Microsoft Doesn't Care about Apple...

[fryke]

Generally, BootCamp does not much than enable you to install Windows XP "on that PC" you've got there. Hardware-wise, there's not much different in a Mac than in a PC nowadays. BootCamp also gives you a CD with drivers for the hardware XP doesn't know about out of the box. So... You generally get a great running Windows XP. I haven't run into problems, myself. (Then again I don't use that Live chat thingie on XP.)

But on topic of the original post: You're mixing things. Sales reps are not "Microsoft". So it's not really about Microsoft's best interests when a sales rep is taught not to push Macs. Also, he might simply not know the first thing about Macs, and then it wouldn't make much sense for him to show you a Mac, because all that would show was that he doesn't know anything...

That's where we come in. Are you in a store that sells Macs? Does a sales rep push a person towards a PC? Step in, start asking questions about the Macs on the floor, correct the sales rep when he talks stupid, push the person towards the Mac. If there _is_ an interest in the Mac at first, then that person will happily follow you to the light.

[Sirtovin]

Originally Posted by fryke

Generally, BootCamp does not much than enable you to install Windows XP "on that PC" you've got there. Hardware-wise, there's not much different in a Mac than in a PC nowadays. BootCamp also gives you a CD with drivers for the hardware XP doesn't know about out of the box. So... You generally get a great running Windows XP. I haven't run into problems, myself. (Then again I don't use that Live chat thingie on XP.)

But on topic of the original post: You're mixing things. Sales reps are not "Microsoft". So it's not really about Microsoft's best interests when a sales rep is taught not to push Macs. Also, he might simply not know the first thing about Macs, and then it wouldn't make much sense for him to show you a Mac, because all that would show was that he doesn't know anything...

That's where we come in. Are you in a store that sells Macs? Does a sales rep push a person towards a PC? Step in, start asking questions about the Macs on the floor, correct the sales rep when he talks stupid, push the person towards the Mac. If there _is_ an interest in the Mac at first, then that person will happily follow you to the light.

I totally agree with you. I know that one of my friends who has been an Apple fan for years got me into the Mac. For me it was a big change... I am A+ Certified in the Computer industry... All that means is if a Computer is broken on the PC end, I can fix it or build a new one. Mac is different.

See I was lucky Fryke... My friend Tim took me to CompUSA, in his first effort to get me to see the LIGHT.. lol.. Unfortunately... There was no Apple rep there... and the Salesman in red... shrugged their shoulders saying... "Sorry, We can't help you the Apple rep, is not here and I don't know much about Apple..." My friend Tim, went over to the Tower... (G4 it was.. This was in 2000... right before OS-X came out and was being offered as a Beta...) and tried to show me a few things... I was not impressed because of OS-9...

Than he had an Idea... He said lets go to the MacCenter... So I drove there... (The MacCenter was bascially an Apple Store that had the focus on all Apple Products at the time.) This Store had everything... even the Beta OS-X on its line of Macs.

It was there that one of the Managers took me to his office and explained all the differences of Mac's vs PC... and I was amazed.

A year later I brought a G4... Tower... Than 3 years later an Ibook and now I got the Intel-IMac... I am glad I got the best of both worlds.

[Natobasso]

Now if mac prices would just come down to be competitive with pc laptops I could have just bought another mac and installed bootcamp...

[texanpenguin]

I can't speak for the US, but in Australia, the places which sell both Macs and PCs really *really* push the PCs. That's primarily because the salespeople get a huge commission on PCs and a tiny one on a Mac.

Margins on PCs are pretty much set to whatever a company likes. On Macs, they're confined to the prices Apple sets. Add to that that Apple sells the computers wholesale at all of about 8% discount, there is just not enough money to pay a reasonable commission for selling a Mac.

[powermac]

I can speak to my experience at our local Apple Store. It has been open for about 6 years now, in Albany. A core group of employees have remained, while many of the floor associates change often, and are mostly college kids.
I have personally witnessed some of these associates struggle to explain why, a potential customer should buy a Mac, verus going upstairs to Best Buy and getting a HP. Mainly they lack the knowledge of Mac OSX.

A specific example, once a middle aged professional was looking at the PB line. He was asking the associate questions, naturally based around some small business needs. The gentlemen's concern was how the Mac would be able to communicate with Windows clients. He asked the associate, "many of my clients send me files in PDF format, how can I read and create these on the Mac? The associate went on to explain, he would have to get Acrobat reader, to read and create PDF files.

If Apple is worried that Best Buy and the like don't push their products, they should also consider training some of the Apple Store employees as well.

[Mikuro]

Originally Posted by Sirtovin

Apple is expensive because of piece of mind... when you buy an Apple Apple, stands behind the product. Most Computer manafatures give you a run around if you have a problem. Apple will service the computer and take of the problem. They will bend over backwards at any of their Apple Stores to educate, fix and sell you an Apple.

I think even you're being a little unfair to Apple! Macs aren't any more expensive than similarly-equipped PCs. The problem is that Apple has no machines on the market that are equipped similarly to the cheapest PCs on the market. I mean, Apple's cheapest laptop has a built-in camera, for goodness' sake.

If Apple wants to shake the stigma of being expensive, they simply need to address the whole market, which they haven't done since Steve Jobs' return (and before that, Apple didn't address the market well, and their machines really were flat-out overpriced). But then again, I think Apple kind of likes the "stigma" at this point.

Then again, maybe you're being too fair to Apple. Depends on your perspective, I suppose.

[Sirtovin]

Originally Posted by Mikuro

I think even you're being a little unfair to Apple! Macs aren't any more expensive than similarly-equipped PCs. The problem is that Apple has no machines on the market that are equipped similarly to the cheapest PCs on the market. I mean, Apple's cheapest laptop has a built-in camera, for goodness' sake.

If Apple wants to shake the stigma of being expensive, they simply need to address the whole market, which they haven't done since Steve Jobs' return (and before that, Apple didn't address the market well, and their machines really were flat-out overpriced). But then again, I think Apple kind of likes the "stigma" at this point.

Then again, maybe you're being too fair to Apple. Depends on your perspective, I suppose.

To Me Apple Will always be the Lexus of Computers... It won't ever be a FORD or a DODGE... Apple does stand by their products but the consumer has to be willing to pay for it. When was the last time you heard of a major breakdown with OS-X? (Never really... Sure hardware wise Apple has recalls... Example... Batteries... etc...) but when was the last time it was reported... "OMG, Apple has delayed OS-X, or Apple is not in the best of shape..." Lately it has not happened... M$ however is taking it in the rear end... for Vista... They keep... Ummm. Steal- I mean Innovating with the Apple Releases of OS-X...

General Point is... even with the MacMini, Apple struggles to make their product as if its a Ford which it is not.

[contoursvt]

See here is the only problem with Apple products... they are very proprietary which means if the power supply in a tower ever let go or if a system board let go, you have no choice but to pay apple what ever they ask. Thats my main reason for not buying a mac brand new (meaning pay a lot of money).

When one of our Dell's in the office (PIII 500) finally let go, we decided we would still use the 40gigabyte HD that was in there, the chassis, the DVD ROM, Floppy drive..etc. Purchased a P4 board, RAM, Processor and Power supply and basically made the Dell new again. Didnt cost a lot of money either and were purchased through a local computer shop. System board was an MSI and it fit pretty much perfectly.

I find that Apple tends to take advantage of its users whey they are really in need or down on their luck.