I went into my local Apple store today (Tuesday) to try on a Watch just to make sure what I had preordered was going to be what I really want. I had a lovely experience; the Apple rep took over 30 minutes (they weren't that busy) to let me try on a few different bands and chatted about the watch and Apple things in general.
Of interest, the stainless steel Watch is not as heavy as I anticipated - it felt quite light in fact - compared to my other normal stainless steel watches I have at home. Playing with the new User Interface: it is obvious that some practice time will be required to intuitively know what gesture or button press or deep press on the screen or crown twist I need to do to advance to the next place where I want to go. However, I'm itching to try running a Keynote presentation from the watch - that should look like magic when doing a presentation!
After seeing a preorder doppelgänger sitting on my wrist, I left the store feeling totally satisfied that I had made the right choice in my online preorder, so now I can just relax and wait for the watch to arrive.
One curious conversation I overheard from the guy ahead of me at the watch display who was talking with the Apple rep: apparently IBM employees may get a discount on their watch purchases!
Hey, another positive post, with a real-world imagined scenario as a bonus.
"I had a lovely experience" has Angela Ahrendt's fingerprints all over it. Esprit de corps, and all that.
Hey, another positive post, with a real-world imagined scenario as a bonus.
"I had a lovely experience" has Angela Ahrendt's fingerprints all over it. Esprit de corps, and all that.
Yep. This reminds me of the MacBook. The reviews were mostly 'meh' but customers that have theirs love it - including the keyboard that Jason Snell and others whined about.
I really envy all of you guys with your Apple-insider knowledge of how Ahrendt really messed up this job. I think there can be a thousand reason beyond her control (most likely it would be a production / yield issue) that would lead to the shortage.
It reminds me a bit to that dude that was singled out for being responsible for that botched iOS 8.0.1 update with full disclosure of his linkedin account and name. Just that guy was probably a bit more responsible for any failure than Ahrendt is with this "failure" (which I'm not seeing, really...)
Btw, according to Matthew Panzarino at Tech Crunch more watches have been sold and more orders have been placed by Apple than any of the estimates suggested. If what he's hearing is accurate than it's entirely possible that demand is much higher than Apple anticipated and they're scrambling to catch up to demand.
It’s likely that several million (I’m hearing more than estimates I’ve seen out there so far) Apple Watch units have been sold already — and that more have been ordered than previously reported.
Buyers want hands on - and be able to take delivery immediately - that's how business is done. She's a little wishy washy on this, and I think someone needs to reign her in before she does any damage to an Apple tradition!
Buyers want hands on - and be able to take delivery immediately - that's how business is done. She's a little wishy washy on this, and I think someone needs to reign her in before she does any damage to an Apple tradition!
I hope people who want to try the Watch before order realise that even if Apple open pre-order the exact same time the Apple Store open their door the Watch will still run out before the first one finished his/her try-on?
Nobody will let you try on products and pre-order it a week or even a day later. That's not even an option. That'll be a true disaster.
I'm speculating some combination of the following as to the reasons leading to this type of launch:
• Component constraints led Apple to believe they would not have nearly enough watches for retail inventory, so a controlled online ordering process was the best alternative.
• Being a brand new product category with several dozen build out combinations, Apple wanted to be cautious and better match manufacturing to orders
• Apple recognized the sheer number of choices, especially at the beginning, would create a massive backlog in stores of a deluge of people spending quite a bit of time trying on different combinations. This would be impossible to manage
• Perhaps they felt the feeding frenzy mentality that accompanies iPhone sales was not part of the image they wanted conveyed
• This is part of a larger test to turn the stores demo centers, with more and more ordering done online, as a way to cap investment in physical space and product distribution and maintain high level of customer experience in stores that, despite increasing in size in most cases, continue to be packed with people.
How can you possibly pick her side? The newbie poster was correct- she has this alpha personality that's attractive in the business world but has never backed it up with the smarts. She tries hard, I'll give her that, but mistakes like this can't hide her BS. This was a flat out failure due to a simple lack of foresight and planning, which is the job she gets paid more than you (assuming) or I (for sure) to do. Why defend someone not deserving?
Why do you Attack someone who doesn't deserve it. Is it her fault supply is constrained? Her fault demand was overwhelming? She made a executive decision to change the initial method of sales when she received the appropriate information. A failure would let it stay on course and allow it to turn into a cluster.
The watch is a new concept, so I can understand that they need a way to deal with multiple permutations. But there is no excuse for the MacBook. Apple has launched notebooks before. It always went smoothly.
Sorry if this was mentioned, but *obviously* Apple is building the Macbook and Watch based on demand because each comes in different styles. They don't want to make tons of raw aluminum Macbooks if everyone is bedazzled with space gray and gold. You used to get maybe three models in the store, and BTO online. Now for Macbooks you'd need at least 3x as many machines on hand. Not what they want to do. If Apple could get to the point where "launch" == built immediately in China and shipped then this new online-only launch model would be OK.
I agree that this watch launch is not great. It is a watch, something you are going to wear so you want to see, touch, wear and buy as you do when buying.....a watch. They want to sell it as a luxury product. This is how you buy an expensive watch. The online appointment to go and try the watch to then order online is well.....geeky. As far as the new macbook. Nowhere to see it in any apple store I stopped by. I also believe that this single type C USB is stretching... They should at least include the connectors for a regular USB / video connection; but no; you have to purchase it for 80$ !!! Don't forget to add it and don't loose it if you want to connect your external hard drive or camera
Never thought I'd say it, but what a bunch of fanboys. Apple, like any other company, screws up. Supply chain is the problem? Apple used to have probably the best supply chain management in the world. The guy who used to make sure of that seems to have a lot of other things on his mind these days.
And these aren't even radically new products. A new notebook that costs more and is lower performance. And no MagSafe. For those of you who need to buy a vowel, the breakaway to keep it from flying is just one benefit. MacBook users will now get to enjoy the frustration & cost of having an insie type power plug repaired after it has been bent this way and that enough. Cite - 30 years in this industry & having a constant revenue stream fixing this on all non MagSafe notebooks. And the Apple Watch is seriously cool but hardly a new category. It's just an extension of the iPhone. With this long on the board it should have been ready to fly.
So nearly four years after his passing still no significant new products, just evolution of his. Steve changed the world in how many ways? Apple II family, Lisa/Mac, NeXT (OSX), Pixar, iPod, iPhone, iPad. Need cites? The new regime has managed to conquer Wall Street. Steve cared about the people using his product and being able to buy it at a fair price from a qualified source. Cite - Steve was fired from the company largely because he spent too much on development and didn't want a price that would make the board happy.
Not a troll. Personal iPod Classic, iPhone, iMac, MBP.
Overall, Apple Retail had to deal with an issue in which they had massive supply chain issues (unlike anything they have seen before) on an already-delayed product, and the CEO had already publicly committed to a launch date.
That's probably it: a workaround to hit a launch date.[/quote]
I don't agree , you created this lie "massive supply chain issues"' you are making stuff up as usual trying to make out you are an authority, go back to the hole you crawled out of please
She May be good, but she is not apple good yet. I don't think she had any idea of how overwhelm she was going to be.
It is unclear how much of this was her responsibility, versus supply chain management, versus production. But it feels, and her video confirms that she feels the same, that the launch was not as clean as was planned. A lot of people were left scratching their heads, apparently including their own retail staff.
I think she was a fantastic CEO of Burberrys. But being great at one firm does not necessarily translate to being great at another. The world is littered with former CEO's that failed at your next job . She is an incredibly bright person, who deserves a lot of credit for having gotten the watch the exposure that it has received. I am sure that all those magazine covers are 100% due to her relationships in the industry.
That's probably it: a workaround to hit a launch date.
I don't agree , you created this lie "massive supply chain issues"' you are making stuff up as usual trying to make out you are an authority, go back to the hole you crawled out of please[/quote]
I guess that's what happens when you put someone that sells purses in charge of retail of America's biggest tech company. I understand Apple wanting to put more women in its executive board, but not at the cost of getting someone who doesn't know what there doing.
It is unclear how much of this was her responsibility, versus supply chain management, versus production. But it feels, and her video confirms that she feels the same, that the launch was not as clean as was planned. A lot of people were left scratching their heads, apparently including their own retail staff.
I think she was a fantastic CEO of Burberrys. But being great at one firm does not necessarily translate to being great at another. The world is littered with former CEO's that failed at your next job . She is an incredibly bright person, who deserves a lot of credit for having gotten the watch the exposure that it has received. I am sure that all those magazine covers are 100% due to her relationships in the industry.
I totally agree. I not saying she is bad. Is whole diferent industry she handling and this is a big product launch, I am pretty sure she'll make sure it doesn't go like this in the future.
Comments
Hey, another positive post, with a real-world imagined scenario as a bonus.
"I had a lovely experience" has Angela Ahrendt's fingerprints all over it. Esprit de corps, and all that.
Are you calling me a liar?
Yep. This reminds me of the MacBook. The reviews were mostly 'meh' but customers that have theirs love it - including the keyboard that Jason Snell and others whined about.
I really envy all of you guys with your Apple-insider knowledge of how Ahrendt really messed up this job. I think there can be a thousand reason beyond her control (most likely it would be a production / yield issue) that would lead to the shortage.
It reminds me a bit to that dude that was singled out for being responsible for that botched iOS 8.0.1 update with full disclosure of his linkedin account and name. Just that guy was probably a bit more responsible for any failure than Ahrendt is with this "failure" (which I'm not seeing, really...)
Perhaps in the Orwellian sense, when truth becomes lies. Anyway, I hope you ere kidding. Nerves are frayed out here on the front lines.
http://techcrunch.com/2015/04/21/apple-offers-developers-chance-to-purchase-apple-watch-guarantees-delivery-by-april-28th/#.f7tkyg:Alzn
I guess someone needs to clue in Amazon...
I hope people who want to try the Watch before order realise that even if Apple open pre-order the exact same time the Apple Store open their door the Watch will still run out before the first one finished his/her try-on?
Nobody will let you try on products and pre-order it a week or even a day later. That's not even an option. That'll be a true disaster.
I'm speculating some combination of the following as to the reasons leading to this type of launch:
• Component constraints led Apple to believe they would not have nearly enough watches for retail inventory, so a controlled online ordering process was the best alternative.
• Being a brand new product category with several dozen build out combinations, Apple wanted to be cautious and better match manufacturing to orders
• Apple recognized the sheer number of choices, especially at the beginning, would create a massive backlog in stores of a deluge of people spending quite a bit of time trying on different combinations. This would be impossible to manage
• Perhaps they felt the feeding frenzy mentality that accompanies iPhone sales was not part of the image they wanted conveyed
• This is part of a larger test to turn the stores demo centers, with more and more ordering done online, as a way to cap investment in physical space and product distribution and maintain high level of customer experience in stores that, despite increasing in size in most cases, continue to be packed with people.
• Better control of product launch hoarders
Why do you Attack someone who doesn't deserve it. Is it her fault supply is constrained? Her fault demand was overwhelming? She made a executive decision to change the initial method of sales when she received the appropriate information. A failure would let it stay on course and allow it to turn into a cluster.
Haha. Like you know what Apple good is. Like you have any information on why the decision was made.
The watch is a new concept, so I can understand that they need a way to deal with multiple permutations. But there is no excuse for the MacBook. Apple has launched notebooks before. It always went smoothly.
Sorry if this was mentioned, but *obviously* Apple is building the Macbook and Watch based on demand because each comes in different styles. They don't want to make tons of raw aluminum Macbooks if everyone is bedazzled with space gray and gold. You used to get maybe three models in the store, and BTO online. Now for Macbooks you'd need at least 3x as many machines on hand. Not what they want to do. If Apple could get to the point where "launch" == built immediately in China and shipped then this new online-only launch model would be OK.
And these aren't even radically new products. A new notebook that costs more and is lower performance. And no MagSafe. For those of you who need to buy a vowel, the breakaway to keep it from flying is just one benefit. MacBook users will now get to enjoy the frustration & cost of having an insie type power plug repaired after it has been bent this way and that enough. Cite - 30 years in this industry & having a constant revenue stream fixing this on all non MagSafe notebooks. And the Apple Watch is seriously cool but hardly a new category. It's just an extension of the iPhone. With this long on the board it should have been ready to fly.
So nearly four years after his passing still no significant new products, just evolution of his. Steve changed the world in how many ways? Apple II family, Lisa/Mac, NeXT (OSX), Pixar, iPod, iPhone, iPad. Need cites? The new regime has managed to conquer Wall Street. Steve cared about the people using his product and being able to buy it at a fair price from a qualified source. Cite - Steve was fired from the company largely because he spent too much on development and didn't want a price that would make the board happy.
Not a troll. Personal iPod Classic, iPhone, iMac, MBP.
That's probably it: a workaround to hit a launch date.[/quote]
I don't agree , you created this lie "massive supply chain issues"' you are making stuff up as usual trying to make out you are an authority, go back to the hole you crawled out of please
It is unclear how much of this was her responsibility, versus supply chain management, versus production. But it feels, and her video confirms that she feels the same, that the launch was not as clean as was planned. A lot of people were left scratching their heads, apparently including their own retail staff.
I think she was a fantastic CEO of Burberrys. But being great at one firm does not necessarily translate to being great at another. The world is littered with former CEO's that failed at your next job . She is an incredibly bright person, who deserves a lot of credit for having gotten the watch the exposure that it has received. I am sure that all those magazine covers are 100% due to her relationships in the industry.
I don't agree , you created this lie "massive supply chain issues"' you are making stuff up as usual trying to make out you are an authority, go back to the hole you crawled out of please[/quote]
The supply chain post was not mine.
By far the most elegant executive at Apple.
I totally agree. I not saying she is bad. Is whole diferent industry she handling and this is a big product launch, I am pretty sure she'll make sure it doesn't go like this in the future.