The only thing I find childish is you getting upset because a highly successful company is going to close its stores for an hour in preparation for a new product launch. What the hell does it even matter?
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U.S. Apple Retail Stores to Close From 4-5 PM Tomorrow in Advance of iPad 3G Launch
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The only thing I find childish is you getting upset because a highly successful company is going to close its stores for an hour in preparation for a new product launch. What the hell does it even matter?
There are practical reasons to close the store beyond just getting the stock ready. Usually when they are doing a launch like this, only people who wait in line can come into the store, which keeps the confusion to a minimum and maximizes the number of staff that can help get the hot product out the door.
If they didn't have a window of time beforehand when the store was closed, they would have to quickly kick everyone out right at 5 so they can start the line going.
Is there some gratuitous cheering and clapping with the whole thing? Sure, but what's so wrong about getting people excited about something? I'm sure other companies would do it too if they knew how.
Yeah, MS knows their fans are too refined to engage in any needless cheering and clapping at a retail store, so they would never try anything similar. Oh, wait.
I guess you didn't host a Windows 7 Launch Party, either.
You are correct, I have seen XBox lines. It is surely not Apple's fault that Microsoft only makes one product people get excited about buying
It's not going to happen, nor would there be a point to it. With a few small exceptions, most of the new things in 3.2 are specific to the iPad and wouldn't appear on the iPhone anyway.
It's become sad and pathetic. As time has gone on the more stupid thing have got with Apple. It seems that, as the devices are less and less cutting edge, the more the hype Apple creates.
Despite what many think, the iPhone wasn't and still isn't anything special. The iPad is and never will be anything special. They always have been and always will be technologically stunted because of job's now dictatorial attitude. The day he leaves his post, Apple will become a much better company.
FAIL! Let's see how thin it wears when the next "I" whatever comes out! Keep thinking like that and you'll be working retail another 15 years SMH..
Pretty much the same as you then?
People posting thoughts, comment and options on a forum. Well, the cheek of it!
Huh
They already released the iPad! Next thing you know, Apple will close the store when they release another overpriced DVI adapter.
Apple can do what they want. You can defend them all you want. It just gets old. I'm sure I'm the first person to claim Apple is getting childish.
That store saved my hide during the PS3 launch nearby. Between buying a new set of headphones and their bathroom it was a favor I'll never forget.
Huh
They already released the iPad! Next thing you know, Apple will close the store when they release another overpriced DVI adapter.
Apple can do what they want. You can defend them all you want. It just gets old. I'm sure I'm the first person to claim Apple is getting childish.
It also has to do with preventing a mob scene item grab in the store. By clearing out the store, and creating an organized line, it prevents the trampling deaths that occur at some other retailers *cough* W@&Mart *cough*
I understand that. For security, and the time it will take to setup. But they could've just had it all setup by the time they opened in the morning. Instead of closing for an hour in the afternoon. It's just weird.
Even when Harry Potter was released. The publisher stated it could not be sold until a specific day. So, the bookstores that usually close at ten o'clock, closed at ten, but reopened at midnight so they could sell the book the minute they could. Some bookstores didn't close. They just stayed open, and brought the books out at midnight.
Ever hear of the phrase "If it's stupid, but it works... it's not stupid."?
This has nothing to do with the capability of Apple salespeople to bring out iPads with people in the store. The argument above about having to turn off the security system to mess with displays is good, too, but isn't the real reason. It's all about Marketing... or, as the guy from Space Balls says, Merchandising.
You mentioned the Harry Potter book release. The day before book 7 came out, I dropped off a friend at a Barnes & Noble around 11:45; there was a huge line out the door of people waiting for books, lots of chaos, etc. On my way home, I stopped at a local grocery store. It was just after midnight, and they had a small rack of the books sitting in an aisle... tagged 20% off. I walked through an empty checkout line, bought one, and walked out. I was VERY tempted to drive back to the bookstore, and read out lout from the last few pages of the book... but I like my car too much to subject it to that kind of abuse. So, I avoided the huge line, paid less for the book... but who do you think sold more books that day, and made more money on sales of that one book total? The place with the crazy launch 'party'.
Marketing isn't about logic, rationality, or maturity. It's about appealing to whatever part of mankind you can to get them into your store instead of someone else's. It seems to be working for Apple.
I think the reasoning behind 5pm is due to the shipping delays they experienced when the Wifi version was released. A lot of the stores did not receive their iPads til later in the day when UPS ran so you had people expecting it at 9am and there were none. This gives them time to make sure their shipments made it and get them logged in as inventory. Also, with the info we've been receiving in the news and on sites, they cannot produce them fast enough. Giving an extra shipping day gives them a time to bust out a few more to ship.
Another thing might be instead of hiring security to sit on them overnight Thursday at the store is to just get the delivery to happen early the day of. You're paying the same for shipping, but cutting out paying for 220+ security guards for an overnight shift.
To be honest I'm a fan of midnight releases, clears out everyone else in the mall / shopping center so there's plenty of parking close by, same type of atmosphere, only bigger downside is it's easier for thiefs to jack people in the parking lot after their purchase (seems pretty prominent with gaming console launches).
I find this to be incredibly strange as well. I could see it for the initial launch of the iPad - it builds suspense and anticipation. But this is the same product with an extra feature.
Some of us have schedules which preclude getting to most stores before 9PM.
For a store to assure "an amazing customer experience", being there whenever the customer wants to be there helps.
Investors disagree...
I brought 100 shares of AAPL a little after Mr. Jobs came back for $11.00 I only have 50 left but at $270.00 each I can by my iPad with two stocks.
I guess there's something to be said for tight control of your company.
But you're just trolling so I don't know why I'm wasting my time....
I brought 100 shares of AAPL a little after Mr. Jobs came back for $11.00 I only have 50 left but at $270.00 each I can by my iPad with two stocks.
I guess there's something to be said for tight control of your company.
But you're just trolling so I don't know why I'm wasting my time....
Exactly. Posters (here & elsewhere) keep ranting on about how lame the iP* is, how Apple is childish, how Jobs is dictatorial, how bad/stupid/idiotic/whatever it all is ... but fail to notice that Jobs turned a startup in a garage into a quarter-trillion-dollar company, and is in the process of moving a billion dollars worth of new unproven product in 6 weeks flat.
Sure, Jobs/Apple/iP* is stupid.
But works.
To the tune of lots of billions of dollars.
That ain't stupid.