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Apple Genius Bar Didn't Recognize MacBook Pro 3G Prototype, Apple Now Wants it Back

If Apple says that the unit was stolen, we should assume that Apple has a police report regarding theft of said unit. If they don't have any official documentation regarding a theft, thats a negative in Apple's corner.
 
That's what will likely get me to upgrade my 2008MBP. For $10 + tax I can share the 6GB data plan I have on my phone with my laptop and have internet on the go without tethering. Tethering is nice I'll admit but I like the convenience of have the built-in 3G. I am in the same boat with my iPad.
 
Apple doesn't need this machine back. It's almost five years old. I doubt they are going to look over the logic board and make some technological discovery of how to make a better MacBook Pro they haven't already documented. The reason they want it back has only to do with control. A product they didn't intend to leave their possession has left it. I imagine once they get it back, it will simply go into storage, an activity sometimes called hoarding. Hoarders feel they can't control their lives—they fear their life—so they control life by keeping everything and eliminating nothing. By keeping everything, they can assume life must be in there somewhere.

So the question is: what does Apple fear?

They hoard money, they keep secrets, they conflate austere design with austere behavior toward their own employees, many of whom live in anxious states.

I think Apple is afraid of being like everyone else and being like anyone at all. Yes, they are different. But being different isn't just part of Apple's identity, it's instead of Apple's identity. Apple is creative and innovative, yes, but if you look for more, you'll find sterility, discipline, austerity, fear, and ruthlessness.

That emptiness and unwillingness to be entirely human, I believe that is what informs these control issues. When I speak of Apple as a person, I mean the human forces within Apple that create the human culture of Apple. Steve Jobs has chosen to create a public persona devoid of much human-like qualities. He doesn't talk about his family. He doesn't talk about being sick. He did give an inspired Stanford graduation speech when he thought he was on the mend. But I think he likes being as mysterious as the next Apple product. He creates the impression that he has no private life. He is a sterile, android like machine that is right about most things because he isn't publicly involved in matters where it's easy to be wrong--like the matters of life. You don't see him giving interviews like Eric Schmidt. Not that Eric Schmidt talks about his life much, but there is something there, you have to admit. I mean it was newsworthy when Apple executives started Twitter feeds because that would have been thought to be verboten in Apple.

Hide everything. Be nothing except the next product. Perfection through non-engagement. Cleanliness through non-communication. It serves Apple well, I suppose. And it's apparently important enough to Apple to get an almost 5 year old MBP back.

But I've only thought about it for 5 minutes, so I could be wrong.
 
America never ceases to amaze me. Can Apple really legally claim it back? I don't think that would even be remotely possible over here in Europe. If you haven't officially reported the laptop as stolen or lost, you'll have to go to great lengths to proof it's yours.

At 70.000$, screw Apple. I would've sold it.
 
Peace said:
I wouldn't go that far but I would want to recoup any losses and ask for a new MBP for being a nice guy.:)
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They should make him a very generous offer to get it back. He shouldn't have to ask. He could have sold it for a fortune, unless Apple can prove it was stolen property.
 
Peace said:
Perhaps but my old age has taught me that honey will get you more than vinegar will.
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I agree with that statement, but it all boils down to Apple's legal claim to the notebook. If they have no legal claim to it, then all's fair.
 
AIP5 said:
Definitely the funniest part about this is that the Apple Store thought it was modified by a third party... haha, how did they not see that antenna.. or did they write it off as a 3rd party modification too?

Man, I wanna land my hands on an Apple prototype... that'd just be cool. :)
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This is one of the best posts I have read in a while!

Too Funny!
 
junker said:
Someone previously mentioned Apple should pay $10,000 for the unit... how about paying him $70,000 for the unit??? Seeing as how Apple demanded Ebay pull/end his legitimate auction.

They can certainly afford this and he has established it's value on the open market.

This would also make for a nice first public relations move for the new CEO.
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If it is a prototype that was not officially sold by Apple, by definition it is stolen property. That is not to say there was any bad intent from the man who found it. Apple has the right to get it back, the man who found it is acting responsibly.

RoboCop001 said:
Agreed. I suppose just because they work at Apple stores doesn't mean they have as much interest as we would. Hell, I probably know more than most Geniuses, if my last encounter was anything to go by.

Meh, not that I expect them to. I guess it would be like expecting someone working at Gap to be all up on the rumours of new clothes haha.

But I don't know, there's a certain expectation when you work at an Apple store (or any tech store for that matter) that you're really really into the rumors and upcoming things :D
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Apple workers are asked not to view rumor sights. If you ask them about a rumor, they will say, "You probably know more about it than I do."

swingerofbirch said:
Apple doesn't need this machine back. It's almost five years old. I doubt they are going to look over the logic board and make some technological discovery of how to make a better MacBook Pro they haven't already documented. The reason they want it back has only to do with control. A product they didn't intend to leave their possession has left it. I imagine once they get it back, it will simply go into storage, an activity sometimes called hoarding. Hoarders feel they can't control their lives—they fear their life—so they control life by keeping everything and eliminating nothing. By keeping everything, they can assume life must be in there somewhere.

So the question is: what does Apple fear?

They hoard money, they keep secrets, they conflate austere design with austere behavior toward their own employees, many of whom live in anxious states.

I think Apple is afraid of being like everyone else and being like anyone at all. Yes, they are different. But being different isn't just part of Apple's identity, it's instead of Apple's identity. Apple is creative and innovative, yes, but if you look for more, you'll find sterility, discipline, austerity, fear, and ruthlessness.

That emptiness and unwillingness to be entirely human, I believe that is what informs these control issues. When I speak of Apple as a person, I mean the human forces within Apple that create the human culture of Apple. Steve Jobs has chosen to create a public persona devoid of much human-like qualities. He doesn't talk about his family. He doesn't talk about being sick. He did give an inspired Stanford graduation speech when he thought he was on the mend. But I think he likes being as mysterious as the next Apple product. He creates the impression that he has no private life. He is a sterile, android like machine that is right about most things because he isn't publicly involved in matters where it's easy to be wrong--like the matters of life. You don't see him giving interviews like Eric Schmidt. Not that Eric Schmidt talks about his life much, but there is something there, you have to admit. I mean it was newsworthy when Apple executives started Twitter feeds because that would have been thought to be verboten in Apple.

Hide everything. Be nothing except the next product. Perfection through non-engagement. Cleanliness through non-communication. It serves Apple well, I suppose. And it's apparently important enough to Apple to get an almost 5 year old MBP back.

But I've only thought about it for 5 minutes, so I could be wrong.
Click to expand...

Mr. Jobs was a CEO and is now a Chairman of the board. He is not a politician or a movie star. The public has no more right to information about his private life than any other private citizen. When you are in the public, you need some private space.


Re: all the people talking about Apple paying money to the finder, I am sure they will pay him a bit. I am also sure, they will ask him to sign a paper saying he will not talk about any payment they give him. Most companies don't like to talk publicly about payments when things like this happen.
 
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 4_3_4 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/533.17.9 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/5.0.2 Mobile/8K2 Safari/6533.18.5)

MarkCooz said:
Dude Frega should be getting good money to give it back to apple then.
:p if he isn't man i would so just keep that. to be a collectors item! :) :apple:
Click to expand...

Since it is likely stolen property and he is in posesion of it, giving it back is a good idea.
 
swingerofbirch said:
Apple doesn't need this machine back. It's almost five years old. I doubt they are going to look over the logic board and make some technological discovery of how to make a better MacBook Pro they haven't already documented. The reason they want it back has only to do with control. A product they didn't intend to leave their possession has left it. I imagine once they get it back, it will simply go into storage, an activity sometimes called hoarding. Hoarders feel they can't control their lives—they fear their life—so they control life by keeping everything and eliminating nothing. By keeping everything, they can assume life must be in there somewhere.

So the question is: what does Apple fear?

They hoard money, they keep secrets, they conflate austere design with austere behavior toward their own employees, many of whom live in anxious states.

I think Apple is afraid of being like everyone else and being like anyone at all. Yes, they are different. But being different isn't just part of Apple's identity, it's instead of Apple's identity. Apple is creative and innovative, yes, but if you look for more, you'll find sterility, discipline, austerity, fear, and ruthlessness.

That emptiness and unwillingness to be entirely human, I believe that is what informs these control issues. When I speak of Apple as a person, I mean the human forces within Apple that create the human culture of Apple. Steve Jobs has chosen to create a public persona devoid of much human-like qualities. He doesn't talk about his family. He doesn't talk about being sick. He did give an inspired Stanford graduation speech when he thought he was on the mend. But I think he likes being as mysterious as the next Apple product. He creates the impression that he has no private life. He is a sterile, android like machine that is right about most things because he isn't publicly involved in matters where it's easy to be wrong--like the matters of life. You don't see him giving interviews like Eric Schmidt. Not that Eric Schmidt talks about his life much, but there is something there, you have to admit. I mean it was newsworthy when Apple executives started Twitter feeds because that would have been thought to be verboten in Apple.

Hide everything. Be nothing except the next product. Perfection through non-engagement. Cleanliness through non-communication. It serves Apple well, I suppose. And it's apparently important enough to Apple to get an almost 5 year old MBP back.

But I've only thought about it for 5 minutes, so I could be wrong.
Click to expand...


Interesting post, this is exactly the way Apple functions.

They are very secretive about everything.
 
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