Thursday, September 06, 2007
Steve Jobs is a Genius: Part II
He is giving $100 gift cards for early adopters of the iPhone. Way to fan a public relations fire.
To all iPhone customers:
I have received hundreds of emails from iPhone customers who are upset about Apple dropping the price of iPhone by $200 two months after it went on sale. After reading every one of these emails, I have some observations and
conclusions.First, I am sure that we are making the correct decision to lower the price of the 8GB iPhone from $599 to $399, and that now is the right time to do it. iPhone is a breakthrough product, and we have the chance to 'go for it' this holiday season. iPhone is so far ahead of the competition, and now it will be affordable by even more customers. It benefits both Apple and every iPhone user to get as many new customers as possible in the iPhone 'tent'. We strongly believe the $399 price will help us do just that this holiday season.
Second, being in technology for 30+ years I can attest to the fact that the technology road is bumpy. There is always change and improvement, and there is always someone who bought a product before a particular cutoff date and misses the new price or the new operating system or the new whatever. This is life in the technology lane. If you always wait for the next price cut or to buy the new improved model, you'll never buy any technology product because there is always something better and less expensive on the horizon. The good news is that if you buy products from companies that support them well, like Apple tries to do, you will receive years of useful and satisfying service from them even as newer models are introduced.
Third, even though we are making the right decision to lower the price of iPhone, and even though the technology road is bumpy, we need to do a better job taking care of our early iPhone customers as we aggressively go after new ones with a lower price. Our early customers trusted us, and we must live up to that trust with our actions in moments like these.
Therefore, we have decided to offer every iPhone customer who purchased an iPhone from either Apple or AT&T, and who is not receiving a rebate or any other consideration, a $100 store credit towards the purchase of any product at an Apple Retail Store or the Apple Online Store. Details are still being worked out and will be posted on Apple's website next week. Stay tuned.
We want to do the right thing for our valued iPhone customers. We apologize for disappointing some of you, and we are doing our best to live up to your high expectations of Apple.
Steve Jobs
Apple CEO
This is why I love him. He could have said screw you to all of the early adopters, but instead softened the blow.
Labels: Technology
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
Steve Jobs is a genius
Just more than two months after its launch, Steve Jobs announced today that the 8GB iPhone is now $399. The 4GB will be clearanced out at $299.
This makes perfect sense from a business standpoint. There are always two types of consumers--the early adopters and the masses. The early adopters paid the heavy price (and the bugs with it) and now the masses can enjoy a cheaper and more stable device.
At $400, this will fly off the shelves at your local AT&T store.
Labels: Technology
Tuesday, September 04, 2007
One last fall semester
I think I'm getting too old for college. This morning I had my first of three courses for the semester, Intro to Humanies II. Let's just say if it wasn't for the instructor, I would have been the oldest person in the class.
This whole college thing is starting to get weird. I am taking nothing but general education classes this semester. These are classes filled with freshmen and sophomores that are told to take this classes right away. I did just the opposite and they should be a breeze by now due to the fact I know how to work the system.
This semester is strange in another way. I don't know too many people in my department anymore (Public and Environmental Affairs). Seems like everyone has graduated, or is on their way out (like myself). There are no more classses to be taken, no more insightful debate and commentary, and more importantly, no more facinating topics like political theory and public policy.
But while today has been strange, the parking situation is not. Last year I bitched about the parking and this year I will do the same. I was coming back from lunch to campus and not only was the Studio Lots parking lot full, so was the Phoenix Sports Center lot and most of the Lab Sciences parking lot. Let's just say I was pissed off about that.
If our campus is serious about expanding to 7,500 students, they are going to have to do something with the parking. There is no reason why I have to park on the other side of campus and then walk clear across it for class. Now, imagine it is dark and a female student would have to walk across campus at night. Is it safe for her to walk across campus at night?
I didn't think so.
It's just flat out irritating.
Labels: UWGB
