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Apple Retail Stores to Receive Facelift Highlighting Software?

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Apr 12, 2001
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ifoAppleStore reports that Apple will soon be revamping their retail stores to focus on software and the user experience rather than hardware.
According to plans still being rolled out, hardware will become a secondary focus of the stores' marketing efforts, making way for a spotlight on applications and the digital features of Apple products.
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According to ifoAppleStore, visitors to the redesigned stores will first encounter a "Why You'll Love a Mac" section focused on comparing Macs to PCs, an effort clearly targeted at potential switchers, who have consistently been making approximately 50% of Mac purchases in retail stores. Further back, the stores will feature two additional areas, one focused on iLife applications and the second dedicated to iWork.

The updated layout will continue a theme seen in recent changes to the iPhone and iPod touch display tables, which are now arranged to feature applications available for the mobile devices organized by category.

The redesigned store layout may debut as early as next week, although ifoAppleStore suggests that it may take several weeks for the transition to be completed due to staff retraining and deployment of updated signage and materials.

Article Link: Apple Retail Stores to Receive Facelift Highlighting Software?
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2009/02/12/apple-retail-stores-to-receive-facelift-highlighting-software/
Thats what they should have been doing since long time ago instead of making those childish ads.
They need to show why Macs are actually better instead of just saying it.
 
hmmm... I have always enjoyed the way stores are laid out now (a bit chaotic at times, but overall good). I think a focus on the software might be harder to pull off (kind of like a genious bar for the masses), but will definitely help switchers out a lot.
 
They should definitely focus less on hardware... there isn't much hardware worth focusing on any more.
 
While I agree the stores could use a facelift, I very much dislike the trend I am seeing here. Apple use to be about the software driving the hardware sales (I believe they have even said this on occasion). Now it seems like their focus is software, and they are just designing the hardware b/c they want more control over how the software works. I miss the hardware focus that gave us sturdy, reliable computers. Yes, software is important for that too, but I feel the hardware has been slipping with their change in focus.
 
It sounds like a good idea. The "Pro" vs. "Home" vs. "Music" etc; was kind of getting old; especially with iPhone/iPod's etc;. Nothing wrong with revamping the layout; it's actually fairly typical for retail to do this.
 
Hope this isn't a glimpse into the future of Apple licensing OS X for non-Apple hardware.
 
Call me a whacko, but...

does anyone else wonder is this is an indication that apple thinks that it will lose in it's court action with Psystar? If they are forced to allow clones, a reinvention to focus on software would be a necessity.
 
MovieCutter said:
Am I the only one who read the headline as Apple stores will receive software that highlights facelifts?
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Well, for a moment I thought this story was about Apple making a database of their customers using an advanced custom version of iPhoto '09 ... :D
 
This sounds like an interesting change. I don't know how well it will do though. A lot of the people I talk to that have never owned a Mac are more interested by the design of the Macs than they are with the actual software. I don't know if this is something that applies to the majority of non-Mac owners, but if it is, this new approach would seem like the wrong approach. I am also one of those who is still not impressed with iWork.
 
Nice software, shame about the PC!

Well, that all sounds wonderfull ... providing Apple (or the rotten core as I now call them!) had some chuffin computers to highlight the wonders of iLife!

Hmm, other than iLife, what software of decent quality do we have ... because dont talk to me about pro software when Apple cant even produce a current non glossy display for the proffesional! Just who are Apples target market?

I guess the type of people The Core are trying to tempt are the type of people they dont build a computer for (at least not anything current!) ... and they probably wont be aware that the wonderfull old iMac or woefully underspeced overpriced mini are ancient technology compared to their current PC counterparts; or that to get any type of upgradability they'll need to fork out over the odds for a Mac Pro (wheres the mid range PC equivelant I hear people saying?) Suckers!

Come on Apple ... stop spending time trying to tempt new customers when you have a massive fanbase of installed customers waiting to spend their money!

To be honest, I've nearly lost patience and despite people saying 'Yeah, macs may be more than PC's but look at the wonderful software', Im in the mindset that if I can get a core i7 speced PC for around $1,000, I dont think iLife is worth the extra $1,000 Apple want to charge for their OLD iMac system!

Tick tock Apple ... get some new products out or it wont matter what software you have ... I site PS3 v's XBox ... nuff said!
 
I don't go into Apple stores too often but what if they had Macs next to similar PCs with Vista installed and ran them side-by-side for the consumer to compare?

I don't know, maybe that wouldn't work but I always thought it'd be worth a try.
 
oldwatery said:
Bye bye Mac :(
Click to expand...

I am just guessing but I would imagine they have put some effort into researching this decision. The best guess is feedback is shaping the store. I could be wrong but when a company is as large as Apple you do not change your retail stores without a good reason.

On a side note I am looking forward to an update. Normally I fear change but the stores seem to have a rather confusing layout to me.
 
should be interesting to see. they do need to highlight their software a bit better than they do and this should certainly help.
 
Computers are now a dozen times more powerful than home users need them to be. Only serious gamers and professionals care what's inside the computer anymore.

When a family member asks me what Mac to get I say "pick laptop or desktop, then pick the screen size you like and buy the cheapest one in that line." Seriously, there's nothing else they need to know!

As such, this move makes perfect sense. Give it 2 more years and EVERY computer maker will be advertising this way. What good is an add that says "Our competitor's computer is 28,000x faster than you need, but OUR computer is 32,000x faster than you need!"

No one cares.
 
Great -- but it's not de-emphasizing hardware

It's a great idea to highlight what you can do with Mac software in each store. I'm not sure what the difference is from the workshops and classes they hold in each store, but good on 'em if they highlight 3rd party stuff. But this story is a good example of a newspaper lead that falsifies the story for those with a grudge. Does anybody believe that Apple will now hide its iPhones and Macs in the back stock room? Don't be ridiculous! But a headline like this leaves a wedge in an otherwise routine announcement. Does the iPhone ad about the coolest new apps "de-emphasize" the iPhone? Don't be a fool, and stop being driven by tabloid headlines. There are reportedly already 20,000 apps in the store. Highlighting the cool things you can do moves those apps -- I bought Classics this week -- and will sell lots more iPhones. Showing a cool app you can run on the iMac or MacBook sells hardware, whether or not the app is from Apple.
 
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