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turtle777 · Sep 7, 2007, 09:21 AM

Very interesting.

Apple introduces the iPology - MarketWatch

After yesterday's news, I had a thought that Apple might have planned it that way all along, and just played us (customers, public). Seems like this is what happened.

Although the article is somewhat sarcastic, I believe at the core it is right.

Very clever, Apple.

-t

starman · Sep 7, 2007, 09:23 AM

Cute

Dakarʒ · Sep 7, 2007, 09:24 AM

I don't think this is a new concept.

turtle777 · Sep 7, 2007, 09:25 AM

Originally Posted by Dakarʒ

I don't think this is a new concept.

Don't know.

Certainly looks like Apple iPerfected it...

-t

forkies · Sep 7, 2007, 09:38 AM

na, more importantly in the whole scheme of things is that now people see the iphone as SO FRICKIN CHEAP when if it had been originally released at $400 people would say "daaamn, that phone's expensive"

Mastrap · Sep 7, 2007, 09:53 AM

It's a great way to turn bad publicity into good publicity. Getting the same attention through the running of ads would, in all likelihood, been considerably more expensive.

amazing · Sep 7, 2007, 10:00 AM

Well, they had to apologize, now didn't they? This is huge PR nightmare. They've alienated precisely the core customer group that they depend on for new hardware sales, for upgrading to next revision of the iPhone, for upgrading for new features.

No amount of apology is going to buy back that goodwill. The hit to Apple's reputation is huge.

Chuckit · Sep 7, 2007, 10:20 AM

Don't fool yourself, amazing. Fate has ****ed people over before (including me) on Apple purchases, and we still keep buying their stuff. The reasons)

1. It's not Apple's fault if I later become unhappy with a purchase.

2. Apple still makes kickass products.

Jawbone54 · Sep 7, 2007, 11:00 AM

Originally Posted by amazing

Well, they had to apologize, now didn't they? This is huge PR nightmare. They've alienated precisely the core customer group that they depend on for new hardware sales, for upgrading to next revision of the iPhone, for upgrading for new features.

No amount of apology is going to buy back that goodwill. The hit to Apple's reputation is huge.

Only one of the six iPhone early adopters that I know personally was upset, and he was won over by the $100 store credit yesterday.

The hit to Apple's reputation is "huge?" Um...no.

Dakarʒ · Sep 7, 2007, 11:05 AM

Obviously the Mac community was upset, but I wonder how the non-Apple iPhone users reacted.

turtle777 · Sep 7, 2007, 11:07 AM

Originally Posted by amazing

Well, they had to apologize, now didn't they? This is huge PR nightmare. They've alienated precisely the core customer group that they depend on for new hardware sales, for upgrading to next revision of the iPhone, for upgrading for new features.

No amount of apology is going to buy back that goodwill. The hit to Apple's reputation is huge.

No, that's not how we Apple fanbois tick.

We whine, we complain, but we stil love and admire Apple.

-t

voodoo · Sep 7, 2007, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

No, that's not how we Apple fanbois tick.

We whine, we complain, but we stil love and admire Apple.

-t

Pretty much.

V

Chuckit · Sep 7, 2007, 06:36 PM

Originally Posted by turtle777

No, that's not how we Apple fanbois tick.

We whine, we complain, but we stil love and admire Apple.

-t

Yeah, like I'm going to switch to Dell just because the new iMac is crap.

OldManMac · Sep 7, 2007, 09:07 PM

Originally Posted by amazing

Well, they had to apologize, now didn't they? This is huge PR nightmare. They've alienated precisely the core customer group that they depend on for new hardware sales, for upgrading to next revision of the iPhone, for upgrading for new features.

No amount of apology is going to buy back that goodwill. The hit to Apple's reputation is huge.

Please. That's way over exaggerated. This will blow over quickly. A relatively few people feigned faux indignation for making the decision, on their own, that the iPhone was worth $600 when they stood in line for it, and now they're just looking for a way to get something for free.

amazing · Sep 8, 2007, 01:46 AM

No, this is going to be cited by the press for quite a long time, over and over again, anytime some question comes up about an Apple product introduction. There's a small (but growing) segment of the press that's acknowledging how great Apple products are, but the rest of the press loves to badmouth Apple.

Not that many Apple users are going to think about switching to a Dell, like Chuckit said, but cross-platform products like the iPhone and iPod derive a huge chunk of their sales from "that other platform." And those people are more than willing to listen to bad publicity about Apple. It confirms their belief that Apple hardware is overpriced (even though that's not the case anymore) and allows them to feel superior about having bought Windows.

Anyway, that's not quite what I meant to say. What I was trying to say was that a lot of people love to be part of the hoopla around an Apple product introduction. Apple derives a huge benefit from the media circus. It doesn't help Apple at all if a certain percentage of them get cynical and figure on waiting for the second generation or for the initial frenzy to subside, whereupon Apple will sell it for the "true" price.