Apple’s New iMac: Released or Not?
I’ve got a gripe with Apple. Yes, its true, I have found fault with his Steveness and his kingdom. My gripe is:
When you release a new product…actually release it.
I have been trying to get my hands on a new 17″ iMac with the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse. Its simple. Thats all. When you call the two Apple stores I have in my area, they both gave me the same exchange:
Me: I was checking to see if you have any of the new 17″ iMacs with bluetooth keyboard and mouse?
Them: Let me check…[long wait]…well, we had one, but we sold it.
Let me just pull a “Out of This World” on this story, and pause it right there. (See? Now the image at the top makes sense!) You had ONE and you sold it? You just had one? What the hell kind of release is that? One! Lets continue…
Me: Do you have any idea when you will get more in?
Them: Hold on…[long pause]…Not really, no. We do have a couple of the 17″, but not with the wireless keyboard and mouse.
Me: Ok…but you have no idea when the package with the Bluetooth keyboard and moust combo are arriving?
Them: No, but the ones we have in stock do have Bluetooth, they just aren’t paired with the keyboard and mouse.
Me: Yeah…I want the keyboard and mouse…What do you think? Should I just order it online?
[ Puts fingers together.] Pause! At this point in the conversation, the guys rambles on for a few minutes about how ordering it online would be a “custom order and ordering it in the store would be a custom order, but they have custom order boxes ready to go” (just not now I guess) …and blah blah blah, never answering my question.
Why the hell would you release a product and then not ship it to the stores in more quantities than one? Steve said: “Available today. Shipping from the factory.” yet I guess its just the one guy putting the damn things together over there, because none of the stores in St. Louis seem to have the faintest idea when they are going to recieve more. Seriously Steve…what the hell?
On the plus side, I did find a way to work in a very obscure early 90′s TV show reference. Lets see your BoingBoing‘s or your Slashdot‘s do that!
Also, if any Apple Store employees are reading this by chance, could you be so kind as to answer the question the guy I got never did: If I want the bluetooth keyboard and mouse, would I be saving time ordering it online?
UPDATE: Screw it. I just ordered one at the online Apple Store.
The Problem With Donating To Big Causes
How long has it been The Hurricanes? Is it in that range yet where I can bitch about something about it and not get blasted worse than if someone talks shit on Lance Armstrong? I realize at best its at the beginning of that range…well I’m sure its close enough.
Let me start off my saying that I have NO PROBLEM with people asking for and giving donations. That being said, here’s what I hate about when some disaster happens and everyone is obliged to throw money in the pot: Say you are going to buy some shoes, not because you are some shoe-crazy broad, but because you need the shoes…lets say for a wedding. So you are paying for the shoes and the girl at the register says “Would you like to add on 10 dollars to your purchase to go to the Hurricane Relief Fund?” Well that sounds like a perfectly benign question, but lets say you happen to be someone that has already donated to the Hurricane Relief Fund and you aren’t quite pulling down six figures and you could use that 10 bucks to eat later this week. So you say “No thanks.” The girl, all of 17 (max) looks at you like you just pulled the head off of a baby rabbit, spit into its neck-hole and and then suck the head on the end of your pen so that you can think it looks cute when you sign the receipt. “I already donated…” you try to explain. She doesn’t believe you of course and she hands you your shoes looking disgusted.
That is the problem. You’re a good guy, you give some money but then everyone you see everywhere asks you again and again and again and every time you say “No” you look like a dick. Not cool. When will someone come up with some way of have some sort of halo appear over your head once you donate? Thats all I ask. Is that so hard? I can’t do it, I’m busy…but someone else should really get on that.
Ok, the first complaint of the Hurricanes. Was that so bad? Good. Ok, if that was good, then what’s one more? I’m sick of all the news coverage on the Hurricanes. I feel bad about being annoyed, but I am and I don’t really want to see updates all the time. I’ll be cool with a once a week update, but every day sucks.
See two complaints weren’t that bad were they? Soon we can start making jokes. Calm down! Not yet…but soon. Next week maybe…maybe Wednesday.
Ok, let the hate mail begin!