Why is Panther still being sold?

[Bear]

...
Don't forget people, what's the typically difference between an Apple production announcement and the actual date it starts shipping?

Lethal

That depends on the product. For the last couple of versions of Mac OS X, it's been 2 or 3 weeks. The same for the past couple of iLife releases. Some software has been available the day of announcement, very rarely does Apple announce a ship date for software that is more than a month away.

As for hardware, anywhere from the same day to several weeks. And more typically, how soon did you order it after it was announced?

Anyway, with Tiger, once Apple announces the ship date they will meet it.

 

[iBunny]

From a buisness standpoint it makes sence to sell it. They are just making money. Apple didnt come to be (just like any other company) without the intention of making money. Its why we work, and why new stuff exists. People just want to be rich.

However from a consumer stand point, if you buy panther now, you deserve it. Everyone should do their research before they buy anything, period. People who dont, deserve to get burned, its their own fault.

 

[TIGERmac]

Unethical adj 1: not conforming to approved standards of social or professional behavior; "unethical business practices" [ant: ethical] 2: not adhering to ethical or moral principles.

What Apple is doing isn't in the least bit unethical. The company isn't being intentionally deceitful or misleading in any way. Tiger has received a significant amount of press (for being an unreleased title), and Apple has an entire section of thier website devoted to the next-generation OS.

[rant]
I think it's time for people need to start taking responsibility for their actions and stop trying to blame others for their silly mistakes. We live in an age where information is so readily available it's rediculous. You no longer have to sift through magazines and library books for knowledge, just do a simple search on the internet and you'll probably get more info. on a subject than you ever wanted. We need to stop expecting people to hold our hand and guide us through every little decision we make. Capitalism favors consumers who take the time to evaluate the market and make the best choice.

These educated consumers will conduct a little research prior to making significant purchases. These people likely know that Tiger's release date is nearing, and will delay their purchase if they deem the upgrade beneficial or necessary. As someone else mentioned, some prefer to use the mature version versus the latest and greatest (and sometimes buggy) version.
[/rant]

Granted, there are instances where corporations take advantage of consumers just to make a quick buck. The fact that this occurs is quite annoying and unfortunate. I simply cannot see how Apple continuing to sell their current OS while their next OS is being prepared for release falls under this category, however.

Disclaimer: The above rant wasn't directed at anyone on this forum. It's just a general observation/frustration that I have had as of late.

 

[Sun Baked]

Erm....yeah, business is always telling customers not to buy product because there is something better round the corner

Maybe Apple should stop selling iPods until the vPod arrives.

Heck, they can stop selling the iMac until the next version is ready... oops, they already did that.

Panther is still being sold, because it's replacement has not been officially announced as a product ready to be shipped.

They're still selling Windows XP, when Longhorn is around the corner.

 

[yellow]

Just to make sure, you know that eD was being facetious, right?
I wasn't sure if you were responding to his quote, or agreeing with it.. (silly me!)

 

[Mechcozmo]

The Osbourne. A computer so great.... but the next version was even greater. No one bought the first version. The second version never came.

And the computer sucked anywhoo.

 

[tech4all]

"the next generation Tiger is coming the first half of this year, so we aren't selling this version of the OS anymore so you don't waste your money."

Sorry, but that made me laugh. (non in an insulting way to you, just sounded funny)

 

[Sun Baked]

Just to make sure, you know that eD was being facetious, right?
I wasn't sure if you were responding to his quote, or agreeing with it.. (silly me!)

Doesn't it matter is I'm picking on him or agreeing with him?

At least I didn't quote the original poster and ask "if his parents were first cousins, or even more closely related?"... because that would really be frown upon.

So I quoted eD instead.

 

[sirius1722]

Might I also add that at least at the retail store level, the employees are just as clueless about when and sometimes what new products are coming out as the rest of us. I worked there...ask anyone who still does. If they get an early shipment, say, of new rev PBs, they are wrapped in cardboard and instructed not to open them until they are announced. Granted there are some exceptions, but for the most part, they know nada.

 

[ReanimationLP]

Look at Microsoft! They STILL sell Windows 98!!! *shudders* Ewww... 98.... >.<

 

[johnnowak]

You know, if they stopped selling it, people would bitch because they were "forcing" everyone to upgrade.

As a diehard anti-capitialist-******** socialist, I can say there is nothing unethical here.

 

[yellow]

At least I didn't quote the original poster and ask "if his parents were first cousins, or even more closely related?"... because that would really be frown upon.

[cackle!]

 

[Soulstorm]

It seems like Apple is ripping people off by selling Panther. (at least, people that are a bit naive or ignorant about computer issues).

I think they should have the link to buy Panther, but when you click on it it should say, "the next generation Tiger is coming the first half of this year, so we aren't selling this version of the OS anymore so you don't waste your money."

That is simply not going to happen. That course of action is insane, in my opinion. Apple's target (and by saying apple, I mean every company of any kind) is not to point us into the right direction of buying a new product.

Every company just tell "we have this product available, will you buy it?".

A good customer should be well informed when they go buy a mac. They can't just tell the shop "I want a mac" and expect to do a good buy.

After all, Apple does not keep secret the upcoming release of Tiger. Everyone who's interested in buying a mac should have visited their site. If they did, they should already have seen the upcoming release of Tiger.

Therefore, making bad choises is not Apple's fault. Basically, it's the customers fault.