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AB^2=BCxAC · Aug 30, 2005, 04:17 PM

I think this is a more impressively wierd Apple strategy shift than the Mighty Mouse!

We’re so confident you’ll love your new Mac mini, we’ll let you test drive it for 30 days with no risk. If you decide you don’t want it, we’ll take it back. Here’s how the test drive works:

Purchase a new Mac mini from the Apple Store online. You can also get an Apple keyboard and mouse, such as our new Mighty Mouse.
Set it up and start enjoying it.
If you don't love it, call us within 30 days of your order and we'll arrange for you to return your system — including the Apple keyboard and mouse — for a full refund.

Scandalous Ion Cannon · Aug 30, 2005, 04:26 PM

Very smart move

Chuckit · Aug 30, 2005, 04:29 PM

Ha! I've been saying for years that they should bring back this program, which is how they promoted the original Macintosh. Except this doesn't look so much like "test-drive a Mac" as "30-day money-back guarantee" considering you have to pay for it still.

turtle777 · Aug 30, 2005, 04:34 PM

Originally Posted by Scandalous Ion Cannon

Very smart move

I agree. Way to go, Apple.

-t

Krypton · Aug 30, 2005, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by Chuckit

Ha! I've been saying for years that they should bring back this program, which is how they promoted the original Macintosh. Except this doesn't look so much like "test-drive a Mac" as "30-day money-back guarantee" considering you have to pay for it still.

Exactly; the best offer I have received for my B&W G3 that I'm selling is from a curious PC guy, but his budget is obviously around the £100 for an experiment, hence his offer.

This may put a stop to all those Mac minis on eBay from switchers who ended up buying a PowerBook/iMac/Powermac shortly afterwards.

analogika · Aug 30, 2005, 06:29 PM

Seems a little more financially sound than the old "Test Drive a Macintosh" campaign. That one was a fiasco.

I like how the wording is the same - very reminiscent, and might get ex-Mac people hooked, as well...

rozwado1 · Aug 30, 2005, 06:37 PM

Cool. I'm telling all my almost-switchers.

tooki · Aug 30, 2005, 06:40 PM

Originally Posted by analogika

Seems a little more financially sound than the old "Test Drive a Macintosh" campaign. That one was a fiasco.

Really? I thought I read that people didn't want to give them up!

tooki

analogika · Aug 30, 2005, 06:44 PM

Last I heard, Apple was stuck with a HUGE number of used/abused machines that they were unable to sell.

Fiasco from a financial perspective.

However, that's just what I read on the int4rweb, so...

E's Lil Theorem · Aug 30, 2005, 07:48 PM

"Free" is right

Hope it works for them, though.

Eriamjh · Aug 30, 2005, 08:23 PM

I'd rather test drive a powerbook or a G5.

sminch · Aug 30, 2005, 08:33 PM

I'd rather test drive a powerbook or a G5.

good lord, that'd be terrible - going back to my old machine would kill me, but so would paying for the damn thing!

sminch

MacMan4000 · Aug 30, 2005, 09:47 PM

HA HA! His Steveness was listening to me!

misc · Aug 31, 2005, 11:47 PM

CANCELED!

MacNN Article

MrForgetable · Aug 31, 2005, 11:53 PM

i may have to take apple up on this one.

MaxPower2k3 · Aug 31, 2005, 11:56 PM

Originally Posted by MrForgetable

i may have to take apple up on this one.

you're too late (see misc's post)

production_coordinator · Sep 1, 2005, 12:00 AM

I feel it's a wonderful idea. It will bring those people on the fence about investing in the technology to just buy it.

Kenneth · Sep 1, 2005, 02:01 AM

Why Apple yanked it?

bembol · Sep 1, 2005, 02:16 AM

Either way, it was only available in the States

Eriamjh · Sep 1, 2005, 07:54 AM

That's the shortest promotion I have ever seen! Anybody sign up?

d.fine · Sep 1, 2005, 08:02 AM

Yea, anyone get a chance to order a 30-day-mini ?

Short life, wonder what happened.

ghporter · Sep 1, 2005, 08:07 AM

As Misc has posted, the program has been cancelled-at least for now. The rumor I've heard is that the cancellation may be because Apple will introduce a new Mini soon...and what that might include is a real festival of rumors! I'm hoping it's true and the new Mini has a G5, but we'll have to wait and see.

As a marketing move, the program is brilliant-particularly now, when people are begining to see that there are clear advantages to the MacOS that had been kind of hiden by the high entry level cost of Macs in general. Minis aren't expensive, they run great, and are good "bait" for potential switchers!

scaught · Sep 1, 2005, 10:05 AM

Originally Posted by bembol

Either way, it was only available in the States

this is my favorite type of messageboard complaint.

turtle777 · Sep 1, 2005, 10:07 AM

Apple sometimes is really beyond weird...

-t

TailsToo · Sep 1, 2005, 06:36 PM

Apple - giving new meaning to "limited time promotion"

Salty · Sep 1, 2005, 06:43 PM

haha no doubt, wonky way to promote something.

Anyway doubt we'll see a G5 mini. What would make more sense would be a 1.5Ghz mini.

FulcrumPilot · Sep 1, 2005, 07:16 PM

I want Ellen for 30 days!!

scaught · Sep 2, 2005, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by FulcrumPilot

I want Ellen for 30 days!!

haha. nice.

dont forget about momoko kikuchi

no idea what shes saying. and do not care.

Salty · Sep 2, 2005, 06:04 PM

Originally Posted by FulcrumPilot

I want Ellen for 30 days!!

I'm sure it wouldn't take that long to figure out what exactly she's on...

KeriVit · Sep 2, 2005, 09:39 PM

Why would they yank their own program based on new minis>? That doesn't make sense. Wouldn't they know before they started? Duh!

PacHead · Sep 2, 2005, 10:32 PM

This was a dumb idea and I'm glad Apple came to their senses, though it was foolish for them to announce it in the first place.

If you need to entice random people to purchase a computer with silly deals then perhaps those sorts of customers are not worth having. The minimac is cheap as it is. Either somebody has the money or they don't. Let them try one out in an Apple store or elsewhere if somebody's doubting or if they wish to test drive one.

Apple doesn't need to cater to the average joe, just because everybody and their brother can afford an ipod. Apple needs to cater to their prime user base.

strictlyplaid · Sep 3, 2005, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by PacHead

Apple doesn't need to cater to the average joe, just because everybody and their brother can afford an ipod. Apple needs to cater to their prime user base.

Because that's worked so well for them in the past? Apple's reviving fortunes came as a result of the iMac, an explicit attempt to entice new users. It worked. If they can maintain quality and lower price, we should be encouraging that.

__^^__ · Sep 3, 2005, 11:28 AM

Originally Posted by FulcrumPilot

I want Ellen for 30 days!!

I want Linda!

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/ichat/

m a d r a · Sep 3, 2005, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by FulcrumPilot

I want Ellen for 30 days!!

Originally Posted by __^^__

I want Linda!

what you both want is to stop wanking into your socks, get out of your foetid bedrooms and meet some real girls.

amsalpemkcus · Sep 3, 2005, 04:08 PM

Ellen who?

TailsToo · Sep 4, 2005, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by amsalpemkcus

Ellen who?