John Gruber said it well on MacBreak Weekly yesterday; CR not giving the iPhone 4 a recommended badge doesn't mean they don't recommend the iPhone 4. It means that they think they are better phones out there not that they don't buy it. Gruber said that CR has a don't buy red badge which they hand out like three times a year and the iPhone 4 didn't get that badge. So to say that CR doesn't recommend the iPhone 4 is false.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Why is Consumer Reports not recommending the iPhone 4 such a huge deal?
- Thread starter CJayC
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
You believed a salesman trying to sell you something? I was also in a verizon store the other day, and I dont like how verizon employees operate in general. There was a ton of att/apple bashing going on. I think its part of their training.
Im sure sales are higher because of the antenna issues, but lets be real, a salesman will tell you anything to get you to sign on the dotted line (even during contracting), even if that was his first day. Verizon and ATT are a lot closer than people think, and my reception was much better on my iphone than on the droid x. But that has more to do with GSM vs CDMA Im sure.
Congratulations. You are one of a very small number.
Even those who don't read CR know who they are. They are a well respected institution known for their unbiased reviews. That's why even those who don't read them will see a 'not recommended' from them and think...."Well, if CR doesn't recommend them, that must mean something!"
Yes, their reputation is that far reaching.
It's really not some shocking accusation. CR is a business and they saw an opportunity. They are not an altruistic organization that works for world peace and the betterment of mankind.
You are right, we are all free to believe what we want, but we do have to square that with the facts. In your case, you are going to have to come up with an alternate (and inherently less plausible) explanation for the juxtaposition of the pre-press conference statement of "Give us free cases!" with the post-press conference statement that "Free cases aren't good enough!"
If you're curious, here's the quote where CR addresses what needs to happen for the i4 receive its "recommended" status. The absence of "recommended" is not at all the same as CR saying "don't buy".
"Consumer Reports believes Apple's offer of free cases is a good first step. However, Apple has indicated that this is not a long-term solution, it has guaranteed the offer only through September 30th, and has not extended it unequivocally to customers who bought cases from third-party vendors. We look forward to a long-term fix from Apple. As things currently stand, the iPhone 4 is still not one of our Recommended models."
Right, but just before the PC announcing free bumpers/cases, they said
In their own words, "the bumper solves the signal-strength problem". And they're free. To say it's not enough now is shifting the goalposts, and there's no other reason to do that besides attention whoring.
Think of the quote I posted as a sort of checklist. Go through it, and see if there are some items in it that Apple hasn't check off yet. I think you can find a few.
OK. While I am doing that, why don't you go look up "shifting the goalposts"? Your quote is from after the PC. Mine is from before. Do you see how all of the initial conditions were satisfied, and now they say, "not good enough"?
Still waiting for any plausible explanation for that besides attention whoring.
Don't misquote me. I didn't say it was shocking. I said it was a huge accusation. At best it's speculative.
And actually they ARE an altruistic company. And definitely more so than the mainstream press. Feel free to do some research there.
The didn't shift any goalposts. They stated the problem. They stated the fix. They are unsatisfied with a fix that is not permanent. IE - as of now, past 9/30 - anyone that buys will NOT have a "fix."
They are stating that Apple's first step was good - but LONG TERM they can't recommend it.
Again...before Apple's PC, they said "The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem."
After Apple's PC, they said, "Consumer Reports believes Apple's offer of free cases is a good first step."
Goalpost shifting, plain and simple.
ETA: Comsumer Reports is a business. If you believe they are altruistic, you are being foolish.
You're kind of stuck in an interpretation rut. Or maybe I'm failing to see your point.
I understand your quote and its timing, and I don't see anything in it that indicates that offering free bumpers alone would make nice with CR. CR's point is that the offer from Apple is limited in time (Sep. 30 only), and limited in scope (those who purchased 3rd party cases aren't promised a refund).
Again I think it's really important to note that CR is not saying "don't buy" based on the issue. FWIW I have the signal loss issue, purchased a 3rd Party case, and would still recommend this phone to anyone in the market.
For the uneducated: http://www.consumersunion.org/about/
And read my post again. They are maintaining their position. Show me where Apple is giving a PERMANENT FIX with the bumpers as of today?
As of TODAY - if I plan to buy the iPhone 4 in December - will my iPhone be the one that has the fix, or not?
Really? "The Bumper solves the signal-strength problem." You don't see anything in that quote that says that free bumpers would be considered a solution?
We just aren't speaking the same language then.
As of today if you plan to buy an iPhone in December? What? Maybe that would be the kind of question to ask...in December?
Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Jobs say that for now the bumpers offer is good until September, at which point they would re-evaluate? To me that sounds like they aren't against continuing the offer, but if they can solve the problem by then, they may not need to offer the free bumpers.
CR appears to be jumping to the conclusion that the offer is terminated at the end of September and Apple will do nothing more, which to me is quite a bold statement and completely opinionated.
Just my 2 measly cents.
EDIT: FWIW, I am happy with the performance of my iPhone 4, and also appreciate the value that CR provides to consumers. I'm not biased in one way or the other here... There just appears to be a disconnect between the statements on either side.
CR appears to be jumping to the conclusion that the offer is terminated at the end of September and Apple will do nothing more, which to me is quite a bold statement and completely opinionated.
Just my 2 measly cents.
EDIT: FWIW, I am happy with the performance of my iPhone 4, and also appreciate the value that CR provides to consumers. I'm not biased in one way or the other here... There just appears to be a disconnect between the statements on either side.
The sad thing is, apple fanboys will take apple's PR statements as word of gospel. Is CR perfect? No, but they serve a very important purpose. The least trustful source is the corporation that makes the gagdet that they're trying to sell you. After that, the media that accepts advertising. Consumer Reports doesn't accept advertising so there's no bias.
CR is a very important institution in America.
CR is a very important institution in America.
A consumer is reading consumer reports now because they are researching what phone to buy.
Now - if Consumer Reports says they recommend the phone because Apple is giving away free bumpers through 9/30 - that doesn't help me, does it?
Or are you acting egocentrically and believe that everyone researches things the day or two before they buy. Because that's laughable.
If you want to argue what CR should or should not do - argue that they put a disclaimer at the top of the article saying that Apple is giving away free bumpers so while that promotional offer lasts, they can recommend the phone. But CR cannot recommend it past 9/30 unless Apple extends the offer or provides another solution.
If you want to argue that - you'd probably have a case. But the case you're trying to make doesn't hold water. They didn't change their opinion or line in the sand.
It all depends if you are for or against Apple. For people who like Apple, the CR story is not a big deal. For those that dislike Apple, it is a big deal.
Is it more responsible to state facts as they are today - or speculate? That's really what you're asking CR to do.
CR's job isn't to speculate. It's to report the situation as it stands. You're jumping to the conclusion that Apple will extend it or have another fix. You have that luxury. CR doesn't.
Are you able to look at the calendar and see whether it is on or before 9/30? If you are not able to do that, then I agree, this statement would not help you. If you, like millions of Americans, are able to make use of a simple calendar, then it does help you.
I believe the set of people researching today for an iPhone purchase in December to be a set of measure zero. Egocentrism is believing your contrived example has relevance.
Actually, I don't. They can do what they want. I was addressing the topic at hand..."Why is Consumer Reports not recommending the iPhone 4 such a huge deal?" The simple answer is that it's not, given that it is an obvious case of attention whoring.
.