nagromme
Sep 25, 11:17 AM
The reasons people HATE this new version so much:
1. It adds a lot of features and answers requests.
2. It's a free update.
3. This is a photography event, and people were caught off guard when Apple showed their photography product, despite the Aperture image right on the invitation.
4. Apple never releases hardware on Tuesdays, so there is no hope for any MacBook Pro updates tomorrow.
5. There will never be another chance for new MacBook Pros. We now know that the current models will be sold forever and ever, even after Apple goes out of business, which will happen by the end of the year.
:p
1. It adds a lot of features and answers requests.
2. It's a free update.
3. This is a photography event, and people were caught off guard when Apple showed their photography product, despite the Aperture image right on the invitation.
4. Apple never releases hardware on Tuesdays, so there is no hope for any MacBook Pro updates tomorrow.
5. There will never be another chance for new MacBook Pros. We now know that the current models will be sold forever and ever, even after Apple goes out of business, which will happen by the end of the year.
:p
absolut_mac
Jan 12, 12:41 AM
Wow, I just watched the keynote and my god this guy is hard to stand....
Don't take CEO's public persona's (or any public figure for that matter) too seriously. It's all about marketing and keeping Wall Street happy.
Don't take CEO's public persona's (or any public figure for that matter) too seriously. It's all about marketing and keeping Wall Street happy.
carbontwelve
Apr 4, 06:21 PM
Note: I do not endorse anything I say in this post, and as such cant be held liable if you stupidly follow my advice, which is to be taken with a pinch of salt.
visit the house on the pretense that your a sales person selling something, or some form of public service agent - if your good at acting then the con job wont be hard to pull off...
Once you have identified the unit as being yours, attempt once again to get the police help you retrieve it. If that fails then break in and get it yourself, just make sure you do a clean job, study the family for a while to make sure you know when the house is empty or quiet. Then either drill out a lock and bash open the door, or break a window to gain access, if you have the tools pick or bump the lock as that leaves behind the least amount of evidence. Once inside retrieve your goods and leave, if you have picked or bumped the lock it will be a while before they notice. The other methods of entry will be noticed pretty quickly and increase risk on your behalf.
Once inside, just retrieve what is legally yours, nothing else unless you really want to break the law for real... bring some spray paint, a whole lot of dog **** in a big bag + 1/4 stick dynamite and what ever else you want to trash the place with. Spray up the place and then the cherry on the cake is putting the stick in the **** placing it in the center of a room lighting and run :)
visit the house on the pretense that your a sales person selling something, or some form of public service agent - if your good at acting then the con job wont be hard to pull off...
Once you have identified the unit as being yours, attempt once again to get the police help you retrieve it. If that fails then break in and get it yourself, just make sure you do a clean job, study the family for a while to make sure you know when the house is empty or quiet. Then either drill out a lock and bash open the door, or break a window to gain access, if you have the tools pick or bump the lock as that leaves behind the least amount of evidence. Once inside retrieve your goods and leave, if you have picked or bumped the lock it will be a while before they notice. The other methods of entry will be noticed pretty quickly and increase risk on your behalf.
Once inside, just retrieve what is legally yours, nothing else unless you really want to break the law for real... bring some spray paint, a whole lot of dog **** in a big bag + 1/4 stick dynamite and what ever else you want to trash the place with. Spray up the place and then the cherry on the cake is putting the stick in the **** placing it in the center of a room lighting and run :)
bikertwin
Sep 25, 03:57 PM
I still have some questions about the new features:
nicki minaj before after photos. full-efore and after
nicki minaj before after
Nicki Minaj before and after
nicki minaj before after photos. Nicki Minaj Before And After; Nicki Minaj Before And After. TheOnlyJon. Sep 16, 12:49 PM. Bought a new shirt :rolleyes:
Well look at these efore and
nicki minaj before after photos. nicki minaj before and; nicki minaj before and. reflex. Aug 29, 09:20 AM
nicki minaj before after photos. Nicki Minaj Before And After; Nicki Minaj Before And After. iTim314. Apr 2, 02:25 PM. Was like that in DP1 too.
nicki minaj before after photos. Nicki minaj before had her; Nicki minaj before had her. 63dot. Nov 25, 01:07 PM. They#39;re just ****ing sunglasses.
nicki minaj booty efore and
nicki minaj before after photos. Before: MU4a Nicki Minaj; Before: MU4a Nicki Minaj. Mystikal. Mar 16, 03:11 PM. Yes this was at Irvine Spectrum.
nicki minaj before surgery
nicki minaj before after photos. Nicki Minaj Announces Album
nicki minaj before after photos. Pictures: Nicki Minaj; Pictures: Nicki Minaj. LagunaSol. Apr 26, 11:42 PM. WordPerfect Office X5? You got me there.
After making a promise to
Nicki Minaj Before And After
kiljoy616
Jul 22, 11:54 PM
Oh my god...
did Apple seriously just make pointing fingers apart of their campaign?
I thought they were above that!
I understand that it's unfair that the other companies do that and all, but Apple really doesn't need to stoop to their level, do they?
They are still a company not a dam Religion so no they are not above it all.
Or do you think that other companies already are not preparing some kind of marketing around the problem.
That said, this generation of iphone will have this problem and that just something we have to live with if we want the look of the iphone.
did Apple seriously just make pointing fingers apart of their campaign?
I thought they were above that!
I understand that it's unfair that the other companies do that and all, but Apple really doesn't need to stoop to their level, do they?
They are still a company not a dam Religion so no they are not above it all.
Or do you think that other companies already are not preparing some kind of marketing around the problem.
That said, this generation of iphone will have this problem and that just something we have to live with if we want the look of the iphone.
zap2
Apr 11, 01:12 AM
7/11 run with the roommate!
AP_piano295
May 4, 03:17 PM
Guns are tons of fun and I will probably own a few one day (when I live in an area where i can actually use them).
Gun's are dangerous and it's perfectly reasonable for pediatricians to talk with and inform parents about those risks and how to mitigate them. You'd be amazed HOW LITTLE some people know about raising kids
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1568/stupidq.th.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/stupidq.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Gun's are dangerous and it's perfectly reasonable for pediatricians to talk with and inform parents about those risks and how to mitigate them. You'd be amazed HOW LITTLE some people know about raising kids
http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/1568/stupidq.th.jpg (http://img849.imageshack.us/i/stupidq.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)
Aniej
Jan 5, 11:24 AM
And there you go!
Stella
Mar 28, 09:26 PM
What I don't get is why wouldn't any developer want to distribute through the MacApp store? Unless they make a vertical market product (like my company and we would never use any mass-market distribution channel) I can't see why a developer wouldn't?
Because their application doesn't conform to apple's Mac AppStore rules. There may be very good reasons why an application cannot be modified to comply.
Even Apple break their own Mac Appstore rules! ( i.e., XCode ).
Because their application doesn't conform to apple's Mac AppStore rules. There may be very good reasons why an application cannot be modified to comply.
Even Apple break their own Mac Appstore rules! ( i.e., XCode ).
KnightWRX
May 3, 07:41 PM
I pay for 6 GB of data (30$/month) and thank god my carrier recognizes that this 6 GB of data is mine to do with as I please.
MacBoy108
Jan 8, 10:21 PM
iBook G5 and Newton Pro.
rjwill246
Oct 28, 04:03 PM
The thin veneer is off the vast majority of people that clamor for OSS.
Whenever I hear the OSS crowd scream "Software should be FREE!" I translate that to mean "I refuse to pay someone for their work, thus I will STEAL it"!
Even when you talk to these people they eventually get around to saying that everything "digital" should be free. I assume they don't really work for a living and think that welfare should be universal and include them de novo, probably play/sing " The Internationale" at sunrise and bedtime and have never paid taxes or at least intend not to.
I would NEVER hire anyone like this since they obviously have NO problem with stealing others' hard work.
Whenever I hear the OSS crowd scream "Software should be FREE!" I translate that to mean "I refuse to pay someone for their work, thus I will STEAL it"!
Even when you talk to these people they eventually get around to saying that everything "digital" should be free. I assume they don't really work for a living and think that welfare should be universal and include them de novo, probably play/sing " The Internationale" at sunrise and bedtime and have never paid taxes or at least intend not to.
I would NEVER hire anyone like this since they obviously have NO problem with stealing others' hard work.
maflynn
Apr 12, 05:53 AM
Functionality? You can't do absolutely anything with Windows out of the box without downloading extra software.
What can you do with your newly bought Windows PC?
Scan for viruses with a 30 day trial of Norton.
Notepad, Paint.
What can you do with your newly bought Mac?
iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iDVD, iWeb.
That's not entirely true. When you buy a new mac you get iLife, with a new PC, you get office, windows live suite (ilife competitor), other apps including anti-virus. So you can't say that "ou can't do absolutely anything with Windows out of the box without downloading extra software."
You get the same or similar level of functionality when buying a new computer. Apple gives you iLife, PCs you get office, and other stuff.
What can you do with your newly bought Windows PC?
Scan for viruses with a 30 day trial of Norton.
Notepad, Paint.
What can you do with your newly bought Mac?
iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband, iDVD, iWeb.
That's not entirely true. When you buy a new mac you get iLife, with a new PC, you get office, windows live suite (ilife competitor), other apps including anti-virus. So you can't say that "ou can't do absolutely anything with Windows out of the box without downloading extra software."
You get the same or similar level of functionality when buying a new computer. Apple gives you iLife, PCs you get office, and other stuff.
christian_k
Dec 14, 05:23 AM
Not that I believe the rumor, but the phone being LTE only will simply mean that there's one version between the AT&T and verizon phones that supports CDMA and GSM networks. Instead, there will be a CDMA/LTE phone and a GSM 3G phone. Thus, AT&T's LTE network being infantile/non-existent throws a wrench in that.
That being said, I highly doubt an early 2011 verizon iphone. LTE, doubly so. If it's coming for Verizon, it will be unveiled/launch the same time as the AT&T iphone 5.
Many GSM-operators in Europe are building LTE networks and will start commercial LTE-service in 2011. But you will need UMTS (and even GSM) as a fallback for a long time. This means sooner or later an iPhone with LTE, HSDPA,UMTS and probably even GSM will be needed.
But I don't think we will see that in 2011. Maybe in 2012 or 2013.
Christian
That being said, I highly doubt an early 2011 verizon iphone. LTE, doubly so. If it's coming for Verizon, it will be unveiled/launch the same time as the AT&T iphone 5.
Many GSM-operators in Europe are building LTE networks and will start commercial LTE-service in 2011. But you will need UMTS (and even GSM) as a fallback for a long time. This means sooner or later an iPhone with LTE, HSDPA,UMTS and probably even GSM will be needed.
But I don't think we will see that in 2011. Maybe in 2012 or 2013.
Christian
SPEEDwithJJ
Apr 7, 11:21 PM
Photo of approx. 48 packets of Red Bull.
Oddly enough, just looking at the photo of the approximately 48 packets of Red Bull energy drinks is giving me a crazy thought.... :o I can't help but wonder what would happen if a person drank every packet of those Red Bull energy drinks in that photo in one go! :confused: :eek: :p :D
Oddly enough, just looking at the photo of the approximately 48 packets of Red Bull energy drinks is giving me a crazy thought.... :o I can't help but wonder what would happen if a person drank every packet of those Red Bull energy drinks in that photo in one go! :confused: :eek: :p :D
milo
Sep 12, 08:16 AM
I can't imagine why Apple would have an event like this if there was going to be only Disney content available.
You need a new imagination. Or at least remember back to when they had an event to release TV videos, and only ABC content was available.
Not to mention that there will be iPod and streaming hardware announced as well.
So who is going to watch Snow White?
No... Bambi?
Or what about Lady and the Tramp?
FYI, "Disney" also includes Miramax, Hollywood Pictures, and Touchstone. That's hundreds of movies for adults.
You need a new imagination. Or at least remember back to when they had an event to release TV videos, and only ABC content was available.
Not to mention that there will be iPod and streaming hardware announced as well.
So who is going to watch Snow White?
No... Bambi?
Or what about Lady and the Tramp?
FYI, "Disney" also includes Miramax, Hollywood Pictures, and Touchstone. That's hundreds of movies for adults.
Qwest905
Apr 6, 01:57 PM
lol thanks...
no need to wait in line when here in canada(not sure if it's the same in the US)
in order to buy the ipad in the apple store now..you have to logon to their website at 9pm in hope to be able to reserve an ipad for pickup the next day
and congratulations on your engagement =)....i'm still in my honeymoon phase as i was married back in november!!
no need to wait in line when here in canada(not sure if it's the same in the US)
in order to buy the ipad in the apple store now..you have to logon to their website at 9pm in hope to be able to reserve an ipad for pickup the next day
and congratulations on your engagement =)....i'm still in my honeymoon phase as i was married back in november!!
applemumba
Apr 15, 05:30 PM
Wirelessly posted (Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU iPhone OS 3_1_3 like Mac OS X; en-us) AppleWebKit/528.18 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/4.0 Mobile/7E18 Safari/528.16)
They fake! The next iPhone will be the same as the 3gs just in all the colours apple knows best. Give choice people will upgrade and buy more. They proved it with the iPods time and time again why not the iPhone too.
They fake! The next iPhone will be the same as the 3gs just in all the colours apple knows best. Give choice people will upgrade and buy more. They proved it with the iPods time and time again why not the iPhone too.
curmi
Nov 24, 04:09 AM
Huge saving on airport express. New Airport Ultra Express (802.11n) at Macworld!
Confirmed! :)
Confirmed! :)
NAG
Mar 24, 03:26 PM
I remember using the prerelease versions without an Apple menu (and a decorative Apple in the center).
Oh, and does anyone remember Docklings?
Oh, and does anyone remember Docklings?
Joshuarocks
Apr 8, 07:36 PM
I'm a current employee at Best Buy and thought I'd offer my two cents on a few issues.
First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.
That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.
In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.
I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:
1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.
Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.
Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.
Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...
2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.
So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.
All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.
Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.
As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.
Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.
But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.
At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.
Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.
I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.
The only "Worst Buy" I am against is the one in Owings Mills, MD where they discriminated against me just because of a small disability. Pending a court case with corporate on this matter.. and I used to work for them back in 2005 and left them on a great note. Eligible for re-hire.. then tried to go back to them(Owings Mills) and the manager was very disrespectful and also discriminatory.
I plan to have that store shut down permanently.
First, I don't really like Best Buy. I got a job there to work for around 4 hours a week to get the generous discount. It's particularly generous when dealing with open-box items. Even so, I am miserable leading up to heading in and I do not enjoy the time that I spend there. Thankfully, I have a good full-time job plus a lot of side work and I'm planning on quitting in the next month or so as the thrill of the discount has long worn off.
That said, I have no problem being very open and honest about Best Buy and my experiences there.
In regards to the iPad situation, I haven't been in since this issue came up and won't be in for awhile, so I don't really know what the buzz is on this matter exactly. I do know that they wouldn't put a freeze on selling new iPad 2 stock if they regularly had it for a random promotion, if only for the very reason that many think caused the initial problem: quota.
I'm betting 1 of 2 things happened:
1) They did indeed get in trouble with Apple for something. Sure, it's possible, and it's the easiest reasonable conclusion. I don't know why this would be though, and I'm skeptical about the whole hording thing. And again, this is coming from someone who has access to the inventory systems and all the places that would hide "horded" iPads. Plus, I have a good enough relationship with multiple managers (ones who know the score about Best Buy in an objective world...) who would be honest about this with me.
Generally speaking, when they say there are no iPads for sale, there are no iPads for sale. It's really that simple. Demand is real, and supply is lacking. When we have them for sale, they're in the cages, and this would occur after passing through the pre-order system. White Verizon iPads tend to be the ones most often available, usually just a couple, and they're gone almost immediately all the same.
Another factor in the equation though is processing shipments. I saw someone noted that after an open-box controversy between two customers, the manager was able to procure a new iPad 2 for a disappointed customer when apparently there were none for sale. Well, there probably weren't. He either bumped someone back on the pre-order list to be nice to the pissed off customer in the store or perhaps a shipment came in on the truck that had yet to be processed and he worked it out with the ops team to get them to process one so he could get it out. Oftentimes the managers do actually try to make the customer happy, even if it's somewhat unreasonable. The ops guys have their procedures, and it's rarely slimy in intent so much as rooted in overall efficiency, so sometimes a shipment won't go to the floor for sales until the next day because the processing takes time. If the manager pushes to work something out in that situation, the manager is doing you a favor and pissing off some ops guys to do so.
Anyways, on to the 2nd scenario...
2) This is what I'd really venture to bet is the problem: the pre-order system is a huge mess. It was a rush job authorized by corporate at the last minute and handled by less-than-informed employees who were also in a rush. From day 1 it was clear that problems were going to creep up, and they absolutely have. Nobody in store is happy about it. The employees don't like telling customers that they have to wait on a pre-order list, they don't like the 48 hour pickup window, they don't like having to deal with customers pissing and moaning and crying about conspiracy theories when only a 64 GB white Verizon iPad 2 is available once in a blue moon when a pre-order turns it down. It's not fun, for anyone, and unfortunately, there's nothing we can do about it.
So what I'm guessing is really happening is that Best Buy is just digging out of this pre-order mess as fast as possible and skipping anything else until they get past the ramifications of a stupid decision. Considering there's little to skip seeing as supply is so low and we rarely have the most in-demand models available anyways, it's easier for them to just bow out of this for a couple of weeks and in a sense re-launch the normal sales when supplies are less constrained and they don't have a stupid pre-order process hanging over their heads. It's a cut and dry move that will allow them to gear up again in a more normal, focused way. Considering how things have gone there in the last month in dealing with anything iPad related, this might be the best decision for them.
All in all, Best Buy is Best Buy: a brick and mortar retailer lost in an internet-connected world. Best Buy isn't nearly as evil as they are lost and longing for the 20th century. Sure, there's a lot of margin on accessories, but it's because there's more often than not no margin on anything else. They don't make much money at all on TV's and Computers anymore. If they're on sale, and at Best Buy, almost everything is always "On Sale," it's likely at cost or within a few dollars of cost. There's little margin in the shrinking physical media world either. The only departments with major products that have margin still are appliances and for certain stores, musical instruments. This is why Best Buy will likely be dead in 5 years if they don't drastically change their business model. They did a better job at adapting to the new world than other electronics chains, but they haven't done nearly enough. It's not an easy business at this point though as it has as much to do with dealing with suppliers suffering the same pinch and customers who want to have it all but don't want to pay for it.
Also, in regards to stupid employees and sleazy mangers, yeah, they do exist. But more employees know their stuff than you might think. And there are quite a few managers who actually do care about trying to do a good job and help the customer.
As far as the employees, the biggest shock to me after working at Best Buy was realizing that so much of the supposed employee ignorance has more to do with incessantly having to dumb things down to the most absurd of levels with customers. 90% of the people who come in are nice people who just don't know much of anything about what they're buying. You have to learn to communicate on their level and not over-complicate things for them. It's easy to get stuck in that default mode and you have to actively snap yourself out of it on the rare occasion when you get customers who can actually hold their own in a conversation about the technology. And make no mistake, it's a huge relief for most of us when that happens because most of us that work there actually are pretty excited about the technology.
Now on the other hand, sleazy managers and supervisors can screw so much of this up. While most of the employees aren't making a career out of working at Best Buy, the sups and managers typically are on some level at least, and it takes a certain, umm, level of person to get, err, stuck, yes, at that level if you know what I mean. There's a lot of inconsistency in these types of people. If you get good ones though, they tend to hire good employees and foster a good environment for customers. My store has good management. It's the only thing that makes it remotely tolerable to me. The employees actually know their stuff and are honest with the customers. They also work as a team because the management pushes it and thankfully we don't have commission to muck things up. And customers do love us for it. You'd be shocked by how often a selling relationship turns into a friendship practically at our particular store. We get invited out after work all the time. Honesty goes a long ways, and when you're helping people save money by making sure they make a smart decision for their needs, it goes a long ways. And our managers are objective enough (and not locked into Best Buy corporate brainwash mode) to know that the only thing Best Buy has to offer over Amazon is the possibility of a good customer service experience. They do all they reasonably can to ensure that it happens.
But again, this simply isn't the case everywhere at all, and it so often boils down to the luck of the draw on management. Good managers hire good people leading to good teams leading to generally happy customers and good sales. Bad managers hire their dumb friends, play games with customers, lie, cheat, and usually they don't put up good numbers.
At the end of the day though, the good stores and the bad stores are equally screwed because the industry is a mess, the world is changing, and Best Buy corporate utterly and completely lacks the talent and leadership to be innovative in the 21st century. They refuse to reasonably acknowledge change, they're too scared to piss off manufacturers who have lines all across the store that vary dramatically when it comes to success and quality, and they're wildly inconsistent and disorganized with their processes and as they put it, "solutions." As said, if things don't drastically change, and I don't believe they will without a major shift in leadership, they'll be dead in 5 years. It's a sinking ship. I'll be happy to be out of there.
Again, I don't think they're near as evil and corrupt as they are just lost. When you're lost, things can get confusing real fast. Bear in mind that oftentimes when employees appear aloof, they're probably confused because corporate changes things all the time and does little to help keep us informed of these changes. Also, don't mistake conspiracy theories for sheer stupidity. Like we saw in this whole conversation, people will say some wild things. It's easy to think it from the outside. I can assure you from the inside, that oftentimes what looks like scheming and maneuvering is really just disorganization, stupidity and/or confusion due to the muddled processes and the ever-foggy way in which corporate outlines these processes.
I don't blame people for not liking Best Buy. I don't like them either. Just go easy on the guys on the floor and in the back. Unless they're the total goof-off employees which do exist, what you're pissed about is probably not their fault at all.
The only "Worst Buy" I am against is the one in Owings Mills, MD where they discriminated against me just because of a small disability. Pending a court case with corporate on this matter.. and I used to work for them back in 2005 and left them on a great note. Eligible for re-hire.. then tried to go back to them(Owings Mills) and the manager was very disrespectful and also discriminatory.
I plan to have that store shut down permanently.
Haol
Apr 29, 04:51 PM
I can't believe there are over 60 comments actually commenting the post !
I mean, sure. Cool that Apple listens, and nice to see they are looking into the look and feel. But hey, can't imagine a more minor change :D
I mean, sure. Cool that Apple listens, and nice to see they are looking into the look and feel. But hey, can't imagine a more minor change :D
yg17
Mar 4, 12:11 PM
If you can find more recent generic ballot data, I'd love to see it.
Even if the graph was up-to-date as of today it would still not indicate one way or another what would happen in 2012, but rather just give us some general perception as to where the trend is headed, just like the graph I posted. A day, a week, a month... and certainly a year is a LIFETIME in politics.
Just because you can't find any recent polling doesn't mean old data is meaningful in any way. The republican thugs have been in control of the house for 2 months (a LIFETIME in politics) and public opinion changes quickly.
But if believing that 6 month old polling data helps predict an election nearly 2 years away helps you sleep at night, then by all means, the republicans are going to win every single house and senate seat and the presidency :rolleyes:
Even if the graph was up-to-date as of today it would still not indicate one way or another what would happen in 2012, but rather just give us some general perception as to where the trend is headed, just like the graph I posted. A day, a week, a month... and certainly a year is a LIFETIME in politics.
Just because you can't find any recent polling doesn't mean old data is meaningful in any way. The republican thugs have been in control of the house for 2 months (a LIFETIME in politics) and public opinion changes quickly.
But if believing that 6 month old polling data helps predict an election nearly 2 years away helps you sleep at night, then by all means, the republicans are going to win every single house and senate seat and the presidency :rolleyes:
AhmedFaisal
Apr 13, 06:52 AM
The radiation dosage from any properly maintained active scanner is still orders of magnitude less than what you get from a 4-hour flight at 10 km. Go ahead and opt out of your full-body scans... if you're doing it for the "health" reason you're tilting at a very small windmill.
Yes, the same dosage in what, a second versus 4 hours? It's a beautiful piece of misinformation you are spreading there. It's the same cumulative dose, however over a vastly different timeframe. If you believe that timescale of exposure has no bearing of the effect of a given dose, then that's your choice.
Yes, the same dosage in what, a second versus 4 hours? It's a beautiful piece of misinformation you are spreading there. It's the same cumulative dose, however over a vastly different timeframe. If you believe that timescale of exposure has no bearing of the effect of a given dose, then that's your choice.
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