Slate Magazine: Here's your free case, jerk....

[Hutch1]

Oh, there is a reason (to care). What if the guy, say, does not like BluRay or buttons (in general). Good luck getting the feature on your preferred line of products.

Here's another idea if you don't like his views and ideas on products don't buy them. Apple is not the only game in town. It seems like plenty of people do like his design ideas.

On the iPhone 4 if you have a problem with it take the damn thing back, really simple.

 

[mgamber]

Never understood why I should care if Steve Jobs is a jerk. Are the CEOs of Google, HTC, Motorola really nice guys in comparison?

No, but they don't preach ad nauseum about what I can and can't do with their products that I paid for. He can spout whatever nonsense he likes, it doesn't mean I'm going to listen to or care about a word of it.

 

[Hutch1]

That was such a horrible, arrogant press conference. SJ spent 15 minutes telling us how great the IP4 was. And that his stats showed no big issues. But for all you complainers, here is a free case. And if you don't like that, then send it back. Pretty poorly done Apple. Plain and simple.

What should they have done? The phone is what it is, they aren't going to come to your house and fix it. So telling people that "if you don't like it send it back" is reasonable.

Evry design has limitations and the iPhone 4 is no different and if you can't live within the limitations then the devices isn't for you should return it.

 

[ProwlingTiger]

What should they have done? The phone is what it is, they aren't going to come to your house and fix it. So telling people that "if you don't like it send it back" is reasonable.

Evry design has limitations and the iPhone 4 is no different and if you can't live within the limitations then the devices isn't for you should return it.

Yeah, I'm still trying to figure out what people wanted Jobs to do about it. Apple wasn't about to throw the whole design down the drain and start producing a 3GS-like phone. The backlash from that would have been far worse.

I'd love to live in the fairyland of some of these people where products have no flaws and everyone's perfect. Must be an amazing place.

 

[Knowimagination]

yawn... doesn't this writer know that it's time to move on to complaining about something else?

 

[ReallyBigFeet]

As someone who will be taking his IP4 back to the store as soon as I can get a replacement AT&T phone to use in the interim, exactly how am I being "demanding" and "unreasonable" by wanting my phone to work as a phone right out of the box?

Because it does, and saying it doesn't is being unreasonable and sensationalistic. Its been proven on here, by Apple and elsewhere that it works just fine, even better in most situations at picking up signals that prior to the i4 other models couldn't. Whats broken is your perception of reality and reasonableness. If you intentionally force it to misbehave, you can, as you can with other models from other manufacturers.

I would probably be a little more open to Apple's ridiculous solution of requiring a case to alleviate the issue if they didn't try to pass the buck along the way (trying to throw other companies under the bus to deflect the attention away from your own shortcomings is just unseemly).

Given your attitude, I doubt anything would make you more open to them as your cellphone provider. You need to find fault in things. Its how you are wired. The Apple community will be better served if you weren't part of it. Apple doesn't want you as a customer as you clearly don't want their products. So time to divorce and move on to whatever cell phone provider is "lucky" enough to have you. Apple won't miss you. Apple likely gained 10-12 converts to replace your revenue stream as I typed this.

In fairness, the CEOs of Google, HTC, and Motorola aren't the public faces of those companies. He sets himself up for these kinds of criticisms by putting himself front and center when there is something Apple related in the news.

As opposed to hiding behind lawyers, underlings and a communications/PR team. Yes, he sets himself up for direct criticism. Seems pretty ballsy and authentic to me, relative to everyone else at his level.

 

[JD914]

Agree, Jobs was condencending. Can't stand the guy.

All time major douche of a CEO.

 

[michaelz]

Well said! I won't stop support them when apple make few mistakes!

I thought SJ was quite sincere. He's right when he says they love their customers. Apple is always taking risks and breaking new ground. They were the first with a 17" laptop screen. They were the first with unibody construction in their laptops. They were the first home computer with a GUI, and probably the first real home computer. They redefined the way we buy and listen to music. They defined a new market with the iPad. Apple is CONSTANTLY on the edge and there is extreme pressure on them to outdo their last brilliant product. Are Microsoft, Dell, HP, or Motorola subject to such high expectations?

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Jobs needs to learn how to shed tears on cue like Bill Clinton. Then all the low self-esteem lemmings would feel warm and snuggly inside.

Personally, if Apple or any other co. makes a product I like & want to own I'll buy. The CEOs personality isn't something I dwell on or even care about.

 

[pedsurg]

free bumper

So how do we get our "free" bumper ??

 

[Chupa Chupa]

So how do we get our "free" bumper ??

Apple will announce the program sometime this week. Stay tuned. I'm sure media will cover it, certainly the gadget and Apple sites.

 

[Arran]

I watched the video rerun of the press conference. I have no clue how the Slate writer Farhad Manjoo was able to misconstrue it as, "Here's your free case, jerk" [emphasis added]. Farahad seems to have a chip on his shoulder.

To be fair, Farahad wasn't invited to the conference and based his article on hastily-written secondhand accounts (liveblogs) of the proceedings. That, unfortunately, raises the question of whether Farahad should've been reporting on the event at all?

It makes me pine for the old days: When dead-tree era journalists had the time, integrity and respect for their profession to fact-check their stories.

 

[Hopsdaballa04]

I watched the video rerun of the press conference. I have no clue how the Slate writer Farhad Manjoo was able to misconstrue it as, "Here's your free case, jerk" [emphasis added]. Farahad seems to have a chip on his shoulder.

To be fair, Farahad wasn't invited to the conference and based his article on hastily-written secondhand accounts (liveblogs) of the proceedings. That, unfortunately, raises the question of whether Farahad should've been reporting on the event at all?

It makes me pine for the old days: When dead-tree era journalists had the time, integrity and respect for their profession to fact-check their stories.

I believe the music video alone made it seem as if they didn't care and this was just a big joke to them.

 

[317342]

You didn't expect the media to accurately and objectively present facts, did you?

BP got more leeway than Apple did. In fact, some members of congress even apologized to BP. Chuck Schumer wasted no time (21 days!) writing a letter to Apple demanding action while waiting until July (nearly 3 months!) to send a letter to BP.

Even SJ alluded to it by saying, "We have been working on this for 22 days... We didn't have our heads in the sand for three months."

I thought the bumpers were unnecessary--the science made sense to me, sorry it didn't for so many others.

 

[Arran]

I believe the music video alone made it seem as if they didn't care and this was just a big joke to them.

Granted, the YouTube vid was a bit silly and 'un-corporate' in its delivery (actually, it was awful). That said, it's underlying message was entirely in step with Apple's official line: Full money-back guarantee.

How is that a joke?

 

[samcraig]

Granted, the YouTube vid was a bit silly and 'un-corporate' in its delivery (actually, it was awful). That said, it's underlying message was entirely in step with Apple's official line: Full money-back guarantee.

How is that a joke?

I'm just throwing this out there again - who is to say that Apple didn't have that video created? It wouldn't be the first time a company released a video, website, etc as if it was done by someone else.... Just sayin'

 

[JonnyIreland]

I think my problem with Friday's press conference is this:

-In my opinion, Apple have actually made a great offer to the customers... a free case, but if you aren't satisfied then they we will extend the returns period until September 30th... I don't think that there is much else they can offer. I even think that SJ murmured an apology in there somewhere!

-The downside is that the tone and content of the press conference was ALL wrong. In my opinion (everyone is entitled to have their own -that's how it works, fanboys), SJ came across as unapologetic in his tone and manner and spent most of the press conference telling us all how great the IP4 is.... that isn't what people wanted to hear on Friday, Apple should have realised this. It just adds more fuel to the fire.

Just so you know, I've owned every iPhone generation and I am never without my iPad or MacBook Pro and have owned more iPods than I want to admit to -and i'm not about to ditch Apple because of the antenna issue. However, if SJ continues with the 'holier than thou' attitude towards his customers ("just hold it differently" etc) then I won't be spending my hard-earned money in the Apple Store any longer. Like others have said, vote with your wallets if you truly don't believe in the products. However, Apple is a self-proclaimed 'premium' brand with the high-end prices to match, so they should act accordingly. It is my opinion that they have responded poorly this time around, although I will state again that they offered some fair fixes through free cases & returns policy -they just could have been a lot more humble about it.

NOTE: Like someone else has already said here, you can guarantee that the iPhone '5' won't have the same design, which will be a sure sign that Apple recognises that the IP4 design is fundamentally flawed.

 

[Arran]

I'm just throwing this out there again - who is to say that Apple didn't have that video created? It wouldn't be the first time a company released a video, website, etc as if it was done by someone else.... Just sayin'

That immediately crossed my mind too. Maybe a lame attempt to reach some of the younger complainers through a familiar channel? Who knows?

I'd have left it out. It was corny. Reminded me of Microsoft's "How to Throw a Windows 7 House Party" video. Thank god those folks didn't sing

 

[dmorris01]

The amount of self-entitlement you have is incredible. Steve Jobs and Apple owe you nothing.

Well actually he owes me a phone that functions correctly.

 

[Peanut207]

He should be sorry because Apple's stats show fewer than 1% of iP4 owners are reporting issues? Sorry because nobody is returning their phones? Sorry because the iP4 is subject to the laws of physics like every other smartphone? Sorry because the iP4's "signal loss" while gripped is no different than phones from RIM, HTC, and Samsung? Sorry that people who aren't happy can either get a free case or return their phones for a full refund? Sorry because Apple is still selling the 3GS, so if you don't like the iP4 or Android you can still buy last year's model?

You're insane.

Great post! People are ridiculous thinking Jobs owed them anything. Lol The iPhone 4 is an amazing piece of hardware and the best phone out there by far in many peoples eyes, including mine.