I took a trip to the Apple store at Eastview today to drop off my MacBook to have a couple of parts changed out. Imagine my dismay when I arrived at the mall to find security guards (and man, do I use that term loosely) blocking the door to the store and a line of about 50 people in the middle of the mall corridor. Turns out today was the release of the iPhone 3GS. I explained to the "guards" that I just wanted to drop off my MacBook for service and I was denied entry. After demanding the attention of one of the orange-shirted Apple enforcers, I had to wait for a service tech to come out to me. Apparently, I presented a serious threat to the orderly roll-out of a cell phone. Because of the iPhone launch, the 45 minute job I was promised turned into a half day odyssey and I had to come back after work to pick up my machine. Getting access to the store to sign for my computer was similar to the security process at a major metropolitan airport (though I was permitted to leave my shoes on). The whole incident has me pretty irate because I have had it with Apple acting as though iPhone users are the only customers that matter to them anymore. And its not just today's product launch. Let's turn back the clock to the World Wide Developers Conference held June 8th. Typically the keynote address at the WWDC serves as a "state of the union" for Apple's product development efforts. It began at 10AM PST. The first 47 minutes were dedicated to mac products and the new Snow Leopard version of OS X. The next 1 hour and 21 minutes were ALL iPHONE. Attendees at this year's conference reported overwhelming emphasis on iPhone app development. I'm shocked...
I know that the iPhone has kept Apple's revenue flowing as the iPod cash cow began to dry up, but last time I checked, they're still actively selling computers. So it's time to stop treating those of us who dropped a considerable chunk of change on their computing hardware like second class citizens.
Don't get me wrong, I think the iPhone is great product. And at some point in the future, I might even buy one. But it's still just a phone. And if I'm standing at a genius bar with a $1400 MacBook that needs a new battery next to some iPhone junkie who can't set up the exchange email on his new 3GS, you better believe I expect to be served first.
So here are a couple constructive suggestions for Apple to turn the tide and start treating mac customers like they matter:
- Let AT&T handle the iPhone. Get it out of the Apple stores. This is a no-brainer. No other retail store I can think of is forced to close it's doors to all other customers on the day it rolls out a new product. AT&T has a national chain of retail locations and a fully-featured shopping website. They're providing the service, let them sell the phone.
- Quit it with the "There's an app for that" commercials. Yes, there is an app for that. And there's been an app for that for Windows Mobile users for years. And we didn't have to pay a dime for it. The bottom line here is that Apple needs to resume it's focus on encouraging independent OS X developers. Every geek with a copy of X Tools installed thinks they're going to strike it rich designing iPhone apps. These people don't need any more encouragement.
I love Apple products, but it's time for Steve-o to retake the reigns and get his company actin' right.
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