Soon as I saw the headline Wal-Mart may carry Apple computers, I was waiting for all the condescending comments about Wal-Mart and its customers. This is so arrogant, frustrating and unnecessary. As long as Apple?s quality remains high, it should not matter if their products are sold at Wal-Mart. Apple should not try to only cater to snobs, but gain as much market share as possible. I?ve been an Apple fan for years and feel this type of junior high discussion alienates a lot of potential new Apple customers.
I can just imagine folks buying a $2000 laptop along with a couple quarts of motor oil, and bag of Cheetos.
my Dell mini 9 with a runcore 32 gb ssd and 2gb of RAM runs leopard faster than my core 2 duo Macbook I bought a year and a half ago, it's the Macbook whose disc drive groans like a cat in heat and that doesn't recharge the battery anymore, and whose plastic border around the screen at the bottom is starting to pop off. If anything is junk it's my Macbook.
so yeah, that changes the fact, netbooks aren't junk...unless Apple makes one and says it's different, revolutionary, will change the way you look at portable computing etc, then minimacbooks, or whatever they'll call it, will suddenly be cool to you.
Well, most netbooks aren't so wonderful. Many have been returned because they, in fact, can't run many programs, play video, play games, etc.
They will get better with time as everything does, but they're not there yet. Except for yours of course.
If Apple does come out with something, it might be different enough to be significant. But first, they have to come out with something. Until they do, there's no point in speculating.
"The average household income of Wal-Mart shoppers is around $35,000 to $40,000, compared with $55,000 to $60,000 for those at rival Target Corp., Edwards said"
Average Apple consumers... not sure these days but historically, they were always significantly above average income/education level - well you'd have to be to afford one
This could be a good move to expand the franchise - most WM shoppers probably don't live near to an Apple store and might not want to go to one if they did - get them hooked on a Mac Mini or WhiteBook at their main store? An Arkansan's money is as good as anyone else's.
Thanks for the back up! I know you might not take sides and can see it from another perspective, which is great by the way, but income and all will have an effect as to where one will shop. I don't see Apple making a big splash in venturing with Wal-Mart. Just so creepy thinking that a Mac could be sold in a Wal-Mart! Dang it!!!!
The Best Buy and Futureshop stores that I've been too usually have an apple rep at the Mac Kiosk/display. The regular store employees defer to the Apple reps when discussing Mac hardware.
my Dell mini 9 with a runcore 32 gb ssd and 2gb of RAM runs leopard faster than my core 2 duo Macbook I bought a year and a half ago, it's the Macbook whose disc drive groans like a cat in heat and that doesn't recharge the battery anymore, and whose plastic border around the screen at the bottom is starting to pop off. If anything is junk it's my Macbook.
so yeah, that changes the fact, netbooks aren't junk...unless Apple makes one and says it's different, revolutionary, will change the way you look at portable computing etc, then minimacbooks, or whatever they'll call it, will suddenly be cool to you.
Agreed! What difference does it make where you buy your Mac? If you buy an iMac from Wal-Mart does it make the iMac lesser than the same exact iMac purchased from an Apple Retail Store? This is very asinine thinking. Almost like we have a bunch of 10yr olds here posting.
Please don't say that.
You're insulting the intelligence of ten year olds.
I did read your entire post. I saw the "if". But the tone of the entire post was negative.
Forget the "tone" which you infer, and just respond to what I've actually written. Deal?
What I am saying here is that Wal-Mart has a certain formula for their business, one which been extremely successful for them. So does Apple -- and they are very different formulas. Can they be bridged? Maybe. I don't know. For now I am a skeptic.
Forget the "tone" which you infer, and just respond to what I've actually written. Deal?
What I am saying here is that Wal-Mart has a certain formula for their business, one which been extremely successful for them. So does Apple -- and they are very different formulas. Can they be bridged? Maybe. I don't know. For now I am a skeptic.
What you said here is about what you said in your earlier post, and that's what I responded to. Understand?
What you said here is about what you said in your earlier post, and that's what I responded to. Understand?
Not really. I'm simply asking you to respond to what I've actually said, instead of imposing your own inferences on it. Ironically we probably agree on the generalities of this discussion, so I don't see any cause for you to lump me in with the hotheads and the knee-jerks. I am skeptical for specific, stated reasons. I think it should be permissible to state those reasons without being called "entirely negative."
I doubt whether some postiers here are capable of rational thinking. Do you even know statistics? Are all of you earning salaries above $40k then?
There are people who would buy a Mac even if they are students, in fact, the winnner of the one billion App Store contest was just a kid who was earning more than likely less than two tho usand dollars a year -- but bought an alumimun Macbook. His Mother does not sound rich, either.
Do some of you equate not so rich, or poor people with rednecks? If you do, then you are the either arrogant or stupid. Grow up.
There are rich people and intelligent people even in what you call redneck towns in the United States and other places in the world. Moreover, even "redneck" and poor families can have children who may be more intelligent than many of you here. That is the essence of "genetics", if you do not not have a background in science, or happened to have slept in your science class.
Both the aforementioned groups of individuals could be potential buyers of Apple products, but would never have a chance to be exposed to Apple products because there is no Apple store near them.
Guess what they will grow up with, or what they are forced to buy, in terms of computers? Guess what computers they are likely to use, even if they will become rich or richer than you can ever imagine?
I live in Boston right now, and for the most part that I have lived in the US. However, I lived also in other places, including a place in the South that some people like you here would most likely ask automatically and condescedingly: "Where the hell is that?"
Without a doubt, in this small place in the South, I can claim some of the people I have known there are more rich, and some more educated (or some may even be more intelligent) than some of you will ever be. More than likely, they might have better sense of aesthetic than some of you can ever aspire for. And, yes, in that small city in the South, quite a few people are driving Lexus, and BMW, as well as other high end cars, some own boats, as well as live in gated and exclusive communities. And yet, because of its size, like many small cities and towns in the US or abroad, will never likely be places where Apple will setup a store.
And yes, many of them shops at Waltmart or Walmart owned outlets, like many of the poor people and what you call rednecks. Why? For any number of reasons: Accessibility. Value. Or, it is the only game in town.
Will the presence of Apple products in Walmart increase awareness about Apple and its products? A resounding Yes. It is the only way, apart from advertising, that Apple could ever reach places (and actual people) in the US and abroad where Apple will never ever be.
Will it depreciate the brand of Apple by being sold at Walmart? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on kind of products Apple continue to sell and how it markets and present them. It depends also on how it will relate with Walmart. As pointed out by some posters here who have lived in small towns and cities, it will make a difference to them, because there is no Apple store around.
How many of you in the past posted here that it will be the "end of the world" for Apple if:
It moved to Intel?
If it started selling its products at Best Buy stores?
If Apple did this or that, that you did not like?
etc.
It is good Apple does not listen to many of the posters here. To be blunt, I am more afraid of the future of Apple, if indeed some of the posters here represent the "average" Apple user.
well over here on the west coast, the about 90% of the people i see in walmart are either crackheads or people that really have no business owening a computer because if their 13 children wont have food for months. i live in oregon and its really that bad here. so your interpretation of who shops at walmart in incorrect.
and second, the people who work in the electronics are complete idiots. i have tried getting help from them but it is useless. apple would have no other choice but to put their own employees in the store otherwise apple would fail. i personally think apple should keep what they are doing. putting macs in a wal-mart is a bad idea. and also, they would go through so many display computers it wouldn't be worth it. i have seen kids put the wii mote in their mouths and throw it around while the parents don't even pay attention. i would hate to see people abuse apple products like that.
You sir are an idiot, I happen to reside in one of the most expensive states to live in the country. There are few Walmart's here due to our size and we were the last state in the country to have one. Many of us fought tooth and nail to keep them out and were ultimately unsuccessful. That being said, since the loss of our Ames retailer some years ago and the lack of a Target in the state Walmart has provided a greatly needed source for everyday household needs.
An additional Mac presence would also be welcome considering we have no Apple Store. While we are fortunate enough to be the birthplace of Small Dog Electronics, they do not cover the entire state. Apple computers were supposed to be the "computer for the rest of us" not "computer for the rich, arrogant,and prejudiced." I for one believe Apple has largely failed in providing access to its products across socioeconomic classes. Something forgivable when the company was doing all it could to survive in the 90's. Today this is hardly the case and the company should and could do much more if they were not behaving in such a greedy manner. In this respect it is Apple who represents the darkside, not Windows or Linux.
As for Wally world, I left a Walmart last week and I assure you I neither smoke crack or have 13 children. I am also betting that the packed parking lot containing vehicles ranging from $500 jalopies to $75,000 Mercedes,BMW's,Audi's, Caddy's and yes Hummers, were not owned by addicts either. The smug comments and superiority complex that seems to come along with owning this brand of computer infuriates me.
Even if I had only $1 to my name I would deserve to be treated with some manner of respect. The poorest, most uneducated families out there can see this basic truth. In my book, people who think like you should really take a look in the mirror because you obviously do not realize just how SMALL minded you are.
You sir are an idiot, I happen to reside in one of the most expensive states to live in the country. There are few Walmart's here due to our size and we were the last state in the country to have one. Many of us fought tooth and nail to keep them out and were ultimately unsuccessful. That being said, since the loss of our Ames retailer some years ago and the lack of a Target in the state Walmart has provided a greatly needed source for everyday household needs.
An additional Mac presence would also be welcome considering we have no Apple Store. While we are fortunate enough to be the birthplace of Small Dog Electronics, they do not cover the entire state. Apple computers were supposed to be the "computer for the rest of us" not "computer for the rich, arrogant,and prejudiced." I for one believe Apple has largely failed in providing access to its products across socioeconomic classes. Something forgivable when the company was doing all it could to survive in the 90's. Today this is hardly the case and the company should and could do much more if they were not behaving in such a greedy manner. In this respect it is Apple who represents the darkside, not Windows or Linux.
As for Wally world, I left a Walmart last week and I assure you I neither smoke crack or have 13 children. I am also betting that the packed parking lot containing vehicles ranging from $500 jalopies to $75,000 Mercedes,BMW's,Audi's, Caddy's and yes Hummers, were not owned by addicts either. The smug comments and superiority complex that seems to come along with owning this brand of computer infuriates me.
Even if I had only $1 to my name I would deserve to be treated with some manner of respect. The poorest, most uneducated families out there can see this basic truth. In my book, people who think like you should really take a look in the mirror because you obviously do not realize just how SMALL minded you are.
I agree wholeheartedly. People of all economic strata deserve to be treated like people. No more, no less.
Plus, are you really gonna buy a mac from somewhere that really has no idea about them?
Yes. I've bought Macs at a place where the front line sales people are usually as arrogant as they are clueless about their product. It's called the Apple Store. But man they are so cool in their color coded t-shirts!
Quote:
Originally Posted by Galley
I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart in eight years. It truly is "redneck central", and not somewhere Apple computers need to be sold.
Wow. Just wow. You guys know what gives Apple / Mac a bad name? It's the more than stereotypical elitist Apple fanboys.
Quote:
Originally Posted by harmsway
Soon as I saw the headline Wal-Mart may carry Apple computers, I was waiting for all the condescending comments about Wal-Mart and its customers. This is so arrogant, frustrating and unnecessary. As long as Apple?s quality remains high, it should not matter if their products are sold at Wal-Mart. Apple should not try to only cater to snobs, but gain as much market share as possible. I?ve been an Apple fan for years and feel this type of junior high discussion alienates a lot of potential new Apple customers.
Not really. I'm simply asking you to respond to what I've actually said, instead of imposing your own inferences on it. Ironically we probably agree on the generalities of this discussion, so I don't see any cause for you to lump me in with the hotheads and the knee-jerks. I am skeptical for specific, stated reasons. I think it should be permissible to state those reasons without being called "entirely negative."
I specifically said that I WASN"T lumping you in with them.
I know you have your reasons, but they were negative. You are doubtful about whether this is a good idea, and whether it will work. That's negative. This is your entire post I responded to, how is it not negative about this subject?
Quote:
It really matters. I don't see Wal-Mart changing their approach to retailing to suit Apple, which means that if they went into Wal-Mart, Apple would be trying to sell Macs alongside stacks of HP computers in a box for $399, and nobody around to explain the difference. Not that anyone goes into a Wal-Mart expecting to be helped. They go in with the hopes of finding a bargain. Unless something changes massively in Wal-Mart's approach, this is not a good retail environment for Apple.
I specifically said that I WASN"T lumping you in with them.
I know you have your reasons, but they were negative. You are doubtful about whether this is a good idea, and whether it will work. That's negative. This is your entire post I responded to, how is it not negative about this subject?
Raising questions about something is the same as being negative. Right. Whatever.
I thought asking you pay attention to what I said instead making inferences about what I meant was a reasonable request, but I guess you're not going to see it that way.
Oh well. Have fun dealing with all the blowhards on this subject instead. There are plenty of them.
Raising questions about something is the same as being negative. Right. Whatever.
I thought asking you pay attention to what I said instead making inferences about what I meant was a reasonable request, but I guess you're not going to see it that way.
Oh well. Have fun dealing with all the blowhards on this subject instead. There are plenty of them.
I don't know what you're getting upset about, just read what you wrote.
How did this become a class issue? It has nothing to do with a particular consumer's class level--not to mention, my boss just dropped $1500 for a 52" flat screen at Wal-mart, and he's hardly poor, a redneck, or perceived as 'lesser than.' My Wal-mart is kinda nice.
The issue here is that a lot of retailers have a 'set and forget it' approach to merchandising. If Apple creates self-sustainable displays then Macs can sell themselves; however, it they are expecting the average Wal-mart employee to be able to explain the difference between a Mac and a PC they we're back in 1998.
As part of the renovations, which should provide for a more spacious and interactive shopping experience, Wal-Mart will also be rolling out specialized in-store boutiques for popular brands such and Nintendo and Apple, similar to the Apple store-within-a-store layouts found in Best Buy retail stores.
Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital, sees the move as a precursor to Wal-Mart extending its reach beyond iPods, iPhones, and accessories to Apple's Mac line of computers.
"We believe Wal-Mart is actively pitching Apple to carry more products," he said. "With Wal-Mart improving its retail displays, we believe that the mega-retailer could eventually earn the right to sell select Mac products without diluting Apple’s brand."
I can't see Wal-Mart selling an underwhelming AppleTV or a diminutive Mac mini to the same customers who can buy a quad-core HP desktop tower with an LCD monitor, Blu-Ray and a TV tuner for less than $1,000.
Do you really believe that the current iMac with its reflective glass, slower, dual-core mobile CPU, and high price stands a chance against a lower priced desktop computer with a quad-core desktop CPU, LCD monitor, 4 GB of RAM, Blu-Ray and a TV tuner?
Apple is a computer hardware company with no desktop computer, no office desktop computer and no family desktop computer. Do you really believe that Apple stands a chance in a competitive market place, of all places, at Wal-Mart?
Keep on dreaming...
P.S.: If you didn't catch my hint, Ben Reitzes doesn't know what he's talking about. Hopefully, Ben Reitzes is the laughing stock of analysts.
I can't see Wal-Mart selling an underwhelming AppleTV or a diminutive Mac mini to the same customers who can buy a quad-core HP desktop tower with Blu-Ray and a TV tuner for less than $1,000.
Do you really believe that the current iMac with its reflective glass, slower, dual-core mobile CPU, and high price stands a chance against a lower priced desktop computer with a quad-core desktop CPU, 4 GB of RAM, Blu-Ray and a TV tuner?
Apple is a computer hardware company with no desktop computer, no office desktop computer and no family desktop computer. Do you really believe that Apple stands a chance in a competitive market place, of all places, at Wal-Mart?
Keep on dreaming...
P.S.: If you didn't catch my hint, Ben Reitzes doesn't know what he's talking about. Hopefully, Ben Reitzes is the laughing stock of analysts.
I can see it happening because most consumers, despite MS's new Ads, don't know anything about the specs you just mentioned, and would rather get something simple, that works, and looks pretty in the kitchen, or living room.
Comments
Soon as I saw the headline Wal-Mart may carry Apple computers, I was waiting for all the condescending comments about Wal-Mart and its customers. This is so arrogant, frustrating and unnecessary. As long as Apple?s quality remains high, it should not matter if their products are sold at Wal-Mart. Apple should not try to only cater to snobs, but gain as much market share as possible. I?ve been an Apple fan for years and feel this type of junior high discussion alienates a lot of potential new Apple customers.
I can just imagine folks buying a $2000 laptop along with a couple quarts of motor oil, and bag of Cheetos.
my Dell mini 9 with a runcore 32 gb ssd and 2gb of RAM runs leopard faster than my core 2 duo Macbook I bought a year and a half ago, it's the Macbook whose disc drive groans like a cat in heat and that doesn't recharge the battery anymore, and whose plastic border around the screen at the bottom is starting to pop off. If anything is junk it's my Macbook.
so yeah, that changes the fact, netbooks aren't junk...unless Apple makes one and says it's different, revolutionary, will change the way you look at portable computing etc, then minimacbooks, or whatever they'll call it, will suddenly be cool to you.
Well, most netbooks aren't so wonderful. Many have been returned because they, in fact, can't run many programs, play video, play games, etc.
They will get better with time as everything does, but they're not there yet. Except for yours of course.
If Apple does come out with something, it might be different enough to be significant. But first, they have to come out with something. Until they do, there's no point in speculating.
Not that this means they are poor but...
"The average household income of Wal-Mart shoppers is around $35,000 to $40,000, compared with $55,000 to $60,000 for those at rival Target Corp., Edwards said"
From MSNBC... http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15626611/
Average Apple consumers... not sure these days but historically, they were always significantly above average income/education level - well you'd have to be to afford one
This could be a good move to expand the franchise - most WM shoppers probably don't live near to an Apple store and might not want to go to one if they did - get them hooked on a Mac Mini or WhiteBook at their main store? An Arkansan's money is as good as anyone else's.
Thanks for the back up! I know you might not take sides and can see it from another perspective, which is great by the way, but income and all will have an effect as to where one will shop. I don't see Apple making a big splash in venturing with Wal-Mart. Just so creepy thinking that a Mac could be sold in a Wal-Mart! Dang it!!!!
my Dell mini 9 with a runcore 32 gb ssd and 2gb of RAM runs leopard faster than my core 2 duo Macbook I bought a year and a half ago, it's the Macbook whose disc drive groans like a cat in heat and that doesn't recharge the battery anymore, and whose plastic border around the screen at the bottom is starting to pop off. If anything is junk it's my Macbook.
so yeah, that changes the fact, netbooks aren't junk...unless Apple makes one and says it's different, revolutionary, will change the way you look at portable computing etc, then minimacbooks, or whatever they'll call it, will suddenly be cool to you.
Does the Macbook have a 30 percent return rate?
Agreed! What difference does it make where you buy your Mac? If you buy an iMac from Wal-Mart does it make the iMac lesser than the same exact iMac purchased from an Apple Retail Store? This is very asinine thinking. Almost like we have a bunch of 10yr olds here posting.
Please don't say that.
You're insulting the intelligence of ten year olds.
I did read your entire post. I saw the "if". But the tone of the entire post was negative.
Forget the "tone" which you infer, and just respond to what I've actually written. Deal?
What I am saying here is that Wal-Mart has a certain formula for their business, one which been extremely successful for them. So does Apple -- and they are very different formulas. Can they be bridged? Maybe. I don't know. For now I am a skeptic.
Forget the "tone" which you infer, and just respond to what I've actually written. Deal?
What I am saying here is that Wal-Mart has a certain formula for their business, one which been extremely successful for them. So does Apple -- and they are very different formulas. Can they be bridged? Maybe. I don't know. For now I am a skeptic.
What you said here is about what you said in your earlier post, and that's what I responded to. Understand?
What you said here is about what you said in your earlier post, and that's what I responded to. Understand?
Not really. I'm simply asking you to respond to what I've actually said, instead of imposing your own inferences on it. Ironically we probably agree on the generalities of this discussion, so I don't see any cause for you to lump me in with the hotheads and the knee-jerks. I am skeptical for specific, stated reasons. I think it should be permissible to state those reasons without being called "entirely negative."
There are people who would buy a Mac even if they are students, in fact, the winnner of the one billion App Store contest was just a kid who was earning more than likely less than two tho usand dollars a year -- but bought an alumimun Macbook. His Mother does not sound rich, either.
Do some of you equate not so rich, or poor people with rednecks? If you do, then you are the either arrogant or stupid. Grow up.
There are rich people and intelligent people even in what you call redneck towns in the United States and other places in the world. Moreover, even "redneck" and poor families can have children who may be more intelligent than many of you here. That is the essence of "genetics", if you do not not have a background in science, or happened to have slept in your science class.
Both the aforementioned groups of individuals could be potential buyers of Apple products, but would never have a chance to be exposed to Apple products because there is no Apple store near them.
Guess what they will grow up with, or what they are forced to buy, in terms of computers? Guess what computers they are likely to use, even if they will become rich or richer than you can ever imagine?
I live in Boston right now, and for the most part that I have lived in the US. However, I lived also in other places, including a place in the South that some people like you here would most likely ask automatically and condescedingly: "Where the hell is that?"
Without a doubt, in this small place in the South, I can claim some of the people I have known there are more rich, and some more educated (or some may even be more intelligent) than some of you will ever be. More than likely, they might have better sense of aesthetic than some of you can ever aspire for. And, yes, in that small city in the South, quite a few people are driving Lexus, and BMW, as well as other high end cars, some own boats, as well as live in gated and exclusive communities. And yet, because of its size, like many small cities and towns in the US or abroad, will never likely be places where Apple will setup a store.
And yes, many of them shops at Waltmart or Walmart owned outlets, like many of the poor people and what you call rednecks. Why? For any number of reasons: Accessibility. Value. Or, it is the only game in town.
Will the presence of Apple products in Walmart increase awareness about Apple and its products? A resounding Yes. It is the only way, apart from advertising, that Apple could ever reach places (and actual people) in the US and abroad where Apple will never ever be.
Will it depreciate the brand of Apple by being sold at Walmart? Maybe, maybe not. It depends on kind of products Apple continue to sell and how it markets and present them. It depends also on how it will relate with Walmart. As pointed out by some posters here who have lived in small towns and cities, it will make a difference to them, because there is no Apple store around.
How many of you in the past posted here that it will be the "end of the world" for Apple if:
- It moved to Intel?
- If it started selling its products at Best Buy stores?
- If Apple did this or that, that you did not like?
- etc.
It is good Apple does not listen to many of the posters here. To be blunt, I am more afraid of the future of Apple, if indeed some of the posters here represent the "average" Apple user.well over here on the west coast, the about 90% of the people i see in walmart are either crackheads or people that really have no business owening a computer because if their 13 children wont have food for months. i live in oregon and its really that bad here. so your interpretation of who shops at walmart in incorrect.
and second, the people who work in the electronics are complete idiots. i have tried getting help from them but it is useless. apple would have no other choice but to put their own employees in the store otherwise apple would fail. i personally think apple should keep what they are doing. putting macs in a wal-mart is a bad idea. and also, they would go through so many display computers it wouldn't be worth it. i have seen kids put the wii mote in their mouths and throw it around while the parents don't even pay attention. i would hate to see people abuse apple products like that.
You sir are an idiot, I happen to reside in one of the most expensive states to live in the country. There are few Walmart's here due to our size and we were the last state in the country to have one. Many of us fought tooth and nail to keep them out and were ultimately unsuccessful. That being said, since the loss of our Ames retailer some years ago and the lack of a Target in the state Walmart has provided a greatly needed source for everyday household needs.
An additional Mac presence would also be welcome considering we have no Apple Store. While we are fortunate enough to be the birthplace of Small Dog Electronics, they do not cover the entire state. Apple computers were supposed to be the "computer for the rest of us" not "computer for the rich, arrogant,and prejudiced." I for one believe Apple has largely failed in providing access to its products across socioeconomic classes. Something forgivable when the company was doing all it could to survive in the 90's. Today this is hardly the case and the company should and could do much more if they were not behaving in such a greedy manner. In this respect it is Apple who represents the darkside, not Windows or Linux.
As for Wally world, I left a Walmart last week and I assure you I neither smoke crack or have 13 children. I am also betting that the packed parking lot containing vehicles ranging from $500 jalopies to $75,000 Mercedes,BMW's,Audi's, Caddy's and yes Hummers, were not owned by addicts either. The smug comments and superiority complex that seems to come along with owning this brand of computer infuriates me.
Even if I had only $1 to my name I would deserve to be treated with some manner of respect. The poorest, most uneducated families out there can see this basic truth. In my book, people who think like you should really take a look in the mirror because you obviously do not realize just how SMALL minded you are.
You sir are an idiot, I happen to reside in one of the most expensive states to live in the country. There are few Walmart's here due to our size and we were the last state in the country to have one. Many of us fought tooth and nail to keep them out and were ultimately unsuccessful. That being said, since the loss of our Ames retailer some years ago and the lack of a Target in the state Walmart has provided a greatly needed source for everyday household needs.
An additional Mac presence would also be welcome considering we have no Apple Store. While we are fortunate enough to be the birthplace of Small Dog Electronics, they do not cover the entire state. Apple computers were supposed to be the "computer for the rest of us" not "computer for the rich, arrogant,and prejudiced." I for one believe Apple has largely failed in providing access to its products across socioeconomic classes. Something forgivable when the company was doing all it could to survive in the 90's. Today this is hardly the case and the company should and could do much more if they were not behaving in such a greedy manner. In this respect it is Apple who represents the darkside, not Windows or Linux.
As for Wally world, I left a Walmart last week and I assure you I neither smoke crack or have 13 children. I am also betting that the packed parking lot containing vehicles ranging from $500 jalopies to $75,000 Mercedes,BMW's,Audi's, Caddy's and yes Hummers, were not owned by addicts either. The smug comments and superiority complex that seems to come along with owning this brand of computer infuriates me.
Even if I had only $1 to my name I would deserve to be treated with some manner of respect. The poorest, most uneducated families out there can see this basic truth. In my book, people who think like you should really take a look in the mirror because you obviously do not realize just how SMALL minded you are.
I agree wholeheartedly. People of all economic strata deserve to be treated like people. No more, no less.
Plus, are you really gonna buy a mac from somewhere that really has no idea about them?
Yes. I've bought Macs at a place where the front line sales people are usually as arrogant as they are clueless about their product. It's called the Apple Store. But man they are so cool in their color coded t-shirts!
I haven't shopped at Wal-Mart in eight years. It truly is "redneck central", and not somewhere Apple computers need to be sold.
Wow. Just wow. You guys know what gives Apple / Mac a bad name? It's the more than stereotypical elitist Apple fanboys.
Soon as I saw the headline Wal-Mart may carry Apple computers, I was waiting for all the condescending comments about Wal-Mart and its customers. This is so arrogant, frustrating and unnecessary. As long as Apple?s quality remains high, it should not matter if their products are sold at Wal-Mart. Apple should not try to only cater to snobs, but gain as much market share as possible. I?ve been an Apple fan for years and feel this type of junior high discussion alienates a lot of potential new Apple customers.
Amen!
Love The MAC, Hate The Fanboy.
Not really. I'm simply asking you to respond to what I've actually said, instead of imposing your own inferences on it. Ironically we probably agree on the generalities of this discussion, so I don't see any cause for you to lump me in with the hotheads and the knee-jerks. I am skeptical for specific, stated reasons. I think it should be permissible to state those reasons without being called "entirely negative."
I specifically said that I WASN"T lumping you in with them.
I know you have your reasons, but they were negative. You are doubtful about whether this is a good idea, and whether it will work. That's negative. This is your entire post I responded to, how is it not negative about this subject?
It really matters. I don't see Wal-Mart changing their approach to retailing to suit Apple, which means that if they went into Wal-Mart, Apple would be trying to sell Macs alongside stacks of HP computers in a box for $399, and nobody around to explain the difference. Not that anyone goes into a Wal-Mart expecting to be helped. They go in with the hopes of finding a bargain. Unless something changes massively in Wal-Mart's approach, this is not a good retail environment for Apple.
I specifically said that I WASN"T lumping you in with them.
I know you have your reasons, but they were negative. You are doubtful about whether this is a good idea, and whether it will work. That's negative. This is your entire post I responded to, how is it not negative about this subject?
Raising questions about something is the same as being negative. Right. Whatever.
I thought asking you pay attention to what I said instead making inferences about what I meant was a reasonable request, but I guess you're not going to see it that way.
Oh well. Have fun dealing with all the blowhards on this subject instead. There are plenty of them.
Raising questions about something is the same as being negative. Right. Whatever.
I thought asking you pay attention to what I said instead making inferences about what I meant was a reasonable request, but I guess you're not going to see it that way.
Oh well. Have fun dealing with all the blowhards on this subject instead. There are plenty of them.
I don't know what you're getting upset about, just read what you wrote.
Perhaps it's location and maybe not...I'm in Oklahoma and Wal-Mart and Target are nowhere like each other here.
Walmart has one of the worlds largest databases on comnsumers and their purchase habits.
Inventory at a specific store is set by the location of that store and who shops there.
They may have an item at one but not at another store 5 miles away because it has a different market.
The issue here is that a lot of retailers have a 'set and forget it' approach to merchandising. If Apple creates self-sustainable displays then Macs can sell themselves; however, it they are expecting the average Wal-mart employee to be able to explain the difference between a Mac and a PC they we're back in 1998.
As part of the renovations, which should provide for a more spacious and interactive shopping experience, Wal-Mart will also be rolling out specialized in-store boutiques for popular brands such and Nintendo and Apple, similar to the Apple store-within-a-store layouts found in Best Buy retail stores.
Ben Reitzes, an analyst with Barclays Capital, sees the move as a precursor to Wal-Mart extending its reach beyond iPods, iPhones, and accessories to Apple's Mac line of computers.
"We believe Wal-Mart is actively pitching Apple to carry more products," he said. "With Wal-Mart improving its retail displays, we believe that the mega-retailer could eventually earn the right to sell select Mac products without diluting Apple’s brand."
I can't see Wal-Mart selling an underwhelming AppleTV or a diminutive Mac mini to the same customers who can buy a quad-core HP desktop tower with an LCD monitor, Blu-Ray and a TV tuner for less than $1,000.
Do you really believe that the current iMac with its reflective glass, slower, dual-core mobile CPU, and high price stands a chance against a lower priced desktop computer with a quad-core desktop CPU, LCD monitor, 4 GB of RAM, Blu-Ray and a TV tuner?
Apple is a computer hardware company with no desktop computer, no office desktop computer and no family desktop computer. Do you really believe that Apple stands a chance in a competitive market place, of all places, at Wal-Mart?
Keep on dreaming...
P.S.: If you didn't catch my hint, Ben Reitzes doesn't know what he's talking about. Hopefully, Ben Reitzes is the laughing stock of analysts.
I can't see Wal-Mart selling an underwhelming AppleTV or a diminutive Mac mini to the same customers who can buy a quad-core HP desktop tower with Blu-Ray and a TV tuner for less than $1,000.
Do you really believe that the current iMac with its reflective glass, slower, dual-core mobile CPU, and high price stands a chance against a lower priced desktop computer with a quad-core desktop CPU, 4 GB of RAM, Blu-Ray and a TV tuner?
Apple is a computer hardware company with no desktop computer, no office desktop computer and no family desktop computer. Do you really believe that Apple stands a chance in a competitive market place, of all places, at Wal-Mart?
Keep on dreaming...
P.S.: If you didn't catch my hint, Ben Reitzes doesn't know what he's talking about. Hopefully, Ben Reitzes is the laughing stock of analysts.
I can see it happening because most consumers, despite MS's new Ads, don't know anything about the specs you just mentioned, and would rather get something simple, that works, and looks pretty in the kitchen, or living room.