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Apple Asks Developers to Return DTK Mac Minis in Exchange for $200 Credit Toward M1 Mac
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Apple doesn't see it as a refund or rebate. I don't know how you extrapolated a refund from a free gesture of $200 off a M1 purchase.
"Whoops I lost it too bad"
Seriously though wish I would've bought one to keep new in box as a collector's item. Not sure if my developers account would qualify, though.
Seriously though wish I would've bought one to keep new in box as a collector's item. Not sure if my developers account would qualify, though.
They don't have to send the kit back. The developers can keep it for the full years. All Apple is doing is saying if you do return early, here is a coupon for $200 off the M1 purchase.
its not a refund to original payment method as universal funds, its a waiver and incentivized invitation to buy a product (and spend more money), something they likely already have. unless they have a mini and want a laptop or vice versa or want to get an M1 machine for a relative as mentioned.
You seem to struggle grasping the concept of “precident”
Sure Apple doesn’t owe anyone anything. But longtime developers who have been developing for Mac OS X (now macOS) were treated differently and arguably better under Jobs. They weren’t told back in 2005 that returning those Intel G5 cased DTK would get them an iMac either. It was a gesture in Apple’s part. Many of those developers probably imagined that because that how it was done previously, they’d be taken care of the same way.
In Apple’s world, $200 is nothing. It’s gets you 16GB of ram or 512GB of storage for a bad Mac mini.
Another example of a precident is how Apple releases a major release of iOS every year for free. Would you be calling customers whiny if Apple charged $9.99 for
They can wager not returning it and seeing what happens if anything consequences wise, but the agreement is/was 12 months to eventually give back the equipment. it was never $500 'keep it if you want' or $500 for beta Mac mini. it was $500 to have a machine to test software on, for 12 months.
“Can only be used by the end of may”
So this means there are going to be new Macs in June?
So this means there are going to be new Macs in June?
First, I agree that they should have given more credit towards a new M1 Mac, I think that would have been the right thing as these were developers.
With that out of the way, you are wrong. They did not buy anything. They actually "rented" the DTKs. Apple was very explicit that they had to send it back at the end. That was no mystery.
Furthermore, they never promised to give cash back after they sent the DTK back. So basically, everyone was just expecting a free gift that was never promised and got angry when they did not get one.
I do agree they should have, but it would have been that, a gift, as the transaction was very clearly defined.
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Apple did promise a working unit that could be used for development, and it also promised technical support. It didn't deliver on either promise. The one we received was a complete piece of crap that didn't run anything we tried to build, and it bricked itself when we tried to update a new beta version. There was never a way to contact Apple other than through a private forum that Apple engineers mostly ignored.
These weren't isolated issues limited to a few units. Most developers were never able to make any use of what was essentially a $500 paperweight.
Given all that, the least Apple could have done is refund the $500 or provided that amount as credit towards a new Mac.
failing to return will get your developer account banned which is worth far more than $500 to many developers.
People like you are also of the same sort that complain when your favorite app runs terribly and isn't optimized.
If you return it 4 months earlier then agreed you get a "free gesture" otherwise you don't...?
Yeah true, it's not really worth $200. Though at least the devs are more likely than anyone else to make full use of it.
A lot of non-Devs in here having opinions on the Apple and Developer relationship.
I have no need to grasp what Steve did in the past. Past action by a past CEO who is dead is not indicative of future action.
And you just confirmed what I have been saying. Apple doesn't owe anyone anything. Apple kindly offered a gift of appreciation for those who returned early. If the developers don't want to make use of the coupon , that is fine; just don't whine about it as if someone robbed you.
You, and several others have been mocking me with the laugh icon for not going with the mentality that the developers are owed more by Apple.
Nope. Read the terms. Specifically section 5 titled "No warranty".
Technical support was promised at code level:
Technical Support
Request code-level support from technical support engineers who can help troubleshoot your code. Three technical support incidents are included.
Again, read the terms. Directly copied from the PDF: "APPLE DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE UNIVERSAL APP QUICK START PROGRAM OR DEVELOPER TRANSITION KIT WILL MEET YOUR REQUIREMENTS, THAT THE OPERATION OF THE DEVELOPER TRANSITION KIT WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED OR ERROR-FREE, THAT DEFECTS IN THE DEVELOPER TRANSITION KIT WILL BE CORRECTED, OR THAT THE DEVELOPER TRANSITION KIT WILL BE COMPATIBLE WITH ANY APPLE PRODUCTS, SOFTWARE OR SERVICES OR ANY THIRD- PARTY SOFTWARE, APPLICATIONS, OR SERVICES"
So, what. Do you have a point besides pointing out the obvious?
They didn’t though. I think you’re missing that point. Apple has refused to replace units that are broken and the support forums are a joke. The contract did state that Apple can terminate it at their will, however, it’s just bad business practice.
Oh man, basically cost these developers $300 out of pocket for early access hardware so they could build their software business. The horror!
Why should you get a free gesture for fulfilling the terms of the lease? If Apple later on decides to do that, then that would be nice of them.
The email doesn't state that this "optional." It states "locate the original packaging for use in returning the DTK. We’ll email you in a few weeks with instructions for returning the DTK." It doesn't say "if you want to" or "if you return it we will give you $200."
Then it goes on to say, "until your program membership expires one year after your membership start date, you’ll have continued access to other program benefits, such as Technical Support Incidents and private discussion forums."
The unit must be returned.