sandboxed apps anywhere by accessing your profile from any PC anywhere.

Here endeth my sermon on how the Internet should be. Tongue-in-cheek, don't kill me, etc.

I don't think I had ever given it that much detail but I agree with everything you wrote! :)

However, people who do use these sort of words probably look at people like me and think 'God, he speaks like he's out of the middle-ages' . I was powerfully miffed when 'to Google' was officially indoctrinated into the English language. Shocking stuff.

[hacksaw-C87]

I haven't experienced that at all. I use it as a way of keeping in touch with people - why would I "grow out of that?" Do people grow out of emailing each other or sending texts?

The convenience of emailing doesn't involve sending the recipient a status update reading 'Joe Bloggs is contemplating life/bored/hungover/struggling to put on his sock'. Equally, you don't have to troll your way through someone's wall, dodging your way around the 'Mystic Meg/Star Sign/Play this vampire game' applications, to send an email. This seems to be highly derivative to me.

You're absolutely right that, as a means of keeping in touch, it's of high merit. But why wouldn't you just use email/telephone or, to find people you have lost touch with, Friends Reunited?

[Plutonius]

If 30 mins is too long, fine. Let it be whatever.

But set a time limit. The problem is not FB.

If FB is banned, then they'll go to webmail. If webmail is banned, they'll go to flash games. If flash games are banned, then they'll go to forums. If forums are banned then they'll go somewhere else.

You end up banning the entire web.

It will also end unemployment. Apple will need to hire additional employees to log when someone uses a machine and when that person needs to get off the machine (i.e. a hall monitor for Apple stores).

I'm sure that will make the kids happy and give Apple a good name. It might even result in a few lawsuits against Apple for discrimination.

[RedTomato]

It will also end unemployment. Apple will need to hire additional employees to log when someone uses a machine and when that person needs to get off the machine (i.e. a hall monitor for Apple stores).

I'm sure that will make the kids happy and give Apple a good name. It might even result in a few lawsuits against Apple for discrimination.

Apple might just possibly be capable of figuring out a hightech 'Apple' 'cool' way of doing it without needing to employ more people.

[Looks around at the thousands of cybercafes and libraries and other access points that deal with this exact issue without needing to have a paid employee standing over you. Hmm.)

Your point?

[Plutonius]

Apple might just possibly be capable of figuring out a hightech 'Apple' 'cool' way of doing it without needing to employ more people.

[Looks around at the thousands of cybercafes and libraries and other access points that deal with this exact issue without needing to have a paid employee standing over you. Hmm.)

Your point?

You are listing two examples that aren't remotely similar to the Apple store. An Apple store is not a cybercafe or library. Apple doesn't charge for using the display computers or force a customer to reserve time on a display computer.

Someone sitting there monitoring the usage time will get people angry and will lead to discrimination suits and lost sales.

Your point ?

[pkagel]

Watching the kids play with Kidspaint was a pivitol factor in my spending the money on not only the program but the cables to hook up my MBP to my tv and buying a wireless keyboards and wireless mightymouse also. My daughter and her friends love spending time on the program and I don't have to worry about subjecting my new MBP to a spilled coke and whatnot.

My 2 year old daughter loves to play on the imac for kids in the store. Yes she can use a mouse at 2. :) It's one of her favorite stores.

[MattZani]

Just Not allow people who couldnt afford one in the next 6 months in? Would certainly cut out most people under 18, and anyone over 18 is pretty much allowed in because of Credit Cards etc.

I Really hated it when trying to decide glossy or matte, and there were 2 chinese EXCHANGE STUDENTS (Nothing against the chinese) Using the 2 MacBook Pro's, so i had to wait 20 minutes to be able to compare them both on default colour profiles with a few pictures.

They need to keep the people who are interested in, and the people who arent out.

Maybe an entry fee? I'd pay £1 to enter the store (Then that is deducted from purchase if you do purchase) Hell, i'd pay for a year membership, so i can browse in the only place in the Uk with every apple product out, in peace....

[Eric S.]

Just Not allow people who couldnt afford one in the next 6 months in? Would certainly cut out most people under 18, and anyone over 18 is pretty much allowed in because of Credit Cards etc.

I think the idea of having bouncers at the door of the Apple store telling teenagers that they can't come in because they're underage is not really an image that Apple would want to promote. :o

Maybe an entry fee? I'd pay £1 to enter the store (Then that is deducted from purchase if you do purchase) Hell, i'd pay for a year membership, so i can browse in the only place in the Uk with every apple product out, in peace....

Wow, in this time of recession asking people to pay just to walk into a store? I don't think that would get very far either.

[Royale w/cheese]

Maybe an entry fee? I'd pay £1 to enter the store (Then that is deducted from purchase if you do purchase) Hell, i'd pay for a year membership, so i can browse in the only place in the Uk with every apple product out, in peace....
Yeah, that is not a viable option in my opinion. Even living in Midwestern America, there a quite a few other stores I can go to for Apple products. In fact, most times I go to them just because they are closer than the Apple Store and are less busy at most times, not to mention a little cheaper. Charging an entry fee to the store would be detrimental to most everything to do with Apple. I would not pay it on principle alone.

[nozebleed]

I think this might be on a store to store basis or something because I was just at a local mall here to return a keyboard, and while i was waiting in line for a *ahem* "genius" I tested this thread, and got on facebook no probs. I even took a pic with my iphone and sent it to my brother. This was today at 12-1230 pm 2/10. I checked my phone today but dont have the pic, it was taken/sent through beejive- i didnt know it doesnt save to your camera roll.

EDIT: Found a workaround, heres the pic. Dont believe me check the exif.

[ashjamben]

anyone else think its sad that people need to check on facebook whilst out shopping?

[branjosef]

Im not into social networking sites. Maybe Im just too old, but I dont see the point.

[Samuelllll]

i was in there today on facebook waiting for someone who works there?!!!!

it seems fine!

[dubhe]

I don't mind people playing on the computers, it makes them more aware of Macs and what they can do. But, it is really annoying when I want to play on one, because I am thinking of upgrading, and I can't get to any of them!

[branjosef]

I think apple should follow the cell phone store business model. Just put out a bunch of "Dummy" laptops that are "unibody" plastic and expect everyone to make choices based on what the frat-boy or dumb girl service reps says "Aww hell...its got a camera and can play mp3's -you like facebook? it can do that too" :rolleyes:

[iceblade]

Its frustrating to have the store so crowded that you can't get through, or get to products.

On the other hand, would you rather the stores be barren? What is likely to drag in the AVERAGE mall shopper? A store that is empty (possibly) or a store that has a lot of people (theres obviously something in there, whats so great about that store)?

Obviously, most people know Apple these days due to iPods and the Apple logo, so most people know what it is and won't go in just to see what the store is all about, but seriously...

For people's own safety, I'm glad that Apple is blocking facebook. I can't count the times I've seen people log onto facebook in apple stores, and once I had a friend who did, and had someone change her status for her. It wasn't anything offensive, just a "hey, you left your facebook logged in. You should log out before you leave the computer so people can't get on it."

Is it annoying not getting access to some computers or new iPods? Yeah; But I'd rather Apple have a packed store than a store with almost no one there.

[wako]

yes, but isnt this the market apple should be targeting? you probably already own a mac, so why would you care if "they" are on the macs for long periods of time.
what are you really going to do on the instore demo units? see how quiet they are? run programs? type? send an email? video edit? chances are..probably not.
apple has those demos to let users play around, and if they want to photobooth and facebook, go ahead. it gets them familier with macs. Long run, it will get them "hooked" on macs.

if anything, they should ban current mac users from using macs, but then that would be an even stupider idea? thats about the same logic as the banning of facebook

it hurts business because in a mall when people who want to buy to get on a computer cant because little kids are too busy taking pictures of themselves. also they tend to goto the desktop computers with the big screens to do this, which is where the workshops take place.

we never asked children to go away but these are the sorts of feedback the apple store gets.

[Michael CM1]

anyone else think its sad that people need to check on facebook whilst out shopping?

Yes. I like Facebook because it makes keeping up with the people I know easier. No, it's not the same as being in person or even a phone call, but it's better than nothing. Also, being sort of a writer, it allows me to vent to a bunch of people who are forced to at least read a sentence.

As far as checking it while out, get an iPhone. The Facebook app gives you the basics you might need to check for whatever reason. I just do it from time to time because I get bored. I sure as heck am not one who would go do all the normal time-consuming things I do on there on the go, let alone on a public computer.

Also, when it comes to banning it and the issue of not letting people "test" the products, how much does using Facebook let a potential customer "test" a Mac? That's akin to people using Gmail as a means to test a computer. If I test a computer, I pretty much want to see how bright it is, how fast a page with a ton of graphics loads, stuff like that.

[branjosef]

anyone else think its sad that people need to check on facebook whilst out shopping?

I think it's sad that I have to check everyone else's facebook while at the apple store. They always forget to log out and I like changing their status

If it's a guy's facebook account...I say
"Just molested a child and LIKED it"
"Anal isn't bad although I'm a bit sore"
"Just masturbated"
"My girlfriend is making me gay"
"Girls suck"
"I love barry manilow"



If its a girls facebook account... I say
"Just swallowed"
I have bare floors in my apartment because I like to carpet munch"
"Just got laid"
"Left one man's house...on to another"
"I'm a dirty girl"
"OMG- Just found out I'm Pregnant"
"OMG - Just saw the donkey show"
"Whoever said being easy wouldn't get you anywhere in life is a liar"
"I frequent the apple store in Oakbrook Illinois, come visit me- I'm easy!"
"My Dad sexually assaulted me as a child"
"Sex with three guys wasn't that bad"



You know stuff like that. Sorry if this ever happened to you but lesson learned...pay attention to detail and always log out. :D

[Schtumple]

I think it's sad that I have to check everyone else's facebook while at the apple store. They always forget to log out and I like changing their status

If it's a guy's facebook account...I say
"Just molested a child and LIKED it"
"Anal isn't bad although I'm a bit sore"
"Just masturbated"
"My girlfriend is making me gay"
"Girls suck"
"I love barry manilow"



If its a girls facebook account... I say
"Just swallowed"
I have bare floors in my apartment because I like to carpet munch"
"Just got laid"
"Left one man's house...on to another"
"I'm a dirty girl"
"OMG- Just found out I'm Pregnant"
"OMG - Just saw the donkey show"
"Whoever said being easy wouldn't get you anywhere in life is a liar"
"I frequent the apple store in Oakbrook Illinois, come visit me- I'm easy!"
"My Dad sexually assaulted me as a child"
"Sex with three guys wasn't that bad"



You know stuff like that. Sorry if this ever happened to you but lesson learned...pay attention to detail and always log out. :D

I love people like you, a true vigilante!

[Primejimbo]

I think it's sad that I have to check everyone else's facebook while at the apple store. They always forget to log out and I like changing their status

If it's a guy's facebook account...I say
"Just molested a child and LIKED it"
"Anal isn't bad although I'm a bit sore"
"Just masturbated"
"My girlfriend is making me gay"
"Girls suck"
"I love barry manilow"



If its a girls facebook account... I say
"Just swallowed"
I have bare floors in my apartment because I like to carpet munch"
"Just got laid"
"Left one man's house...on to another"
"I'm a dirty girl"
"OMG- Just found out I'm Pregnant"
"OMG - Just saw the donkey show"
"Whoever said being easy wouldn't get you anywhere in life is a liar"
"I frequent the apple store in Oakbrook Illinois, come visit me- I'm easy!"
"My Dad sexually assaulted me as a child"
"Sex with three guys wasn't that bad"



You know stuff like that. Sorry if this ever happened to you but lesson learned...pay attention to detail and always log out. :D

LMAO!! I see you're in Chicago.. I need to stay away from you