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
“Hey PC?”
“Yeah?”
“Mind takin’ out the trash for me?”
“Hey PC?”
“Yeah?”
“Mind takin’ out the trash for me?”
I just made the switch! again I have to wait for my delivery! ERRR
MBPRO 15/2.16 CTO Z0DP
CND funds $2,439.00 Plus tax is around 2780.49 Canadian!
With the following configuration:
Processor 065-6617 2.16GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
Memory 065-6616 1GB 667 DDR2 SDRAM-1×1GB
Hard Drive 065-6781 200GB Serial ATA Drive@4200rpm
Optical Drive 065-6625 SuperDrive 6X
Display 065-6631 15″ Widescreen Display
Modem 065-6645 None
Apple Software Solutions 065-6200 None
Keyboard/Mac OS Language 065-6627 BkLit Keyboard/Mac OS
Country Kit/AEX 065-6628 Country Kit
Ships by:
May 18 - May 22
Delivers by:
May 29 - Jun 4
Actually, that almost ruined the sale of my iMac for me as well - I was unable to get any sort of enhanced configuration from the Apple Store, and while I could (and did) get more RAM for less money from a third party, the graphics card is not easily changeable.
What is silly is that I found an Apple reseller in another shop not too far away who _did_ have a model with the higher VRAM video card, which indicates that Apple are quite happy to sell them via other people but not in their own shops! Where is the logic in that?
Didn’t finish though, I was ending with saying, I hope I did the correct thing, as you, I am doing the switch, now I just have to wait!
Later CC
David
I got your back:
http://www.christopherspenn.com/2007/03/08/tools-i-use-on-my-mac
MPEG Streamclip is the greatest little piece of freeware out there for people doing online video:
http://www.squared5.com/
It’s a video conversion tool that is packed with features. The interface is a little clunky, but it’s really powerful, feature-rich and it’s free.
Definitely consider aperture for your photo management and workflow. I haven’t upgraded to an Intel machine yet, but when I do I think I will go with aperture.
[…] coupled with CC’s discovery path, has given me enough cause to contemplate a hybrid solution i.e. Mac for all multimedia and PC for […]
Isn’t the fact that all the Mac zealots have convinced you to buy the machine part of Apples marketing. They’ve always built a loyal user base who are nuts about Macs because the machines work work, are different etc. Mac have always relied on word of mouth to sell machines
Congratulations! I tried out Aperture for a while, but decided in the end to go with Lightroom. I like it MUCH better. Guess it all depends on which one you start with.