I think it's kinda interesting that Best Buy didn't also drop it. I wonder what made Best Buy any different than Dell and Target with regards to its reseller contract with Apple. I bought my iPod at Best Buy, and I, personally, like the idea that I can shop at a place that offers an extended warranty service plan on my $400 mp3 player. I hope Best Buy doesn't go the way that Dell and Target have.
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ThinkSecret :: Dell and Target dropping iPod
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Apple just released a firmware update for iPods that solves the battery problems. Apple just posted a KB article that explains how to purge and recharge your iBook battery so that the onboard power controller microchip will properly report the charge status of the battery.
i highly doubt it, its the number 1 mp3 player in us and japan last time i checked. i think its this music service we keep hearing about thats holding them off. im sure they would like to release a new ipod, new itunes, and a new service all at the same time.
iJon
if you don't care enough for your 500-1500$ investment, you deserve the problems you get. a car doesn't go for years without basic maintenance (usually). people who don't maintain their drivers/firmware have themselves to blame for performance losses.
my ibook has just started playing up in the last few days in regards to weird battery stuff. could you please post a link to this KB article you refer to.
ta.
In my opinion, mistakes are allowed, if they are fixed.
A little update wouldn't hurt anyone.
Sure, maybe Apple was in a hurry to release those stuffs, but look at what we have, and what we WILL have.
I can only say I am very satisfied
Come on guys, the battery talk is a little off-topic.
As for what I think about Dell and Target pulling the iPods, it might not be that bad. At first I was upset because any business is good business right? Maybe not. Target is notorious for crappy customer service and the fact that Dell sold an Apple product might have confused people. I also thought it was a bad idea for Apple to put an end to their OS being placed on other computers. But now that I look back on it, I see that it is for the better.
I'm not saying I know much about business and how it operates, but I think Apple does and I put my faith in them.
P-Worm
As for what I think about Dell and Target pulling the iPods, it might not be that bad. At first I was upset because any business is good business right? Maybe not. Target is notorious for crappy customer service and the fact that Dell sold an Apple product might have confused people. I also thought it was a bad idea for Apple to put an end to their OS being placed on other computers. But now that I look back on it, I see that it is for the better.
I'm not saying I know much about business and how it operates, but I think Apple does and I put my faith in them.
P-Worm
Here's the battery purge KB item:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=86284
and in case you don't have it, the KB on how to reset the power management unit (PMU) (the battery manager in the iBook itself):
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=14449
I'd do both and I'm not sure which you should do first. Logic would dictate, reset the PMU, then do the full battery drain and recharge. If you don't actually want to work on your iBook the whole time it takes the battery to drain, just play a CD over and over and over again (set repeat in iTunes).
imho
while the think different ads spawned a great hype; apple's marketing lacks substance and style at this point. they're clutching to this minimalistic aesthetic vision that was really over a couple of years ago. in their actual product ads (not switch), they use less minimalism but more surrealism-- you have the feeling that everything is just too perfect... its a nice idea but they've overdone it. and the switch ads don't particularly grab attention.
more to the point of the thread, i think apple's retail connections are a joke. they focus on their website and apple stores, other retail outlets are just an afterthought. it's a wonder any retailers are interested at all in apple's products-- clearly apple is not maintaining good dealer relationships. maybe it explains why the apple sections of so many stores are in such bad shape... i digress. sure apple can ignore retailers if they've got a handful of apple stores within 100 miles, but not everyone in the US, let alone the world has this convenience. leaves us with the online store... and frankly, i'm too tactile to buy things like that online...
pnw
while the think different ads spawned a great hype; apple's marketing lacks substance and style at this point. they're clutching to this minimalistic aesthetic vision that was really over a couple of years ago. in their actual product ads (not switch), they use less minimalism but more surrealism-- you have the feeling that everything is just too perfect... its a nice idea but they've overdone it. and the switch ads don't particularly grab attention.
more to the point of the thread, i think apple's retail connections are a joke. they focus on their website and apple stores, other retail outlets are just an afterthought. it's a wonder any retailers are interested at all in apple's products-- clearly apple is not maintaining good dealer relationships. maybe it explains why the apple sections of so many stores are in such bad shape... i digress. sure apple can ignore retailers if they've got a handful of apple stores within 100 miles, but not everyone in the US, let alone the world has this convenience. leaves us with the online store... and frankly, i'm too tactile to buy things like that online...
pnw
Is there a list of these 50 some odd resellers that will no longer be selling apple products or limiting the variety of apple stock? I noticed that someone said BestBuy isn't among them which makes me happy since the guy at my best buy told me he didn't think they would be selling mac ipods anymore (not that I trusted the guy since he didn't seem to have any supporting evidence except that they hadn't gotten any in for awhile which is the case for almost every place selling ipods). I really want to get my ipod at best buy to get that warranty plan (cheap for what it the ipod costs and I'm even willing to pay the 8.9% sales tax and ignore the education price at the apple store). But if worse comes to worse, I guess I'll just get covereage by my visa card.
BeOS is not Dead.
>The BeOS community may be kicking, but the >BeOS is dead, buried and worm food. The >future of that system is... well, no future at all.
>
> Note: If you wonder how this relates to the >iPod you are not reading the whole thread.
>
>Dan
Actually, the BeOS is not dead. The source code was licensed by YellowTab (www.yellowtab.com),
which they are using to make a new OS called zeta with, which is basically continuing in the same line BeOS was.
I personally would never want to use it, because I love OS X, but if one were so inclined to use it BeOS is still being developed by a corporation.
>The BeOS community may be kicking, but the >BeOS is dead, buried and worm food. The >future of that system is... well, no future at all.
>
> Note: If you wonder how this relates to the >iPod you are not reading the whole thread.
>
>Dan
Actually, the BeOS is not dead. The source code was licensed by YellowTab (www.yellowtab.com),
which they are using to make a new OS called zeta with, which is basically continuing in the same line BeOS was.
I personally would never want to use it, because I love OS X, but if one were so inclined to use it BeOS is still being developed by a corporation.
Ouch! Unless for some reason they *wanted* to oust these guys...maybe they figure demand is already high, and can make more $$$ selling more of them themselves.
Well, without much knowledge, I would ASSUME that the reason BEST BUY is still onboard is because OF the extended warranty, don't you think? I mean, if you bought the extended plan, for what, 2-3 years, they should still be able to carry it, so that they can honor replacements, no?
Apple pulled their products from these retailers for the simple reason that their products were not being showcased or sold in the way that they wanted.
Look at how much time and effort and money has been spent on setting up Genius Bars at the Apple Store. They are obviously quite adamant that their products get sold by knowledgeable sales people. Throwing an iMac in the corner of a Target with no one to explain its features not only leads to low sales (in which case Apple has little interest in preserving it) but also tarnishes the overall image of the product.
Previous poster was right about niche stores = niche product, mainstream store = mainstream product in the public's perception. But Apple are all about making the Rolls Royce of computers. If Rolls Royces were parked rusting on every street corner, it might increase public awareness of the product, but it wouldn't necessarily make them any more willing to buy one.
People who know, know.
Look at how much time and effort and money has been spent on setting up Genius Bars at the Apple Store. They are obviously quite adamant that their products get sold by knowledgeable sales people. Throwing an iMac in the corner of a Target with no one to explain its features not only leads to low sales (in which case Apple has little interest in preserving it) but also tarnishes the overall image of the product.
Previous poster was right about niche stores = niche product, mainstream store = mainstream product in the public's perception. But Apple are all about making the Rolls Royce of computers. If Rolls Royces were parked rusting on every street corner, it might increase public awareness of the product, but it wouldn't necessarily make them any more willing to buy one.
People who know, know.
Dichotomy
I've been visitng the forum for some time and finally decided to register and post because this thread.
It sounds like Apple was burned by their old contract and the legal dept. tried to correct that, but resellers balked ad the new language. I agree that Dell and Target probably do not do a great job of selling the iPod. Sales reps at Target and Dell probably can't expound on the virtues of the iPod as well as an Apple Store employee could. This leads me to my broader point:
I think Apple has created a dichotomy between how it would "like" to be preceived by consumers and how it "is" preceived by consumers. Apple would like to expand its market share and to do this it has tried to appeal to the mass market. However, it tries to appeal through switcher ads that come off as aloof and odd (just like pre-switcher apple ad campaigns). My point is that Apple has tried to appeal to the broader market w/o changing their marketing scheme. They still come off as trendy, aloof, and hip. There's nothing wrong w/ that, except that the average joe can feel like an outsider. PC people are conditioned to computer ads that give specs and prices. Apple ads do not cater to that conditioning. Apple is caught between maintaing its image as a "cool" company and creating a new image that appeals to the average PC user.
I've been visitng the forum for some time and finally decided to register and post because this thread.
It sounds like Apple was burned by their old contract and the legal dept. tried to correct that, but resellers balked ad the new language. I agree that Dell and Target probably do not do a great job of selling the iPod. Sales reps at Target and Dell probably can't expound on the virtues of the iPod as well as an Apple Store employee could. This leads me to my broader point:
I think Apple has created a dichotomy between how it would "like" to be preceived by consumers and how it "is" preceived by consumers. Apple would like to expand its market share and to do this it has tried to appeal to the mass market. However, it tries to appeal through switcher ads that come off as aloof and odd (just like pre-switcher apple ad campaigns). My point is that Apple has tried to appeal to the broader market w/o changing their marketing scheme. They still come off as trendy, aloof, and hip. There's nothing wrong w/ that, except that the average joe can feel like an outsider. PC people are conditioned to computer ads that give specs and prices. Apple ads do not cater to that conditioning. Apple is caught between maintaing its image as a "cool" company and creating a new image that appeals to the average PC user.
Yes, Apple was burned by their old contract because it had no language to support "we can do whatever we want and if you don't like it, shut up."
Now, they're being sued by several independent stores, which have been unfortunate enough to be in close proximity to an Apple Store or haven't been able to get hardware because Apple has restricted the flow to anything but a trickle except at Apple Stores.
If someone else was doing this, we'd call it monopolistic practices. Some people would call it good business. It just seems to me to be useless and stupid to hurt your own chances.
Now, they're being sued by several independent stores, which have been unfortunate enough to be in close proximity to an Apple Store or haven't been able to get hardware because Apple has restricted the flow to anything but a trickle except at Apple Stores.
If someone else was doing this, we'd call it monopolistic practices. Some people would call it good business. It just seems to me to be useless and stupid to hurt your own chances.
Nah, I bought a washer and dryer from Circuit City a few years ago and at that time I bought there extended satisfaction guarantee. All in all it's guaranteed against anything for 6 years. Well the year after I bought it Circuit City quit carrying washers, dryers, etc.. The guarantee is still good though because I've used it a couple times. They just have to outsource product rather then being able to pull it out of there own inventory.
extended warranties
Just to jump in on the extended warranty stuff-they are not good indicators of products being carried, as they are generally worded or executed so that, as the previous poster said, they can be outsourced OR if you buy a replacement plan, that they are replaced with something of equal value to the price you paid for it. Things with technology that move fast (computers, PDAs, even IPods) generally get this sort of warranty because if your brand new state of the art laptop three years ago dies and they can't replace it, they need to give you something equal to what you paid, and your machine may have a) depreciated in value or b) not be made anymore due to chip availability/new os on the market/wind blowing north by northwest instead of southeast.
So yea, extended warranties on your purchase but in terms of replacement they just need to replace your purchase amount.
Anyhow, I am new here, been lurking for a while.
Hello.
--Carly
Just to jump in on the extended warranty stuff-they are not good indicators of products being carried, as they are generally worded or executed so that, as the previous poster said, they can be outsourced OR if you buy a replacement plan, that they are replaced with something of equal value to the price you paid for it. Things with technology that move fast (computers, PDAs, even IPods) generally get this sort of warranty because if your brand new state of the art laptop three years ago dies and they can't replace it, they need to give you something equal to what you paid, and your machine may have a) depreciated in value or b) not be made anymore due to chip availability/new os on the market/wind blowing north by northwest instead of southeast.
So yea, extended warranties on your purchase but in terms of replacement they just need to replace your purchase amount.
Anyhow, I am new here, been lurking for a while.
Hello.
--Carly