Every Mac and every iPod is a source of pride. It's like owning an original Sony Walkman or Kodak Brownie. Apple's history of innovation is fantastic, and Apple should show pride in all Apple products, old and new. We stand way above the Pee Cee community which has a history of a lot of crap, beginning with the PC Junior.
Even the Mac Portable is a source of pride - it was carried aboard a space shuttle mission. Granted we have some anomalies, like the performas and the cube, but, unlike the PC community, nothing to be ashamed of.
The Apple Lisa, an early innovation from Apple
Apple's History of Innovation
Consider these milestones:
- First ever personal computer
- First ever GUI
- First use of a mouse in a mainstream environment
- First consumer digital camera (the QuickShot, released 10 years before its time)
- First webcam (the QuickTime web conferencing camera)
- First laptop (the PowerBook)
- First PDA (the Newton)
- First free and usable MP3 library program
- First consumer digital video editing software
- Only competitive all-in-one desktop on the market for the last 20 years
Not to mention the things that Apple and their legendary designers have been doing on the sidelines. One thing I was always proud of was as a Mac user, it didn't matter what one you had.
Read also: Guide to Tysons Corner Apartments
Appreciating Older Models
I'm a little disappointed to read some posts here which bash older models or non-G5s, I think some people are either caught-up in that PC mentality or are from younger age ranges and cannot appreciate anything unless it's bleeding edge. I feel some elitism in some posts regarding the eMac and Mac mini, shame on you who engage in this.
Bottom line: Any Apple product no matter how old, is something to take a little pride in, if it serves you and enables you to do what you want, never feel ashamed for it.
The Apple Newton, an early PDA
Even in 1997 I visited an estate agent who still used his original Mac (the first one) with great pride and had no need to upgrade. Last summer I went to an elderly (90+ y.o.) neighbour's house to fix her Mac. She had the original 1984 model too, and was still happily using it for all her letters, accounts, planning holidays and even playing games. Even after 20 years, all it really needed was a new printer cartridge (thankfully not hard to find), the floppy drive cleaned and a bit of dust vacuumed out.
Mildly related, I bought a 550 Mhz G4 powerbook a couple of years ago. Put simply, it is the best computer I have ever owned; reliable, fast enough for my needs and fits into any bag.
Read also: Tysons Corner Lululemon
Apple Store Experience and Customer Support
I understand the need to move products on but I was dismayed when I attempted to order a replacement battery last month. It is an old-ish laptop but certainly not ancient. I paid a fortune for it and expect some level of support beyond being bounced around from tech support to tech support. I gave up after three phone calls where I was on hold and transferred for about 25-30 minutes.
I'm not sure how Apple handle their customer support but lots of companies sub-contract their customer support to call centres in the far east. I had to repeat myself and use alternative words to explain my situation. Each rep wanted my Apple id but then kept saying that they had no profile on me so they couldn't/wouldn't let me order the battery. I would then get bounced to another rep who was not aware of my situation and therefore I had to explain all over again.
Padisha; I think that service problems are affecting the entire computer industry, and Apple's service woes are merely another expression of that fact. Granted, we are used to holding Apple up to a different, higher standard and they have lived up to that for the most part. They are attempting to hold prices down, and one of the ways to cut costs is to outsource where possible.
Apple's Retail Transformation
Twenty-four years ago, Apple embarked on a venture that would transform not just the company's fortunes, but retail itself. Some 500 eager visitors lined up before dawn to experience the store's hardwood floors, bright lighting, and clean lines. The aesthetic drew comparisons to trendy clothing retailer Gap.
The decision to enter brick-and-mortar retail came at a precarious time for Apple. Jobs believed Apple would never shed its "cult" image unless it could control the entire customer experience, right down to the moment of purchase. To lead this vision, Jobs recruited Ron Johnson, who had transformed Target's image with his designer merchandise line.
Read also: Complete Tysons-D.C. Travel
Apple's board initially balked at the idea, especially after Gateway had just closed 40 of its own stores and Apple's sales had dropped 29% the previous year. Instead, by 2003, Apple recorded $3 million in profit per store, per quarter, with approximately 60,000 visitors at each location.
Today, Apple operates 534 stores across 27 countries, with each location generating approximately $5,500 per square foot annually - among the highest in the retail industry.
An Apple Store, showcasing modern retail design
One example of an Apple store is the one located at 8015 Tysons Corner Ctr, McLean, VA 22102. It offers a variety of services and products to its customers.