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journal: think
The Apple Method
What is Apple’s method for sales success when product cycles are getting quicker and quicker? In seduction, when someone has figured out a way to bed women repeatably, they name their method (e.g. The Mystery Method). In electronics, Apple has been practicing for years and successfully attracting customers like me and you.
Excuses or coincidences that have happened around when I get the itch for a new Apple:
1) Something was recently released but only by Apple
2) There was a price cut on ANY model, not necessarily even related to what I’m after
3) Rumors predict something very big, like wireless iPods, but I presume it won’t reach the product I’m intersted in (nano) until later---and I’m hungry now
I try hard not to buy toys these days because for whatever reason, growing up or not, I have realized decreasing returns on them as far as my emotions. At the same time I like to be practical. I have a 30gb iPod and a mini-sized Nokia phone. I don’t wish to carry either but if they could both disappear without loss of functionality I’d make the investment immediately.
So yes I buy for practical reasons too. Apple appeals to me because it’s better designed and more usable; simpler. Cleaner too except all the scratches which are even on the new iMac remote.
So I know I’m probably going to use an Apple product in any area of electronics because I figure they’ll be superior. I’m already a switcher and I’m already just looking for an excuse to convert the rest of my multimedia technology and communications tools to the Apple name. What will motivate me next?
I must note that the worst thing about buying Apple is trying to figure out the timing. I agree with buy it when you need it. Ideally, I’d just buy it when I needed it and not think twice. Good thing I’m a trillionaire thrice over 
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thinkback
Collectable type stuff? Figurines? Bobble heads? I’m curious---I’m doing a paper on toys.
Businesses, governments, and other organizations just like people attract others into doing what they want. Often.
Apple does it with me. I’m aware of The Apple Method yet I still am persuaded even when I expect the Reality Distortion Field.
Maybe you can private message me about what I am trying to say?
P.S. Most of our Sony stuff has lasted a long time as well. Apple has no monopoly except on FairPlay DRM. Other companies make better products. I like the idea of going with one company, e.g. we have six Sony TV’s and just bought another. For better or worse, I wonder when I’ll purchase another Mac product...I’m not trying to but it seems like it’s in my interest to be persuaded again (if only to not have to carry around a cell and iPod).
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| Feb. 12, 2006 | |
| moreApple | 8:39 pm |
Let’s just make it clear---it’s my self-responsibility I buy Apple products or drink or whatever.
I think Apple is especially attractive. Until I have an extra trillion or million lying around I won’t binge too much at the Apple Store. I have to buy when it’s right for me so I balance between how good my current stuff is and how long i have to wait for something that’s improved.
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| Feb. 12, 2006 | |
| moreApple | 10:32 pm |
Bryan,
When I said I wondered what are you trying to say, I really mean that. What the hell is the Apple method? I hope you don’t coin this phrase too much because there is no Apple method. I only see Apple monopoly. I can see how some people’s lives can be so occupied by fandom, but seriously there are a lot of options in life out there. You just have to go out there and find what’s best for you. Create your own standards so to speak.
Speaking of toys, I love them but I’m no gadget freak. Some people know when to buy a collectable and when not to buy (and I don’t think this requires a talent). Meanwhile, I love watching Animes and LOST on my PSP. It just rocks.
I don’t buy Sony products anymore because their quality control sucks.
I’ve had too many Sony products die on me after two years of use - TV, 2 DVD players, 2 camcorders.
And their innovation in electronics has really taken a dive lately. The most innovative consumer electronics devices are not coming from Sony, IMHO. They announced hard-drive-based camcorders, after JVC has been shipping them. DLP TVs (Texas Instruments tech) are the most popular now. And I still find the Canon digital cameras are the bomb.
Maybe I’m out of the loop and I’m missing some major innovation coming out of Sony…
| Feb. 13, 2006 | ||
| 6:30 pm |
Another thing, I can’t think of any other product that automatically requires another $20-$100 worth of accessories to just make sure that your gizmo doesn’t get a scratch on it as soon as you take it out of the box, or that it needs charging.
I can understand PDAs needing screen protectors and maybe even the PSP to protect its gorgeous widescreen, but an iPOD case??? Do mobile phones need a protective case??? Does my watch need a protective case??? The Nanos at the stores are in absolutely shocking conditions, must be expensive to be changing display models all the time.
My cell phone is scratched.
My watch is scratched.
My gold ring is scratched.
Creative Zen message board thread about scratches:
http://forums.creative.com/creativelabs/boa rd/message?board.id=pmc&message;.id=5593
Gamespot forum about Sony PSP scratches:
http://www.gamespot.com/forums/show_msgs.ph p?topic_id=24271783
Cell phone cases to protect your cell phone from scratches:
http://www.cellularfactory.com/cases.html
| Feb. 14, 2006 | ||
| 9:31 am |
See I wish I had your mentality about not thinking when it comes to buying new electroics. Usually when I want an electronic something, I ask my parents for it for either Hannukkah or my birthday. Like for example I wanted a new digital camera and asked them for it. They gave it to me for Hannukkah. I should hint that I want a new ipod but this time I am pretty certain that they won’t buy it for me because I have one now. Also dad has got two ipods for free and one of them, the video one I want. Like I said before he’s obsessed with it. Besides it cost too much for a video ipod right now. I think that I’ll wait until it goes down and buy it myself. I can use some of the money I will earn this summer. I’m finally getting a decent salary.
Read the creative forum, no where near the sort of complaints that Nanos have!
Just one guy with problems of scratches on his screen. He just need a screen protector, duh.
Nanos have scratches all over, which is the source of the major complaints from all black nano owners.
Now this was interesting :
Ky0shiro wrote:
Zeanimal..you bought a zen vision:m, sold it, got another, sold it, and got an ipod video and now you’re selling that too?Well i was one of the first to get a zen vision M and find out that it scratched REALLY easily so i sold the first one scratched for $320 to a dude in canada… second one i bought new for $315 shipped was fine but i just wanted to try the ipod video but it sucks so im going back to a vision ...
iPod video 
Same scratch issues with any black electronic device, informer. You are coming off as a zealot on this issue. Do you think Apple has magic black paint that they use that nobody else uses that scratches more easily than anyone else’s?
Your post about the guy who thinks the iPod video sucks is very trollish. First off, you didn’t even give us a link. Second, so what? So some guy thinks the iPod video sucks and gives no reasons. OK. Great. And?
| Feb. 17, 2006 | ||
| 6:26 pm |
Ars Technica review of Sony PSP:
http://arstechnica.com/reviews/hardware/psp.ars
You get a soft case, which would be nice if it didn’t seem to want to rub the screen completely away (I can thank this case for my first scratch. I have no clue how a soft case can scratch a system, but there you go. Value.)
PSPHacks.net
http://www.psphacks.net/content/view/184/2/
Have you looked at your PSP under a bright light lately? Go ahead, take your PSP and put it right under a bright light bulb and look at the screen, I’ll wait…
Horrific, isn’t it? Those, my friend, are what I like to refer to as “micro scratches”. These guys aren’t your ordinary scratches cause by improper handling and neglect of such a beautiful device as the PSP. No, these suckers are caused from wiping it with the cleaning cloth. “BUT THE CLOTH ISN’T SUPPOSED TO SCRATCH THE PSP!” Well, technically it’s not the cloth doing the scratching, it’s the tiny dust and dirt particles between the cloth and your precious PSP.
http://www.electricquarter.com/pspcase.htm
Sony PSP Crystal Blue Console Case
Slips on and off easily with NO modifications to your console. PSP Scratch easily, this will fix that.
Here’s the equivalent of your “iPod video sucks” post:
http://forums.ic-games.co.uk/showthread.php ?t=2316
i hate all of u lil fuc**** who have psps i got one yesterday and the skreen busted so all off u can all…
| Feb. 17, 2006 | ||
| 6:38 pm |
OK Macfan, I will have to reply to your comment because you seem mis-informed.
The complaint about PSP/PDA/Nintendo DS/etc/etc are mainly to do with getting scratches on their SCREENS, not on the BODIES themselves. These are the sort of scratches you will find on anything made of glass or plastic, caused by poor cleaning method such as using a dusty tissue or an old cloth that hasn’t been filtered of dust and micro stones. They can be also be caused by uncleaned soft covers that came with the device.
You will not notice these scratches unless you put the device under extreme examination. At times, you may have actually caused a significant dent on your screen. Such dents will appear much more obvious and you will have to take extra measures to clear them out.
What do people do to protect their screens? They buy screen protectors, $5 from any shop and its done. Nothing more, nothing less.
Unlike the Nanos which has mountains of problems :
This is a serious problem because not all vendors are willing to replace such problematic devices especially in Asia (you can’t even get a refund). Other than Apple, who else is willing to sell these devices given the poor quality reputation that they have developed in just a few months? Who is willing to deal with the headaches and time wasting of buying, returning, exchange and perhaps buying a whole lot of other stuff to ensure that the problem doesn’t occur again?
Secondly, the guy who bought a Creative, complained, returned it and got another one was using Apple quick fixes to solve his screen scratching problems. He may well have been an Apple troll. He did say that he got a video iPod, and seeing how it didn’t meet his expectations, he has gone back to getting another Creative again. My post was not trollish, in fact, it appeared that HE was being the TROLL because he only logged onto the creative website to COMPLAIN about the Zen Vision. He had no forum experiences before buying his Creative.
But its all good, he got what he finally wanted and he now knows what to do!
BTW, here are my babies :
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/4669/dsc 0149a3wd.th.jpg
There is a screen protector on the black PSP, but none on the white one yet (just feeling lazy but I’ll put one on anyway).
PS. Watching LOST on a PSP is awesome!
I see. So the fact that the PSP screen gets scratched by the case that comes with the PSP isn’t a big deal but 1/10th of 1% of iPods having a defective screen is a huge problem?
Cough.
| Feb. 18, 2006 | ||
| 5:18 pm |
MacFan, you really have difficulties on the internet don’t you?
1. Go have a look at a friend’s PSP soft case
2. Check if it feels like sandpaper
3. If so, that is the cause of the scratches
4. If not, there would be no scratches
End of story!
Nanos gets scratched the minute you touch them, its insane!!!
Informer,
The PSP’s screen scratches easily—you know, that thing you watch your Lost episode through.
End of story.
| Feb. 19, 2006 | ||
| 4:30 pm |
Bryan,
When I said I wondered what are you trying to say, I really mean that. What the hell is the Apple method? I hope you don’t coin this phrase too much because there is no Apple method. I only see Apple monopoly. I can see how some people’s lives can be so occupied by fandom…
A late response…
Informer, I don’t mean monopoly. I’m not forced to buy an Apple product but I am strongly compelled and here is where the post comes in---I am compelled by the company’s updates, their timing, and the pricing. It’s a cycle that I have been aware for over a year.
For example, I have bought two Macs. The first Macintosh was a PowerBook and as a high school senior I needed it in time for college. I was given the incentive to wait until I got my graduation gifts in May but to wait a few more weeks for the sale where you save $200. Just after I got to college MacWorld Paris updated both my 12” PB with hardware bug fixes and more importantly the 15” TiBook model which I wouldn’t buy because it didn’t have the new design’s updates. So I felt pressured but I knew it was my choice.
The same applies to any technology decision. You can buy it when you need it or let the company try to entice you as it clears out inventory. I think Apple does a good job at the latter but I could be wrong. It depends on the customer.
Bryan,
That unfortunately is the name of the game when we are dealing with technology, but still, Apple could try to be smarter by not jumping on every gimmick or minor advancements in technology and actually make products that doesn’t need constant replacements.
PS. Just wondering do you have a PSP?
Apple could try to be smarter by not jumping on every gimmick or minor advancements in technology
Examples?
| Mar. 05, 2006 | ||
| 4:54 pm |
1.
Sometimes I wonder what are you trying to say.
The last Apple product to ever had any impression on me, was the Macintosh 512. Since then, I’ve yet to be swayed by the so called “Apple quality” due to the vast number of other products that I’ve been blessed in having such as our 18 year old Blaupunkt video recorder (one of the first 5 head VHS recorder ever made), Aiwa walkman/recorder (one of the first of its kind and in limited edition gold), a great number of Sony stuff and my latest toy, the PSP (bought 2).
Granted I don’t buy many toys but when I do, they are usually collectable type stuff, not consumable products with only 1 function.