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'Unprecedented' demand for Apple's iPhone 5 exceeds iPhone 4 hype - Page 2

post #41 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:29am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fjose1929 View Post

Abramsky is full of it.

what do you expect? The first four letters of his job title are anal.
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post #42 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oflife View Post

I have commented on this sort of survey before, but it proves once again that SOME people will purely buy on brand alone, without knowing anything about the product.

You are thinking wrong. The reality is the exact opposite of what you so foolhardily suggest.

They want the phone because they know that Apple will deliver, because many of those people have owned and used Apple products for many years, even decades, and they've not been disappointed. Apple is at the top of all those customer satisfaction surveys. Think for a second why that might be? Other companies would kill to be in Apple's position. Apple didn't get to be in that position overnight, they've earned it.

I know that I am happy with every single Apple hardware purchase that I have made and I'm not looking for a phone at the moment, but if I was, there would only be one choice for me and that would be the new iPhone of course. People who are happy with Apple devices, Mac OS X, iOS and the Mac ecosystem prefer to stay in that world. Why? Because they are happy as fuck.
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post #43 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by saarek View Post

Now we just need Apple to arrange a little presentation.......

Aren't they presenting this next Wednesday, the 21st? I've heard the invitations go out tomorrow on the 14th, and the unveil will be 10/21.
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post #44 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:39am
...but to actually almost commit to purchasing is very difference - prior to release of the spec.

I also plan to get an iPhone 5 IF it is up to snatch. But if it isn't the ONLY phone out there that is innovative and powerful enough to attract my interest is the Samsung Galaxy Note. A superb phone, no matter your allegiance, and something Apple should have done ages ago, with regards stylus operation for creative types and free thinkers.

END

Quote:
Originally Posted by svnipp View Post

I'm kind of curious as to where you set your bar on the Apple stock price? $500? $1000?



I can't wait for the iPhone 5 to be available myself, and this definitely has absolutely nothing to do with an Apple logo. I currently have a 3GS and it's time for a replacement. My wife has an iPhone 4 and it's been a solid device also. I've owned a couple of iPods over the years and I currently have a 3.5 year old Mac Pro as well as a 6 month old MBP. I have enough experience with Apple products to have a certain level of expectation for the quality and performance of their products. This isn't about some fanboy obsession, it simple observation and experience with their products.

Am I hoping for a 4" LTE phone with 1GB of RAM? ABSOLUTELY!!! Do I expect that to be in the cards for the iPhone 5? Unfortunately, no. I expect the 5 to be a incremental boost over the 4 with a faster processor, better camera, and an improved antenna setup. I would love to have more than this, but I'll be quite satisfied with this as an upgrade to my aging 3GS.
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post #45 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by charlituna View Post

And yet it will likely be a huge success sales wise.

Must kill you because you KNOW you could have done it better and yet . . .



It's sad that you really think that's what I'm implying.

Quote:
Originally Posted by svnipp View Post

I'm kind of curious as to where you set your bar on the Apple stock price? $500? $1000?

What, like a 52wk outlook? Well, we're at 381 right now. I say 481 by this time next year.

I'd LIKE to say 525+, but I know better.

Quote:
Originally Posted by airnerd View Post

Aren't they presenting this next Wednesday, the 21st? I've heard the invitations go out tomorrow on the 14th, and the unveil will be 10/21.

No, we know nothing yet.
PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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post #46 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:42am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oflife View Post

I have commented on this sort of survey before, but it proves once again that SOME people will purely buy on brand alone, without knowing anything about the product. If the actual specs for the iPhone 5 had been released by Apple, then this would be understandable, but if I was Apple or any other vendor for that matter, I would be frankly embarrassed if people were so obsessed with me or my brand, they would buy anything I produced.

Again, this is very embarrassing and makes a joke of the Apple (stellar) sales figures, because it means that a proportion of Apple customers are buying based on brand, not functionality!

I have been defending Apple from my large proportion of Apple hating friends, but now, I am seeing they may have had a point.

Dont be a douche. I think you're smart enough to know the different between blindly buying on brand from hearsay and from buying on brand from a long reputation of excellent product and service. Or have you never bought an Apple product before?

Every reasonable poster on this forum hasn't made up their final decision on buying the next iPhone, but based on Apple history they are fairly assured they will be buying the next model.

Scenerio: If the device is built like a Moto phone and Apple scrapes iOS at the last minute for WP7 and it's only EDGE for data do you think they will still be lining up? Of course not, and you'll be the first to say that none of those will happen but that's you making predictions based on was is reasonable and logical to assume... Just like everyone who is excited about the next iPhone despite not having any hard evidence of what will and won't be included.
Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"
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post #47 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oflife View Post

...but to actually almost commit to purchasing is very difference - prior to release of the spec.

END

The people surveyed haven't committed to shit. It's not like these people are prepaying and handing over their money for a phone that nobody has seen yet. It says in the article that they are likely to buy one, and of course when the iPhone 5 finally gets released, people will make a final decision and either go ahead and buy one or not.

Unless Apple has hired the design team behind the TouchPad to design their new phone and some Android programmers to design a new OS, it is unlikely that the new iPhone will disappoint.
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post #48 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:48am
More proof, as if such were needed, that technophiles are pretty dumb lemmings when it comes to shiny toys.
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post #49 of 109
9/13/11 at 8:53am
Quote:
Originally Posted by airnerd View Post

Aren't they presenting this next Wednesday, the 21st? I've heard the invitations go out tomorrow on the 14th, and the unveil will be 10/21.

Apple has announced nothing, they have sent out zero invitations.

I will point out that Apple has traditionally had major live announcements on Tuesday (including all of their financial earnings conference calls) so that weekly periodicals can make their deadlines. Once in a blue moon, Apple will announce something that isn't on a Tuesday, but on one expects it.

Why Wednesdays are being touted as likely announcement dates (here and other tech blogs) is a bit silly.
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post #50 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by airnerd View Post

You quote me, disagree with me, and then have nothing to say about what I said? I never said anything about numbers or sales falling off. I said I hope that AAPL doesn't push the refresh back because they see all the hype they can get. Sales still being there is actually another point that makes my concern MORE valid. If they see that sales are still there, and by holding back a refresh they can get even more hype and fervor for the product, then they might be tempted to keep doing it.

Actually, I think Apple cares more about sales then hype. Remember that despite all of this "iPhone 5" hype, Apple sold a record 20 million "old" iPhones last quarter.

Joe Consumer doesn't read tech rumor blogs. There are maybe ten thousand active forum participants in the major tech rumor blogs (MacRumors, AppleInsider, Cnet, Engadget, Cultofmac, TUAW, etc.). The rumor mongers might hype up the next iPhone and post their blatherings about what missing feature will be the "dealbreaker", but the typical iPhone customer doesn't care about such matters.

Go read Apple's SEC filings. Those millions of iPhones that they're selling aren't going to Apple nerds.
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post #51 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by xSamplex View Post

More proof, as if such were needed, that technophiles are pretty dumb lemmings when it comes to shiny toys.

Actually, if this were the truth, wouldn't the HP TouchPad have done better. Lots of great specs (aka. shine) for us dumb lemmings to drool over. There have also been some impressive specs on phones especially by Samsung so why hasn't one of these dethroned the iPhone?

Let's face it, Apple has delivered a great line of products with both the iPhone and the iPad. The anticipation over the release of their products is not something based purely on glint and glitter but on a history of reliable and functional products.

Wait a sec... Why do I bother feeding the trolls? Sorry about that.
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post #52 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

It's an Apple product release. You think that's not the case every single time?

I've said it before, so I'll say it until it sticks: "No matter how low I set my bar, Apple always manages to worm under it."

So, Apple always manages to worm under your incredibly low expectations- why the hell do you still have any interest in the company, and why are you posting on a message-board on an apple rumor site? If any company disappointed me that much, if I thought that lowly of them, I certainly wouldn't continue to have any interest in them.

So the iPhone 4 'wormed' under your expectations? The iPad? Maybe you should move to another planet, because these devices are considered the best in their class in critical reviews, customer satisfaction, and of course sales. I instead would consider a more logical and reasonable explanation, which is that you have an irrational set of spoiled entitlement, and an unrealistic set of 'expectations' which clearly no company on earth can meet, and who noone else shares with you.
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post #53 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:20am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Slurpy View Post

So, Apple always manages to worm under your incredibly low expectations- why the hell do you still have any interest in the company, and why are you posting on a message-board on an apple rumor site? If any company disappointed me that much, if I thought that lowly of them, I certainly wouldn't continue to have any interest in them.

So the iPhone 4 'wormed' under your expectations? The iPad? Maybe you should move to another planet, because these devices are considered the best in their class in critical reviews, customer satisfaction, and of course sales. I instead would consider a more logical and reasonable explanation, which is that you have an irrational set of spoiled entitlement, and an unrealistic set of 'expectations' which clearly no company on earth can meet, and who noone else shares with you.

Uh, you're supposed to be saying that to the spec whores and people who demand LTE, 4.5" screens, HDMI, and optical drives on everything.

Not me. What the heck.
PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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post #54 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:22am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

That's a complete falsehood.



It's too early for this Do you seriously believe that HTC guy?

No, it's quite true, and I don't know about any HTC guy... Did someone from HTC make some comment about something?

I'm relating personal experience with the young folks that live in my neighborhood. All the chit chat among the teens is "ooh, did you see that new Droid -insert model here- phone? I want one of those." Sorry, that's the reality on main street - at least on the street where I live.
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post #55 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:25am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Obi-Wan Kubrick View Post

I'm embarrassed to break out my flip phone, which has an antenna.

an individual's personal identity and perceived self-worth shouldn't be associated with a piece of electronic equipment.
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post #56 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:26am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mytdave View Post

Sorry, that's the reality on main street - at least on the street where I live.

Pretty much only your street, then.
PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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PhilBoogie
That's Google alright. For a stupid company they sure do dumb things.
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post #57 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by nealg View Post

As an Apple shareholder, it doesn't matter if the iPhone is considered "cool". As long as the sell through is hot, that is all that matters.
Nuff said

"Cool" is very important to esteem deprived teens. It's important to businesses too, because those whipper snappers are your future customers, not just your current customers.
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post #58 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Oflife View Post

... but if I was Apple or any other vendor for that matter, I would be frankly embarrassed if people were so obsessed with me or my brand, they would buy anything I produced.

ACK!

That kind of brand loyalty is EXACTLY what every big company strives for! It is the holy grail!

Your thinly veiled implication is that Apple could put out absolute garbage and the people will still buy it. Perhaps so, but only once or twice in a row, and then the magic is gone along with the brand loyalty, unless you manage to win back their trust with more hits. You have to keep your batting average high.

That loyalty was earned through the years by consistently putting out products that excite customers EVEN AFTER THEY BUY AND USE IT. It didn't just come about magically because of Apple's wonderful marketing, secrecy and hype coupled with Mr Jobs' reality distortion field. The products are really exciting people who don't even know who Steve Jobs is.

Go back to business 101 if you would be embarrassed by people's obsession with your brand!

Thompson
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post #59 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:34am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

Why? I LOVE my flip phone. It's so great. Thing's a complete tank. Drop it onto concrete? Not a scratch.

All I do with it is make phone calls, which is all I'd do phone-wise with my iPhone, anyway. That's the point of having an iPhone. Texting? Screw that. MMS? I'll e-mail. (though we DO have iMessage now for both of those, which I'd probably use).


Using maps to navigate / figure out where you are.

Using Yelp or similar apps to find a restaurant when you're on the road or someplace new.

Checking news headlines when you're away from an iPad or PC.

Taking pictures (of events, people, bar codes, whatever).

Playing games while you're bored.

Downloading the police light app (flashing red and blue) and scaring the crap out of your friends.

I could go on (and on and on). Don't get me wrong; I sometimes miss the form factor of my old flip phone; I like its small folded size and the way it curves around the face like a handset. But to say that there's no added benefit to getting an iPhone is a bit silly; it's like someone in 1983 saying "I have a calculator to do my math, and an Atari on my TV; why would I need to get a PC?"
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post #60 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:35am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mytdave View Post

"Cool" is very important to esteem deprived teens. It's important to businesses too, because those whipper snappers are your future customers, not just your current customers.

Actually, teens are using Apple products. They are current customers.

The iPod touch demographic is primarily the 13-24 year old age group. For the iPhone, it is the very lucrative 25-49 year old age group. As Steve mentioned himself, the iPod touch is training wheels for the iPhone. Of course, teens are also the primary target audience of the iPod nano and shuffle. Apple sells about two iPod touches for every three iPhones.

Today's teens are future iPhone iPhone customers. In a few years, there will probably be massive growth in iPhone owners as many of these kids graduate, get jobs, and then move from the iPod touch to the iPhone, taking all their apps, etc. with them to the smartphone.
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post #61 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:40am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post

Actually, teens are using Apple products. They are current customers.

The iPod touch demographic is primarily the 13-24 year old age group. For the iPhone, it is the very lucrative 25-49 year old age group. As Steve mentioned himself, the iPod touch is training wheels for the iPhone. Of course, teens are also the primary target audience of the iPod nano and shuffle. Apple sells about two iPod touches for every three iPhones.

Today's teens are future iPhone iPhone customers. In a few years, there will probably be massive growth in iPhone owners as many of these kids graduate, get jobs, and then move from the iPod touch to the iPhone, taking all their apps, etc. with them to the smartphone.

Also, there is a very good reason Apple is willing to give price breaks and really push iPads instead of school books, iPads in classrooms, and iPad learning apps. If you can hook them young, get them familiar with something then they will be more apt to lean that way when they are making their own purchases.
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post #62 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:45am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

Uh, you're supposed to be saying that to the spec whores and people who demand LTE, 4.5" screens, HDMI, and optical drives on everything.

Not me. What the heck.

I am not the other poster, but my guess is he responded thusly to you because you wrote this in an earlier post...

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tallest Skil View Post

It's an Apple product release. You think that's not the case every single time?

I've said it before, so I'll say it until it sticks: "No matter how low I set my bar, Apple always manages to worm under it."

The responder was asking for clarification, and I am curious about it too. Were you being sarcastic or something? Sarcasm doesn't always come through very well in print, and there are those of us that don't come around here often enough to just understand that based on your posting history.

But if you were being serious, then I think the previous person was completely justified in asking what you meant by "worming under" your already low set bar.

Thompson
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post #63 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:45am
Total bummer if its just an iPhone 4S
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post #64 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:50am
Quote:
Originally Posted by airnerd View Post

Also, there is a very good reason Apple is willing to give price breaks and really push iPads instead of school books, iPads in classrooms, and iPad learning apps. If you can hook them young, get them familiar with something then they will be more apt to lean that way when they are making their own purchases.

Please provide a link documenting where Apple is offering extra incentive on the iPads beyond their normal educational discounts.

I believe Apple is interested in seeing more iPads in classrooms, however I have yet to see them offer extra incentives to make this happen. Their SEC filings show that Apple enjoys their fat margins.
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post #65 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by doggone View Post

count me in. My 2 year contact is up. All of us who bought the 3gs and haven't upgraded yet are waiting for the ip5 to come out.

exactly!!!
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post #66 of 109
9/13/11 at 9:58am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post

Please provide a link documenting where Apple is offering extra incentive on the iPads beyond their normal educational discounts.

How do you know he wasn't talking about the educational discounts? I didn't see the word "extra" in his post.

Quote:
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post

I believe Apple is interested in seeing more iPads in classrooms, however I have yet to see them offer extra incentives to make this happen.

You just admitted in a sentence prior that Apple offers educational discounts on the iPad. Why do you keep "discounting" the "discounts"?

Quote:
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post

Their SEC filings show that Apple enjoys their fat margins.

The SEC filings show Apple's healthy overall margins, but they don't break them down by product or by discount. So the bottom line is, you don't really know.

Thompson
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post #67 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:01am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post

Actually, teens are using Apple products. They are current customers.

The iPod touch demographic is primarily the 13-24 year old age group. For the iPhone, it is the very lucrative 25-49 year old age group. As Steve mentioned himself, the iPod touch is training wheels for the iPhone. Of course, teens are also the primary target audience of the iPod nano and shuffle. Apple sells about two iPod touches for every three iPhones.

Today's teens are future iPhone iPhone customers. In a few years, there will probably be massive growth in iPhone owners as many of these kids graduate, get jobs, and then move from the iPod touch to the iPhone, taking all their apps, etc. with them to the smartphone.

Yes, the iPod is the gateway drug to the iPhone (grin, couldn't resist), but I think someone has their demographics mixed up, and sometimes experimenters don't become addicts. Different places in the country/world may have different scenarios, but I'm in a fairly well educated demographic, where the iPod touch is being used by 8-12 year old kids, and the teens (13-19) have already 'graduated' to smart phones, all of them. Literally, I don't think there is a teen on our block without a smartphone.

The iPhone indeed seems to be selling to a lucrative 25-49 year old age group... The problem is the 13-19 group I just mentioned. That age group, in the area where I live, already have smartphones and they're mostly Android. The 20-25 year old folks seem to be mixed ~50/50.

Apple does need to captivate more teen attention in the iPhone department, because those future customers are leaning toward Android.
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post #68 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:07am
With all this demand, what's the best way to reserve one? Should you order online and have it shipped or stand in line?
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post #69 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by emacs72 View Post

an individual's personal identity and perceived self-worth shouldn't be associated with a piece of electronic equipment.

Personally, I've never seen anybody peg their self-image to the hunks of metal, glass and plastic that they buy - except for people who buy Apple products and certain cars.
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post #70 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:32am
Quote:
Originally Posted by fjose1929 View Post

Abramsky is full of it. 28.30 for 2011. This means he is saying this Q will be $7.66 in EPS.

He was off by 20 percent in the last Q. I bet this Q, he will be off by 30 percent.


He's really good at underestimating. Isn't this the same analyst who last year, after it was announced, predicted the iPad would sell 2 million units in 2010, and maybe 5 ~ 10 in 2011?

I was puzzled by his complete lack of foresight with that device now he's revising it upwards yet again, and still, IMO, way too conservatively.

If Apple can produce 5 million units a month, they'll sell 5 million a month. And they're just about there now. They'll sell 15 million or more in the 4th quarter of this year alone

I don't know why these analysts are always so far off the mark with Apple. Always under-estimating the reality by very wide margins.

Hmm, maybe it boosts their shareholding value more if their "expectations are exceeded" by reported results then it would serve them well to shoot low.
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post #71 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DogGone View Post

Count me in. My 2 year contact is up. All of us who bought the 3GS and haven't upgraded yet are waiting for the iP5 to come out.

Yep. that would be me...

Although, I'll check out the iP5 first. If it's a great update, I'll buy it. If it's only an incremental bump over the iP4, I'll buy one of those instead at a (likely substantial) discount

I travel and/or live abroad most of the time, so will need the unlocked, contract-free arrangement. That means I have to pay the full, unsubsidized price for it. It'll have to be a great update if I"m going to blow the full price on it.

But hey, it's Apple. They rarely disappoint
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post #72 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by ConradJoe View Post

Personally, I've never seen anybody peg their self-image to the hunks of metal, glass and plastic that they buy - except for people who buy Apple products and certain cars.

Really!? You should get out more.
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post #73 of 109
9/13/11 at 10:44am
Quote:
Originally Posted by airnerd View Post

You quote me, disagree with me, and then have nothing to say about what I said? I never said anything about numbers or sales falling off. I said I hope that AAPL doesn't push the refresh back because they see all the hype they can get. Sales still being there is actually another point that makes my concern MORE valid. If they see that sales are still there, and by holding back a refresh they can get even more hype and fervor for the product, then they might be tempted to keep doing it.


They are masters at building buzz and milking the pre-launch hype dangling a tasty looking carrot in front of the buying public for awhile (but only just long enough) is a very effective way to build "pent up" sales momentum.

Then when it finally releases, they can report extraordinary result coming out of the gate (e.g. a million sold in the first weekend!) which says to the rest of the buying public that it must be a great product, and so they go to buy as well

Then the stock shortages act as a "rinse and repeat" on creating more pent up demand

It's a careful balance though. You can easily overdo it, and end up losing business but they back up the desire with desirable, high-quality products, which is an essential part of it.

It's a highly effective strategy, in any case and I've just come to expect it from them.
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post #74 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:10am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cvaldes1831 View Post

Please provide a link documenting where Apple is offering extra incentive on the iPads beyond their normal educational discounts.

I believe Apple is interested in seeing more iPads in classrooms, however I have yet to see them offer extra incentives to make this happen. Their SEC filings show that Apple enjoys their fat margins.

Please provide the link where I say they are giving extra incentive beyond their normal educational discount. I only said they give a discount.
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post #75 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:12am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tribalogical View Post

They are masters at building buzz and milking the pre-launch hype dangling a tasty looking carrot in front of the buying public for awhile (but only just long enough) is a very effective way to build "pent up" sales momentum.

Then when it finally releases, they can report extraordinary result coming out of the gate (e.g. a million sold in the first weekend!) which says to the rest of the buying public that it must be a great product, and so they go to buy as well

Then the stock shortages act as a "rinse and repeat" on creating more pent up demand

It's a careful balance though. You can easily overdo it, and end up losing business but they back up the desire with desirable, high-quality products, which is an essential part of it.

It's a highly effective strategy, in any case and I've just come to expect it from them.

No doubt it is effective, I just wish they wouldn't make me wait so long to get the latest and greatest
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post #76 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:17am
Quote:
Originally Posted by DogGone View Post

Count me in. My 2 year contact is up. All of us who bought the 3GS and haven't upgraded yet are waiting for the iP5 to come out.

Ha! I picked up a 3G phone a week after the 3GS was released. Guess they were dumping inventory as I got mine < $100. I wasn't exactly sure what I was getting but my contract is up and it was time for a new phone. Now I'm hooked .

Well my contract just expired in August so you can be sure I'm waiting for the i5 to come out. I'm confident it will be a quantum leap over what I have been using (but still liking) over the last 2 years.

But sounds like the demand will be so fierce that I'll be able pick one up right about when they are ready to release a new one!
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post #77 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:23am
Quote:
Originally Posted by tribalogical View Post

They are masters at building buzz and milking the pre-launch hype dangling a tasty looking carrot in front of the buying public for awhile (but only just long enough) is a very effective way to build "pent up" sales momentum.

Then when it finally releases, they can report extraordinary result coming out of the gate (e.g. a million sold in the first weekend!) which says to the rest of the buying public that it must be a great product, and so they go to buy as well

Then the stock shortages act as a "rinse and repeat" on creating more pent up demand

It's a careful balance though. You can easily overdo it, and end up losing business but they back up the desire with desirable, high-quality products, which is an essential part of it.

It's a highly effective strategy, in any case and I've just come to expect it from them.

yes, not having any product to sell is an awesome way to make money
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post #78 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:33am
Quote:
Originally Posted by cajun View Post

This can't be easy for AT&T... think of all those monthly contracts expiring (several months' worth now), and how much of an exodus there will be to Verizon, T-Mobile, and Sprint. This is the first opportunity that 3GS owners have to leave AT&T (and still be on the iPhone).

I am in that boat. I sold my out of warranty 3GS phone last month and am currently using my Samsung Focus (not Mango - I wish) until Apple releases the iPhone 5. I will upgrade and renew my contract if the new iPhone is more than an incremental update. If it is just a minor update I will keep using my Samsung Focus and relegate my app usage/music enjoyment to my iPod Touch.

In a holding pattern right now...
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post #79 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by thompr View Post

How do you know he wasn't talking about the educational discounts? I didn't see the word "extra" in his post.



You just admitted in a sentence prior that Apple offers educational discounts on the iPad. Why do you keep "discounting" the "discounts"?



The SEC filings show Apple's healthy overall margins, but they don't break them down by product or by discount. So the bottom line is, you don't really know.

Thompson

He directed specific attention to the iPad and education. As far as I can tell, Apple's educational discounts are pretty modest and fairly evenly applied across their product lines. It's not like Microsoft's bargain basement educational pricing for Office.

Without evidence of special educational iPad discounting, one cannot make the assumption that they are pushing that particular product line more than any other. If they were doing something like waiving their 30% fee for educational app purchases, that would be notable, but we're not seeing any evidence of that.

If anything, they are showing more emphasis on Macs. They are still carrying the white polycarbonate MacBook for educational institutions.

In any case, we'd definitely hear about extra educational discounts on iPads in the media by educational institutions if they were really being promoted even if confidentiality prevented those organizations from specifying the terms.
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post #80 of 109
9/13/11 at 11:55am
lamewing,

how did you transfer your phone number to another phone without signing another contract?

>> I am in that boat. I sold my out of warranty 3GS phone last month and am currently using my Samsung Focus (not Mango - I wish) until Apple releases the iPhone 5. I will upgrade and renew my contract if the new iPhone is more than an incremental update. If it is just a minor update I will keep using my Samsung Focus and relegate my app usage/music enjoyment to my iPod Touch.
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