Apple Should Learn From Their Fans
Earlier this week I put out a call looking for input on if I should get a MacBook or a MacBook Pro. For some reason Apple.com doesn’t this this is valuable information and don’t do a good job outside of spec sheets to give you input on the difference in the machines. But, YOU the users of the computers stepped up and gave me objective and passionate answers in both directions. I love that about the new media playground. We all love doing show and tell.
So today I had a great lunch and then walked into the Apple Store and pointed at one and said “I would like one of those!” The very cute lady informed me that they only had it in the most basic of configurations. Blargh. No impulse buy for me.
They almost lost the sale completely. I got home miffed that they only have a few configurations when you boil it down and the fact that they don’t even stock some different set ups makes no sense. That question of “should I get this or not” entered in my head. It wasn’t until I lost a document I was working on for reasons I still don’t know I said screw it and ordered it.
What Apple (and every other brand out there) needs to pay attention to is that I didn’t make this decision based on any marketing they had done anywhere. I didn’t make it based on the information they provide on their website. I made the decision by interacting with the brands consumers in real time via blogs, Twitter and IM. THAT is where the real power lies. If you provide your consumers with a good product and allow them to talk about and share with others they will. Don’t ever stifle that conversation ever.
So, now I have to sit and wait for my new shiny toy to arrive. I’m now going to reach out and ask they same community what software and other goodies I need to get. I know there are many goodies out there!
Final Score? MacBook Pro with 2.33GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 3 GB RAM, 160 GB HD and Aperture installed
