Apple Warning Retail Stores of iMac and Mac Mini Supply Constraints?

[jmpage2]

There's a word for what you witnessed: spiff

Sales people can earn more money from manufacturer incentives than they do in salary or commission from their employer. In some cases the payment for selling an item can exceed the profit the store makes on the sale!

Apple has never paid spiffs so salespeople go out of their way to push other products instead.

Best Buy sales people are not on commission that I am aware of.

The one word you are looking for is probably not spiff, it's ignorance.

I've heard it all from the woefully ignorant BB sales force including these gems;

1. You can put a PCI video card in an iMac.
2. Blu-Ray players suck because they don't play DVDs.
3. Macs are MORE susceptible to viruses than PCs since PCs come with virus software pre-installed (along with a ton of other bloatware).

MS has gotten into the act too. They have put together training materials for Best Buy employees that tries to teach them that Windows 7 PCs are far better than Macs for a number of reasons including this darling;

"Mac OS X forces customers to learn a new and unfamiliar operating environment".

 

[whatever]

I for one am pissed that I didn't buy when it was hovering around 70-bucks.

But I blame Lucent for that hesitancy. I bought them after the appreciated and then after holding it for a month, the bottom dropped out and I took a hell of a loss. That was when money wasn't so tight and I got a tax write-off. I couldn't afford to gamble with the Apple stock. Now, kicking myself...

I'm so happy I bought it around $14, before the split, which I guess means I paid under $7.00 a share.

 

[Buzz Bumble]

Yeah. And the person in my local Best Buy that was talking people out of buying macs was working for whom? I don't know how many of their Best Lie Kiosks are selling many macs with people so boldly ignorant about what they sell.

Some of the choicest bits from Amy the 'sales' person: "They are harder to use than Windows PC's." "We get a lot of them back because people just don't like them."...

My head was almost spinning...

Yep. I've heard similarly inane and misinformed conversations by salepeople.

Salespeople are almost universally incredibly dumb and know very little about what they are selling, no matter what it is they are selling - this is especially true in large chain stores that sell "everything" (one dimwit told me Apple no longer makes a keyboard with a keypad simply because the shop had none in stock at the time). One week they will be selling shoes, the next computers and the following week cars.

Salespeople also often work on commission and because Apple products have tighter profit margins (for the reseller) than most other brands, they probably get less commission for selling an Apple product. Working on commission should be banned - it simply causes selfish greed.

People with brains don't use salespeople at large chain stores for information. It's always best to research the product elsewhere and then just pay your money at the chain store (if they have the best price / bundle deal). Unfortunately most of the general public don't know this and get conned by greedy, stupid salespeople.

 

[crackbookpro]

I don't see much happening to the mini except for a couple new (probably minor) performance upgrades...

The iMac is another story - I am hoping for quad-core, blue-ray, and some cheaper options for high RAM models.

...If Apple gives us an iMac with 8GB of RAM & quad-core for a "good price" - I am buying! ...add a blue-ray, and that will just be a perk!!!

 

[Alfuh]

My iMac has recently developed the 'blue line down the middle of the screen' syndrome.

I'm thinking of buying a Mini and creating a bit of a home theatre.

I don't watch TV, just DVDs and stuff I download.

If I hook the mini up to a big, flat screen display or TV, I think it would be kind of cool.

With a wireless keyboard and mouse, hmm, I think I have a plan.

Would the mini have any limitations/problems achieving this?


Thanks all!

Think you would find these of interest:

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/24/behold-my-mac-mini-media-center/

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/tuaw-guide-setting-up-the-ultimate-mac-mini-home-theater/


cheers

 

[Cheffy Dave]

Wow!

a two tier pricing for iMac,Mac Mini, with and without QUAD CORE PROCESSORS!
Could this be true?, Apple's red headed step child, the Mac Mini will finally be coming of age? Thinning of the lines, the killing of Apple TV, replaced with a SUPER HTPC in the guise of
the Mac mini??
I'll take one of EACH, BOTH in QUAD CORE FLAVORS! So glad I have APPLE STOCK! This comes to fruition, we are headed for $250/share, then The release of the Apple Touch pad!
$250++

 

[jmpage2]

a two tier pricing for iMac,Mac Mini, with and without QUAD CORE PROCESSORS!
Could this be true?, Apple's red headed step child, the Mac Mini will finally be coming of age? Thinning of the lines, the killing of Apple TV, replaced with a SUPER HTPC in the guise of
the Mac mini??
I'll take one of EACH, BOTH in QUAD CORE FLAVORS! So glad I have APPLE STOCK! This comes to fruition, we are headed for $250/share, then The release of the Apple Touch pad!
$250++

The problem is that the $400+ price of the lowest spec Clarksfield chip that would work in the Mini pretty much costs as much as the whole Mini.

Apple loves low footprint devices with smart thermal characteristics. The problem is that it's biting them in the ass as there aren't many quad core options that can even be considered until prices fall further.

The previously mentioned 45W TDP Xeon chip would probably still product too much heat to work in the current Mini chassis, not to mention that it is a $380 part.

 

[gavstephenson]

Think you would find these of interest:

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/07/24/behold-my-mac-mini-media-center/

http://www.tuaw.com/2009/08/21/tuaw-guide-setting-up-the-ultimate-mac-mini-home-theater/


cheers

Thanks Alfuh.

Kind of you and much appreciated.

 

[danielwsmithee]

a two tier pricing for iMac,Mac Mini, with and without QUAD CORE PROCESSORS!
Could this be true?, Apple's red headed step child, the Mac Mini will finally be coming of age? Thinning of the lines, the killing of Apple TV, replaced with a SUPER HTPC in the guise of
the Mac mini??
I'll take one of EACH, BOTH in QUAD CORE FLAVORS! So glad I have APPLE STOCK! This comes to fruition, we are headed for $250/share, then The release of the Apple Touch pad!
$250++

Yeah I don't see the quad core in the mini. I think they are just going to just leave the mini at 1 model with a lower price. Apple has shown they will sell minis, but they don't really wan't it to compete with the iMac.

 

[Eidorian]

The Mac mini is probably going to be standardized to one low end model you can customize. It's amazing to see they can sell it right now with such low specifications compared to other $599 machines. Quad cores with a monitor on the other side.

Clarksfield or bust on the iMac.

 

[jmpage2]

The Mac mini is probably going to be standardized to one low end model you can customize. It's amazing to see they can sell it right now with such low specifications compared to other $599 machines. Quad cores with a monitor on the other side.

Clarksfield or bust on the iMac.

Show me an Intel Quad Core and monitor for $599. The quads you are referring to would have to be AMDs and aren't in the same league (the better specced C2D would cream it).

A full desktop tower Dell with entry level Intel Quad Core CPU runs about $500-$600 with no monitor.

Most people looking at a Mini aren't interested in having a full PC tower.

I would love to see Clarksfield in the iMac but my gut is telling me it's not going to happen due to the extremely high prices on the Clarksfield CPUs.

 

[Eidorian]

Show me an Intel Quad Core and monitor for $599. The quads you are referring to would have to be AMDs and aren't in the same league (the better specced C2D would cream it).

A full desktop tower Dell with entry level Quad Core CPU runs about $500-$600 with no monitor.

Dell, Small form factor desktop/tower, Q8200, and a monitor.

Back when the Q6600 was king you could get the tower alone for $549.

 

[danielwsmithee]

Dell, Small form factor desktop/tower, Q8200, and a monitor.

He is right I just priced out a Inspiron 537s with quad core, 2GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive, and 20" widescreen display for $599.

I still think the mini will stay a dual-core machine. The only way Apple could compete with those prices is being changing the form factor to something large enough to use desktop components. Apple will continue to compete on size.

The iMac needs quad core (though the 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo would blow away the Q8200 in most applications).

 

[jmpage2]

He is right I just priced out a Inspiron 537s with quad core, 2GB RAM, 320 GB hard drive, and 20" widescreen display for $599.

I still think the mini will stay a dual-core machine. The only way Apple could compete with those prices is being changing the form factor to something large enough to use desktop components. Apple will continue to compete on size.

The iMac needs quad core (though the 3.06 GHz Core 2 Duo would blow away the Q8200 in most applications).

Ya, I finally saw it as the very last option to configure the bare bones 537 with.

I still don't think that someone who is looking at a Mac Mini is going to be terribly interested in that clunker, but it's a good option for someone on a very tight budget who isn't too worried about noise, aesthetics or video performance (the Mini has a far better video solution).

 

[Eidorian]

Ya, I finally saw it as the very last option to configure the bare bones 537 with.

I still don't think that someone who is looking at a Mac Mini is going to be terribly interested in that clunker, but it's a good option for someone on a very tight budget who isn't too worried about noise, aesthetics or video performance (the Mini has a far better video solution).

I don't know what it will take to impress you if a quad core SFF desktop/tower is a clunker.

To add more salt to that wound, this is from February 2008.

I've installed a few base model Inspiron 546 and they come with HDMI output and the 780G. The only fans are the power supply and CPU fan. Rather quiet for $287 including tax. It's hard to find an Atom + ION complete system down there.

 

[pdxa4]

I'm awaiting for the upgrade/change in hardware/software.

Been on the fence for a while, and especially as we canceled our directv service we are missing our TV functionality.

We are using our current iMac as our media hub, watched Hulu - uTube - downloads(top gear, torrents etc) - and live online feeds - iTunes rental movies. A lot of great and sufficient content online for us. Only thing is we have to basically sit in front of our iMac and watch the shows, our comfortable couch is only one room away as is our blank TV.

The iTV while a very nice product is just too limited for our use, and the Mac Mini also a wonderful device is just a bit too much on the high price range for it's hardware features.

I would love to have a responsibly priced product from apple that would offer us full OS-x capability in a compact shell that is easily connected to our TV(hdmi with audio) and will use wifi or ethernet as it's source of data, even offering added capacity with a external harddrive. No real interest in BlueRay as this would only add to the price...

Or if anyone has any idea how to directly stream our content from our iMac to our Samsung TV that would be ideal for us ?

 

[crackbookpro]

Guys Keep Dreaming About Bluray Cuz The Shots Of an Imac Or Even A Mac Mini getting it Before The Mac Pro are 1 In A Million If it does happen it will be a miracle.

I am guessing you predicted the new Nano to get a camera, and not the Touch.

I hope to agree with you about the blu-ray being in a MP first, but you never know with Apple these days. The Mac Pro is limited to a certain market that has a high-end user. Blu-ray would be perfect for Mac Pro, but blu-ray in an iMac would make it sell ever more...

I think it is coming to the iMac. It will make the ol' iMac user want the new kid on the block (new iMac)!!!

In my mind, it is a 'want' for the iMac user, and a 'need' for the Mac Pro user... I guess we'll have to wait and see what Apple thinks.

 

[danielwsmithee]

I'm awaiting for the upgrade/change in hardware/software.

Been on the fence for a while, and especially as we canceled our directv service we are missing our TV functionality.

We are using our current iMac as our media hub, watched Hulu - uTube - downloads(top gear, torrents etc) - and live online feeds - iTunes rental movies. A lot of great and sufficient content online for us. Only thing is we have to basically sit in front of our iMac and watch the shows, our comfortable couch is only one room away as is our blank TV.

The iTV while a very nice product is just too limited for our use, and the Mac Mini also a wonderful device is just a bit too much on the high price range for it's hardware features.

I would love to have a responsibly priced product from apple that would offer us full OS-x capability in a compact shell that is easily connected to our TV(hdmi with audio) and will use wifi or ethernet as it's source of data, even offering added capacity with a external harddrive. No real interest in BlueRay as this would only add to the price...

Or if anyone has any idea how to directly stream our content from our iMac to our Samsung TV that would be ideal for us ?

That sounds a whole lot like the Apple TV especially if you install boxee on it.

 

[niuniu]

Mac Mini Touch!













oh nevermind..

 

[jmpage2]

I don't know what it will take to impress you if a quad core SFF desktop/tower is a clunker.

To add more salt to that wound, this is from February 2008.

I've installed a few base model Inspiron 546 and they come with HDMI output and the 780G. The only fans are the power supply and CPU fan. Rather quiet for $287 including tax. It's hard to find an Atom + ION complete system down there.

I don't know what it's going to take for you to understand that a tiny cube of a computer that uses mobile components is not designed to compete with a full sized desktop solution.

Every part of the Mini costs more because of its form factor.

If Apple wanted to sell a $299 tower it would not be any trouble for them but they've repeatedly reported that this is not a market they have any desire to enter.

 

[Eidorian]

I don't know what it's going to take for you to understand that a tiny cube of a computer that uses mobile components is not designed to compete with a full sized desktop solution.

Every part of the Mini costs more because of its form factor.

If Apple wanted to sell a $299 tower it would not be any trouble for them but they've repeatedly reported that this is not a market they have any desire to enter.

If you like paying 2006 prices for 2006 hardware until Apple decided to update the machine, have fun.

You can low ball a Dell SFF or even an Atom + ION system for less. Clarksdale on Mini-ITX is a grave threat to the Mac mini.

 

[jmpage2]

If you like paying 2006 prices for 2006 hardware until Apple decided to update the machine, have fun.

You can low ball a Dell SFF or even an Atom + ION system for less. Clarksdale on Mini-ITX is a grave threat to the Mac mini.

Maybe you don't realize you are at an Apple Fan site. Can we please avoid the destruction of yet another good thread with this kind of completely non productive behavior?

We are here to look at what Apple is doing with the next refresh, not get into another pissing match with PC fans who want to point out how under specced a Mac is compared to a PC that sells for the same price.

 

[Eidorian]

Maybe you don't realize you are at an Apple Fan site. Can we please avoid the destruction of yet another good thread with this kind of completely non productive behavior?

We are here to look at what Apple is doing with the next refresh, not get into another pissing match with PC fans who want to point out how under specced a Mac is compared to a PC that sells for the same price.

You asked me to find a $599 quad core desktop with a monitor. The Mac mini only has the size going for it and even so there are plenty of options there unless you have to get OS X.

 

[danielwsmithee]

You asked me to find a $599 quad core desktop with a monitor. The Mac mini only has the size going for it and even so there are plenty of options there unless you have to get OS X.

I think if you are here we should assume you've got to have OS X. I know I do. I would gladly pay the difference for a mini over the Dell just to get OS X.

 

[jmpage2]

You asked me to find a $599 quad core desktop with a monitor. The Mac mini only has the size going for it and even so there are plenty of options there unless you have to get OS X.

Well, now you are lying. Your very first contribution to this thread was this post;

The Mac mini is probably going to be standardized to one low end model you can customize. It's amazing to see they can sell it right now with such low specifications compared to other $599 machines. Quad cores with a monitor on the other side.

Clarksfield or bust on the iMac.

Should it surprise you that when you post that kind of flame bait at an Apple fan site you are going to get called out on it?

Your followup post continued to dig a hole by trying to compare $500 Dell desktop machines with a Mac Mini which is a completely different animal.

If you have no interest in actually discussing Apple products without trying to take a giant whiz on everyone here who DOES NOT mind paying a premium for small form factor products that run OS X then maybe you should just depart. You are looking foolish.