Today Marks the 15th Anniversary of Apple's First Two Retail Stores

[Morgenland]

Enough of this. It seems that every article is just a springboard for Apple hate.

Believe it or not, Apple engineers and many others (heck, maybe even Tim Cook from time to time) browse MR. MR themselves can confirm this, with traffic coming directly from Cupertino, and showing as being from newer or unreleased OS X/iOS builds.

And yet at every single tenuous opportunity, all they'll see is rubbish like this where it's not called for. Ironically enough, the actual valid criticisms for how Apple can genuinely improve will be completely lost. They'll shrug their shoulders and think "well, you guys will never be happy no matter what we do."

I agree completely agree.

In Europe, I notice especially in political forums that (political) stakeholders fight war by organized incitement. I am deeply sad, that in USA the same way of warfare takes place.


For several months new „members“ penetrate with a new culture of hate and disparagement.

Therefore Macrumors no longer is the best forum for the technically interested Apple sympathizers, sad to see.


Competition is always tough.

But to believe that here are just real people interested in Mac news is obviously wrong: Those trolls sometimes amuse very much (declaring to own iPhone, Windows-phone, Dell and several Macs, yeeeah… sure the truth and nothin but the truth).

The haters will move on. Let them go. They earn just small money and reputation for their doing.

 

[5105973]

Bittersweet to see that kids section. My daughter, around 6 at the time, cried the first time we took her to the Apple Store and she saw they had taken it out. She and the other kids in the store used to be like adults fighting over parking spaces as they all angled to get a coveted seat one one of those round cushions. It was also nice to be able to park them there for a few minutes, because keeping small children standing in a crowded store is challenging. They get tired and fidgety. It's nice for them to have a few minutes break at a seat, and therefore made visiting an Apple Store a fun family trip once upon a time.

Then it was decided the future of computing was on tablets and took that section out. The thing is, little kids still are drawn to computers. They do better starting out on full sized keyboards and a display set up ergonomically. A lot of families I know still have one desktop computer set up for the whole family, even though some of the kids get to use hand-me-down iPads. Typing out school reports is still more pleasant to do on a full desktop setup.

I don't see quite the same attention paid to capturing the interest of the kids as there used to be in an Apple Store. Children are still there, but now they compete with adults for time on the demo devices. It's really quite annoying, actually, when I go in to try and see which of the iPhones I want and have to stand there and watch five 8 year olds all playing some games on the demo models I want to see. I watch my own kid and kick her off the devices when I notice an adult or teen or even another kid wanting to evaluate a demo model for purchase.

So now it's less fun to visit an Apple Store as a family. We now go in, do whatever as quickly as possible and can't wait to get the hell out. And the last few times we were there to make purchases--a laptop, iPhone 6plus, IPhone SE, and an Apple Watch band--the items were not in stock and we were told to order them online. Somebody really needs to rethink all of this. Sure it all looks good and sleek in there but it doesn't feel as good to be shopping in there anymore.

 

[Brad9893]

Yea, Apple has lost a lot of great people, or got rid of them. It's my understand that there are very few of the core NeXT and Unix gurus left either.

To be fair, the NeXT acquisition was almost 20 years ago now. That's a long time and people either retire or move on. Things change unfortunately, and it's probably impossible to recreate the magic. I'm just going to try and be happy with what we have in the here and now, because there is not much else I can do.

 

[DevNull0]

There were *EXACTLY* this kind of comments in 2007, just before the iPhone.

That is a lie.

People like you have absolutely no idea about how Apple operates, despite all the historic evidence.

That is so vague it's a null statement.

Or you're simply paid astroturfers from competing firms that hardly make a buck out of their products, given Apple is siphoning about all profits in the hardware industry. This was extremely clear just after the iPhone 6 introduction, that single handedly destroyed profits for all the Android camp.

And how is it good for consumers that Apple is able to make more profit by selling an inferior phone? I'd rather spend the money on a G7 with a better screen, cpu, voice assistant and map program.

 

[ThaRuler]

Why put one of your first stores in a random place like Virginia?

 

[SteveW928]

And again, that was extremely visible just after the iPhone 6 introduction, with tons of new forum members bashing Apple like there was no tomorrow, just as the firm had its biggest hit, ever.

There's a HUGE difference between an excellent product, and one continues to sell well on a growth trajectory. There was nothing special about the iPhone 6. If anything, it was a step backwards in terms of design.

I really, REALLY hope they are going to produce something big this time around. I have a number of Apple products and I recommend Apple products to many (based on their needs, etc), but I find it harder and harder to recommend some products now just simply because the price to performance ratio is quite poor.

I just hope they fix a lot of existing problems, get back to a simplified product-line, and give us some stuff we actually need.

I too have slowed in recommending Apple products, but not because of price/performance ratio (that's as good as it's ever been) but because there are so darn many issues with the software.

 

[FieldingMellish]

15 years ago today, STEVE opened our first 2 Apple stores.....

 

[Brad9893]

Bittersweet to see that kids section. My daughter, around 6 at the time, cried the first time we took her to the Apple Store and she saw they had taken it out. She and the other kids in the store used to be like adults fighting over parking spaces as they all angled to get a coveted seat one one of those round cushions. It was also nice to be able to park them there for a few minutes, because keeping small children standing in a crowded store is challenging. They get tired and fidgety. It's nice for them to have a few minutes break at a seat, and therefore made visiting an Apple Store a fun family trip once upon a time.

Then it was decided the future of computing was on tablets and took that section out. The thing is, little kids still are drawn to computers. They do better starting out on full sized keyboards and a display set up ergonomically. A lot of families I know still have one desktop computer set up for the whole family, even though some of the kids get to use hand-me-down iPads. Typing out school reports is still more pleasant to do on a full desktop setup.

I don't see quite the same attention paid to capturing the interest of the kids as there used to be in an Apple Store. Children are still there, but now they compete with adults for time on the demo devices. It's really quite annoying, actually, when I go in to try and see which of the iPhones I want and have to stand there and watching five 8 year olds all playing some games on the demo models I want to see. I watch my own kid and kick her off the devices when I notice an adult or teen or even another kid wanting to evaluate a demo model for purchase.

So now it's less fun to visit an Apple Store as a family. We now go in, do whatever as quickly as possible and can't wait to get the hell out. And the last few times we were there to make purchases--a laptop, iPhone 6plus, IPhone SE, and an Apple Watch band--the items were not in stock and we were told to order them online. Somebody really needs to rethink all of this. Sure it all looks good and sleek in there but it doesn't feel as good to be shopping in there anymore.

I agree. I think the problem is that Apple has added so many product lines since many of these stores were built that there was really no choice. A lot of older stores were really just built for Macs, iPods, and their accessories. They were not built to hold Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and all of the variations within that have been introduced within these lines. Hell, my local Apple Store doesn't even have room for the new MacBook and all of it's color variations. If you want to see either a silver or gold model, you are out of luck. Something had to go, unfortunately, and the kids section was an easy thing to scrap years ago.

 

[Morgenland]

Just wondering when someone would use the "you must be paid by a competitor!" comment. Here it is!

It´s that simple. And probably true!

 

[Attirex]

This 15-year store anniversary is a big fail. Time for Tim to go.

 

[639051]

There's a HUGE difference between an excellent product, and one continues to sell well on a growth trajectory. There was nothing special about the iPhone 6. If anything, it was a step backwards in terms of design.



I just hope they fix a lot of existing problems, get back to a simplified product-line, and give us some stuff we actually need.

I too have slowed in recommending Apple products, but not because of price/performance ratio (that's as good as it's ever been) but because there are so darn many issues with the software.

I shouldn't use the term price to performance ratio, it is good for several products. I guess in this case price to worthiness ratio. I could recommend Apple before without hesitation because, in my option, they were the BEST for those who asked me. I recently sold my rMBP and bought an XPS 13 ($700) and have to say that Apple has a lot to do to catch up there. The design, functionality, everything is on point .. and I don't even mind Windows 10.

The iPad, IMO, is the best tablet out there .. but it is so stale it isn't funny. The addition of multi window was fantastic, but there are still so many things that are a joke on the iPad. It's literally the same UI for a device a fraction of the size .. and don't get me started on my "Pro".

 

[DevNull0]

The goal should be creating value for shareholders and consumers, not churning out new product lines. And the problem with successful product lines is that you have to continuously improve *and* support them!

Now I have my fare share of gripes with Apple software recently, but it's amazing how myopic and unimpressed some people are. Put things into perspective and remember there's a long-game, people!

Exactly.

Apple is currently in a position they earned where they can sell almost anything. If they found a warehouse full of old newtons, they could dump them on the market at the original price and it would still outsell the original iPhone.

But Timmy is trading that hard won position Apple has for a quick pile of cash. The products over the past 5 years have universally been garbage. It can't help but catch up with Apple and then the company will sink. Like blackberry and nokia before them.

And the worst part is that while Timmy is destroying Apple's future for a pile of cash, he has no idea what to do with the cash so he's squandering it away on silly purchases and stock buybacks to prop up the stock he's ruining.

 

[Splatt123]

It's sad how the people you responded to and many others take things for granted and have such rose tinted glasses. It was probably the same ones complaining about how bad Apple was for not having 3rd party apps or 3G on the OG iPhone. Or no Cut/Copy/Paste etc. Or how the iPad is just a blown up iPad and offered nothing new. I guess it'll never change, I remember the same negativity when the iPod came out, people claiming Apple had lost all hope and were doomed.

To add to (and duplicate some of) your list some things they've released since 2011 that have been positive for me:

- TouchID - not much to say except awesome.
- A new line of iPads in 2 sizes with the addition of a highly regarded stylus. This product has made the biggest change to my working life in the last 5 years and probably ever (completely ditched paper - all notes now taken digitally).
- New True Tone display on iPad Pro 9.7" - massive difference when using iPad outdoors (hope this tech filters to other iOS devices).
- Starting with the A7 moved A-series chip design in-house and transitioned to to 64-bit for their iOS devices. The latest releases the A9 and A9X which have been excellent in performance terms.
- iPhone with 3D Touch - something else which has made working life quicker (can get through dozens of emails in a much smaller amount of time).
- Research Kit: fingers crossed this leads to some good.
- A completely new MacBook line (Retina 2015), introduces several firsts for Apple - USB-C, new Butterfly mechanism keyboard, fanless, custom shaped battery, individual LED backlit keys (as opposed to an array previously), Force Touch trackpad.
- The 2105 MacBook (Retina) has also just received an internal upgrade with some decent performance boosts.
- A mapping service.
- A new Apple TV with a much requested App Store.
- A new programming language: Swift.
- Roll-out of Apple Pay.
- In the last year or so released 2 operating system updates (OS X 10.11, iOS 9) and 2 new Operating systems (watchOS and tvOS) - which have been pretty rock solid for me.
- Apple Watch which has made a big difference to my fitness (no more phone carried when on runs, easy logging of sets and reps, ability to buy drinks whilst running/cycling without cash etc.).

Plenty of innovation there. Apple are not perfect, never were and never will be. But they have one very happy customer here with a lot of their recent products providing nice incentives to upgrade over older alternatives.

But clearly not enough, judging by the share price.

 

[seanjs]

I still have an unopened opening day t-shirt in the original plastic tube that they were handing out at the Glendale Galleria when it first opened. Any takes?

 

[DevNull0]

Six out of those first ten years were strictly Macs and iPods. Apple made new models but they were mostly refreshed versions of existing models.

Just off the top of my head. iPod, xserve, mac mini, mac pro the switch to intel, the unibody macbooks, iphone, ipad, and apple TV.

After Steve Jobs died....slower and slower macs, different sized ipads and iphones, and Apple watch. And rose gold. We can't forget rose gold.

 

[LordVic]

Just off the top of my head. iPod, xserve, mac mini, mac pro the switch to intel, the unibody macbooks, iphone, ipad, and apple TV.

After Steve Jobs died....slower and slower macs, different sized ipads and iphones, and Apple watch. And rose gold. We can't forget rose gold.

PINK

IT'S PINK DANGIT. PINK!

 

[icehockey77]

Apples to Beehives here.

The Air was the first of its kind, a "netbook" in size with a fast CPU (crippled by horrible IO issues from the physically tiny HDD). The Air line still exists and is simply neglected now. The rMB is simply the mantra that we somehow need impossibly thin devices that sacrifice in too many areas, this is not a product we just don't get .. it's a product that was already fulfilled by the Air line, IF it had the proper updates it deserved (retina screen, new CPU options).

Everything you are saying was said about the air.

 

[DevNull0]

People said the same about Steve and the original Macbook Air. Apple has time and again released a product that was maybe too far ahead of it's time that people laughed at originally, then couldn't live with out.

True. But keep in mind the Air was born into a world where you didn't have far superior machines that were almost as small and much cheaper. The original air really wasn't impressive as a machine (and was nearly $3000), but at least it was so tiny compared to the rest of the market it had a major wow factor. And the air had plenty of ports from day one and even an upgradable hard drive at first.

 

[insh]

It's times like this you realize how much Apple did in 2001-2011 and how little Apple has done over the past 5 years.

Remember how much you grew in the first years of your life and how little you've grown in the last five? The biggest company on the planet was laying the foundation back then as it's doing in areas we'll appreciate 15 years from now.

 

[brendu]

So we should applaud them for updating their product lines?

No but you don't need to have unrealistic expectations of Apple to invent a bunch of new stuff because they had a few good years once upon a time. What other company has come out with something new and groundbreaking? What do you want Apple to make that doesn't exist yet? It is so ridiculous the attitude on here that Apple has to keep inventing amazing new tech every 3-5 years or else people start foaming at the mouth.

 

[DevNull0]

Right. They have quadrupled revenue since 2011. What a failure.

The smartphone market took off like crazy since 2011. Apple has a mediocre product that is floundering in a market that is nonetheless exploding. it won't last, it's already coming crashing down on them and Timmy and co are in panic mode.

You may think I'm anti-apple but I'm a huge, long-term Apple fan who is disgusted to see Timmy the stooge ruining such a great company.

 

[brendu]

True. But keep in mind the Air was born into a world where you didn't have far superior machines that were almost as small and much cheaper. The original air really wasn't impressive as a machine (and was nearly $3000), but at least it was so tiny compared to the rest of the market it had a major wow factor. And the air had plenty of ports from day one and even an upgradable hard drive at first.

The original Macbook air started at $1799 and only had one USB slot and a micro display port.

 

[DevNull0]

Remember how much you grew in the first years of your life and how little you've grown in the last five? The biggest company on the planet was laying the foundation back then as it's doing in areas we'll appreciate 15 years from now.

Analogies are so flawed. We're not talking about growth, we're talking about what you do.

And I did a hell of a lot more int he past 5 years than I did in the previous 5 years (or my first 5 years). When you stop expanding what you're doing, you've got nothing left to look forward to except your grave.

 

[SteveW928]

Enough of this. It seems that every article is just a springboard for Apple hate. ... Believe it or not, Apple engineers and many others (heck, maybe even Tim Cook from time to time) browse MR.

Gosh, I hope they do. And, if they have enough history, they might recognize that there have always been the haters, but that also, there are people like ME and many others, who used to be here defending Apple from the haters.

And, maybe you can pass along the message that we were loyal to the 'old' Apple that put UX as job #1. We want that back!

Bittersweet to see that kids section. My daughter, around 6 at the time, cried the first time we took her to the Apple Store and she saw they had taken it out.

I'm not sure if you've ever been to the Bay Area (I used to live there), but it's kind of a reality distortion field when it comes to kids. My wife and I lived there for almost a decade, and I still remember when it hit us on a trip, at a restaurant, that there were kids around! And, kids aren't often associated with Apple's new fashion focus, either, I'd guess. It's a bit better down by Cupertino, but who knows where the decision makers live.

And, then there's Jobs. I actually met him once at the Palo Alto Apple Store, and he was there with *his* kids. I think that's something he cared about. Who knows anymore? Kid section probably doesn't look great on the spreadsheet.

To be fair, the NeXT acquisition was almost 20 years ago now. That's a long time and people either retire or move on. Things change unfortunately, and it's probably impossible to recreate the magic. I'm just going to try and be happy with what we have in the here and now, because there is not much else I can do.

The thing is, a lot of what made OSX so great were some of the core areas (Core Image, etc.) and app/UI stuff that came from those people. Now that they are gone, those aspects of OSX seem to be falling apart, and the talent that remained probably was taken for iOS. OSX feels like it's being left to die, and the new stuff feels like it's being done by amateurs. I'm not talking about magic, but good management would have worked to fill those holes. I don't think the 'new' Apple really cares. The Mac is now a small slice on the pie chart.

Why put one of your first stores in a random place like Virginia?

Because, I think that's probably one of the most affluent spots in the country. Perfect to test out the early stores, without being right in the back-yard.

Hell, my local Apple Store doesn't even have room for the new MacBook and all of it's color variations. If you want to see either a silver or gold model, you are out of luck. Something had to go, unfortunately, and the kids section was an easy thing to scrap years ago.

Yes, the product grid... another problem Jobs solved that Apple pre-Jobs and now post-Jobs doesn't seem to get. And, yep, when it gets down to spreadsheets and profitability with fashion products, kids lose. (Even though they are the future customers... the 'old' Apple had such foresight.)

I shouldn't use the term price to performance ratio, it is good for several products. I guess in this case price to worthiness ratio.

There we go! And, the worthiness has dropped because of the lack of focus on UX. Between poor quality control and loss of good UX, Apple products aren't as big of a deal in terms of productivity gains and user enjoyment anymore.

 

[brendu]

The smartphone market took off like crazy since 2011. Apple has a mediocre product that is floundering in a market that is nonetheless exploding. it won't last, it's already coming crashing down on them and Timmy and co are in panic mode.

You may think I'm anti-apple but I'm a huge, long-term Apple fan who is disgusted to see Timmy the stooge ruining such a great company.

You think the number one selling smartphone worldwide in 2015 is a mediocre floundering product? What are you talking about?