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Apple Revamps Retail Stores with Interactive iPad Displays
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I saw the displays today at the Apple Store, they look slick and are a great idea. There's some amazingly small-timer thinking going on in this thread.
1. Apple can afford these iPads. They invented them. They've got billions in the bank. This is a drop in the bucket. I read a few weeks ago that Apple spends $25,000 per month on the internet connection for each store. They can afford it.
2. Not everyone who goes into an Apple store is as mac crazy as all of us. The ability to compare computers against other models is very useful for a normal person. These offer a lot more functionality than the previous cards.
3. It forces people to use iPads, and just makes them more ubiquitous in everyday life.
When I was using one of these display iPads, I clicked on carrier info when I was reading about iPhones. The iPad "bounced" into the page, clearly showing that it could be navigated via horizontal scrolling. That's the type of subtle design touch that really stands out and shows why Apple is better than everyone else. There's no way that you can't understand it's a scrolling page.
1. Apple can afford these iPads. They invented them. They've got billions in the bank. This is a drop in the bucket. I read a few weeks ago that Apple spends $25,000 per month on the internet connection for each store. They can afford it.
2. Not everyone who goes into an Apple store is as mac crazy as all of us. The ability to compare computers against other models is very useful for a normal person. These offer a lot more functionality than the previous cards.
3. It forces people to use iPads, and just makes them more ubiquitous in everyday life.
When I was using one of these display iPads, I clicked on carrier info when I was reading about iPhones. The iPad "bounced" into the page, clearly showing that it could be navigated via horizontal scrolling. That's the type of subtle design touch that really stands out and shows why Apple is better than everyone else. There's no way that you can't understand it's a scrolling page.
1) The only reason they can afford them is because people like us are willing to pay the huge margins Jobs places on Apple products. I don't particularly mind - I love my Apple products, but its hard to take when the premium I'm paying is spent on a gimmick.
2)That's the whole point of having a store full of Apple products + helpers.
3) I don't want an iPad to become part of my daily life. I really don't like tablets and would rather not be forced to do anything.
Because it's a high resolution non glare screen and that's how they come!
huh? and where can i get one of those? I dont see it anywhere at the apple.de store (german store)
These displays are great. The homescreens each contain at least twice the info as the old acrylics with cards on them. Additionally, if you are brave enough to poke at it, there is much more info under the different tabs. I like how you can build your plan on the iPhone one. I really don't think they are gonna confuse many people. We already use touchscreen kiosks at the ATM, RedBox, retail gift registries, etc.
These interactive signs are just another way Apple empowers their customers to embrace technology. Kudos to them.
Also, people need to relax. Apple furnishing all their stores with iPad displays couldn't have set production back more than 12 hours in the grand scheme of things. It's not like they have been hoarding them for months.
These interactive signs are just another way Apple empowers their customers to embrace technology. Kudos to them.
Also, people need to relax. Apple furnishing all their stores with iPad displays couldn't have set production back more than 12 hours in the grand scheme of things. It's not like they have been hoarding them for months.
Apple is Green
Apple is a VERY green company & the iPad does NOT contain hazardous waste materials...Get the facts.
http://www.apple.com/environment/
Apple is a VERY green company & the iPad does NOT contain hazardous waste materials...Get the facts.
http://www.apple.com/environment/
So I just came back from te mall, during which I made a stop @ the Apple store, all the bitching and moaning here about the iPadification got me curious.. as well as curious whether they've applied it up here in Canada- which they have. I can safely say that as always, people here are so inclined to twist any change that Apple makes into something negative.
After 10 min in the store, I can safely say that the iPads are not 'ugly', there were no 'mess of wires', they were well integrated, functional, intuitive and fun to use, and seemed to create a more engaging and interactive experience than a piece of paper. People seemed to love using them, and they do offer a more compelling way to read up about the product in question. I chatted with an employee, and he strongly praised the new queue system, and said its already yielded an improvement in response times and efficiency. All of you here are bitching about all the potential drawbacks of such a system, but he was telling me it worked swimmingly, and someone is usually over in mere seconds after the button is tapped, as opposed to customers wildly trying to find someone free. I can think of a bunch of secondary benefits to this, ie. forcing people to use an iPad and get comfortable with it, realtime update of info to all Apple stores simulaenously, etc etc. It definitely seems like an improvement, for NORMAL people, but of course, forum posters are expectedly up in arms about how this is the end of Apple- you know, the same reaction they have to every single one of Apple's moves which has resulted in them becoming one of the most successful companies on the planet. I'd be worried about Apple as soon as the majority of people here praise one of their moves- thats when I will sell all my stock.
After 10 min in the store, I can safely say that the iPads are not 'ugly', there were no 'mess of wires', they were well integrated, functional, intuitive and fun to use, and seemed to create a more engaging and interactive experience than a piece of paper. People seemed to love using them, and they do offer a more compelling way to read up about the product in question. I chatted with an employee, and he strongly praised the new queue system, and said its already yielded an improvement in response times and efficiency. All of you here are bitching about all the potential drawbacks of such a system, but he was telling me it worked swimmingly, and someone is usually over in mere seconds after the button is tapped, as opposed to customers wildly trying to find someone free. I can think of a bunch of secondary benefits to this, ie. forcing people to use an iPad and get comfortable with it, realtime update of info to all Apple stores simulaenously, etc etc. It definitely seems like an improvement, for NORMAL people, but of course, forum posters are expectedly up in arms about how this is the end of Apple- you know, the same reaction they have to every single one of Apple's moves which has resulted in them becoming one of the most successful companies on the planet. I'd be worried about Apple as soon as the majority of people here praise one of their moves- thats when I will sell all my stock.
1. Maybe Apple should personally ask you before they make any changes to their own retail stores, or even better, before spending a dollar of their own money? I recall the iPad itself being described as a 'gimmick' on this very forum when it was unveiled. Apple 'gimmicks' certainly seem wildly successful.
2. I was in an Apple store today. They help. It's an improvement. People often like to discover/read/explore information themselves, and not have someone rant to them. This helps them do that in a drop-dead simple way.
3. Noone is ****ing forcing you to do anything. Enough with this BS drama of Apple 'forcing you'. What a pathetic, ridiculous, false sense of self-righteousness. Maybe you should save your outrage for a more meaningful cause, instead of pretending like Apple is infringing on your human rights and freedom of choice by implementing this small change, which by all accounts will benefit most people.
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Makes Sense
iPad makes a great Kiosk. So it only makes sense that Apple would start using them to sell even their own products.
iPad makes a great Kiosk. So it only makes sense that Apple would start using them to sell even their own products.
Sounds cool. But how many people are going to go up to one and wonder why the iPad won't work... and only shows the info about the iPod...
terrible idea... I just wanted a price and quick spec list like they had. I don't want to have to touch some disease ridden iPad just to talk to someone or get a price.
Sorry people... iPads in store should have a sanitizer spray or dispenser right next to them.
Sorry people... iPads in store should have a sanitizer spray or dispenser right next to them.
I think they want you to know what your living room will eventually look like when you are charging your MBP, iPad and syncing an iPhone at the same time. If it looks cool in the store then you won't mind leaving it out when someone comes over and sees white cables in ever room of the house.
Wires all over the place.
When I first walked in it felt like Radio Shack or a messy Hobby Shop.
THIS is Apple????
Once a classy upscale store, now a bargain bin that offers overpriced gadgets.
When I first walked in it felt like Radio Shack or a messy Hobby Shop.
THIS is Apple????
Once a classy upscale store, now a bargain bin that offers overpriced gadgets.
Perhaps.
Oddly enough the store was nearly empty, when usually Monday nights they're busy.
Funny how phony the "enthusiastic" sales person was, no wonder they want to bring in the union. If successful the Apple Store employees will be wealthy based on Foxconn benchmarks. Very Interesting Tactic.
Really. What a mess.
Actually they were named the least green tech company.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/apr/21/apple-least-green-tech-company
http://macdailynews.com/2011/04/21/greenpeace-names-apple-least-green-tech-company/
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/anya-kamenetz/green-day/apple-least-green-big-four-it-companies
So which is it, bargain bin or overpriced? What an assinine post. Thank God Apple ignores the whims of most forum posters, the reason they've been massively successful is precisely because they ignore the inane opinions of people like you. So the iPads magically transformed the store from classy to bargain bin? Only on Apple fansites do we get such drama queens and laughable hyperbole.
I was in the store today, if I wasn;t specifically looking for the iPads, it wouldn't even have made an impression on me. And if you have such a trashy opinion on Apple and their products (ie. overpriced gadgets) I wonder why the hell you're even here. I'm not against constructive critisism (and Apple does deserve it like any other company) but I sure as hell wouldn't frequent forums from a company whom I think produces trash.
...by Greenpeace. That's an important detail. And guess what their assessment was based on? One data center. Why? Because it relies on 'dirty energy', as it is powered by the power plant in closest proximity, which relies 62% on coal.
Of course it's an important detail. Any source that is the least bit critical of Apple is not considered a reliable source.