[Big Mac]

Look, I am as sympathetic as the next guy to the plight of the nations devastated by the tsunami, and I am proud to be loyal to a company that has decency and a conscience. At the same time, it is has been quite some time since the tragedy, yet Apple is still not promoting any products on its home page. I could understand continuing to display an announcement of some sort - just not one that occupies ninety percent of the page. Apple has proven it has a heart, but surely the lack of an update will have at least some adverse impact on sales, will it not?

[Jan Van Boghout]

I don't think it will negatively impact sales, people just click through to hardware/software or whatever. Usually people visit a site with a purpose, so they'll find their way through apple.com just fine

[Randman]

It's also been New Year's, so maybe it hasn't been upset. A few more days isn't going to hurt matter. Besides, you can bypass the page and go look for products if you wish.

[brapper]

Originally posted by Jan Van Boghout:
I don't think it will negatively impact sales, people just click through to hardware/software or whatever. Usually people visit a site with a purpose, so they'll find their way through apple.com just fine

I like your sig.
Also, Apple can leave that up for as long as they wish. People go to the site looking for products and won't be stopped 'cause they saw that message on the front page, indeed they may even find it touching and think more of Apple.

[Superchicken]

Wait for a Tuesday After MWSF or actually probably the week before you'll see it go back to normal but Apple hasn't released anything recently and would probably put off it's intro while this is all going down. Until CNN starts getting a bit more bored with it you can expect to see Apple to stay with it for a while which is good for em.

[Nodnarb]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Wait for a Tuesday After MWSF or actually probably the week before you'll see it go back to normal but Apple hasn't released anything recently and would probably put off it's intro while this is all going down. Until CNN starts getting a bit more bored with it you can expect to see Apple to stay with it for a while which is good for em.

Exactly. There would be no point in apple changing their homepage now advertising the iPod photo and stuff that has been on the homepage for weeks when they are DEFINETLY going to change it after MWSF. I think its a good idea just to leave the tsunami message up until after MWSF.

[Superchicken]

Not to mention they're probably waiting till they find nobody is clicking on these to donate, I imagine they can tell that.

[xi_hyperon]

I don't think it hurts their business at all, and besides, I would guess that most people are still thinking and concerned for those left in the wake of the catastrophe. Having the links there might encourage someone on the fence to make the leap and donate.

[storer]

Originally posted by Jan Van Boghout:
I don't think it will negatively impact sales

I agree. I think it will make a statement about the fact that Apple cares about world issues.

[wdlove]

I think that Apple should continue the front page till MWSF. Then decrease the amount of space for the disaster.

[mitchell_pgh]

Considering the attention given to 9/11... It should stay.

The loss of life is staggering.

[JHromadka]

Originally posted by Superchicken:
Wait for a Tuesday After MWSF or actually probably the week before you'll see it go back to normal but Apple hasn't released anything recently and would probably put off it's intro while this is all going down. Until CNN starts getting a bit more bored with it you can expect to see Apple to stay with it for a while which is good for em.

Agreed. MWSF is what, next Tuesday? I like that Apple is doing this.

[Nodnarb]

Originally posted by mitchell_pgh:
Considering the attention given to 9/11... It should stay.

The loss of life is staggering.

This has no relation to 9/11 whatsoever unless your purely comparing number of deaths (which there is no reason to do so because they are two completely seperate things).

[Millennium]

It's almost like 1984; no one wants to be the first to stop clapping.

It's really a shame. The tsunami could have been a wonderful opportunity for people to show goodwill. Instead it's become a "let's see how Caring And Altruistic everybody is" pissing contest. It started with the governments, but now it's going down to the corporations.

A person who really cared would not need this marketing.

[joltguy]

Originally posted by Millennium:
It's almost like 1984; no one wants to be the first to stop clapping.

It's really a shame. The tsunami could have been a wonderful opportunity for people to show goodwill. Instead it's become a "let's see how Caring And Altruistic everybody is" pissing contest. It started with the governments, but now it's going down to the corporations.

Maybe. Who cares? The motivations may be skewed, but in the end what really matters is that a bunch of money gets over there, fast.

[Nodnarb]

Originally posted by joltguy:
Maybe. Who cares? The motivations may be skewed, but in the end what really matters is that a bunch of money gets over there, fast.

Agreed.
I'm sure the countries in need of help would rather get the money and help no matter what the reason behind it is instead of getting no help but knowing that we "care".

[Mohammed Al-Sabah]

love apple.com as it is, ease of use

[TheJoshu]

Originally posted by Millennium:
It's almost like 1984; no one wants to be the first to stop clapping.

It's really a shame. The tsunami could have been a wonderful opportunity for people to show goodwill. Instead it's become a "let's see how Caring And Altruistic everybody is" pissing contest. It started with the governments, but now it's going down to the corporations.

A person who really cared would not need this marketing.

Meh. It is way too early to take the oh-so-common 9/11 approach and say "could have been." It's still a blindingly real day-to-day situation. Let's get to a place with real perspective before we determine whether or not it's such a bad thing that Apple links to the Red Cross.

[MilkmanDan]

I see no problem with what Apple's doing. Won't hurt them at all.

An event this big should get as much attention as possible in the US, where we usually don't care about anything that doesn't involve us for more then a week.

[LookSee]

Originally posted by Millennium:
IIt's really a shame. The tsunami could have been a wonderful opportunity for people to show goodwill

who said it hasn't? . I doubt anyone who has donated has thought of it as a contest. Goodwill is all around us right now

[davidflas]

here's a good effort by one person: http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D87CU54O0.html

[LookSee]

Originally posted by davidflas:
here's a good effort by one person: http://apnews.excite.com/article/200...D87CU54O0.html

Sandra is cool. She did the same thing after 9/11.

[JHromadka]

You got your wish. Apple.com updated today with cheaper Cinema displays, speed-bumped xServes, and Xsan. There's still a small link to the tsunami aid. Maybe you should start a new thread complaining that it should be removed to make room for a link to MWSF.

[ajprice]

I didn't notice this yesterday, but the iMac, and I think the iBook and Powerbook are also slightly cheaper (in the UK store anyway). iMac used to be £919, its £899 now. The iBook is £699 and I'm pretty sure it used to be £749. Powerbook is now £1099 from £1149 (I think). I've got a magazine in front of me with what I'm sure are the old prices on the Apple site.

[rambo47]

I dare say that Apple is watching their online sales numbers and web site hits very closely, especially the click-through rate. If it starts costing them traffic we'll see the old page quickly enough.

[macaddict0001]

The old page is already back.

[Big Mac]

I suppose I could have been a bit more patient, but I am a happy camper now.