Low End Mac Reader Specials

TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com

OWC: Get the Right Memory / Ram for your Mac. Top Quality, Competitive Prices, Lifetime Warranty. Expert Support and Video Installation Guidies too! 4.0GB Matched Sets from $87.99, Options up to 32GB. Click here

Poker Mac Don't install Parallels to play poker online! Poker Mac will show you how to download and install a native Mac poker application such as Full Tilt Poker Mac.

Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.

Compare products like desktop computers, apple laptops, apple macs, and LCD Monitors side by side! All the information and reviews to make the best purchasing decision for new mobile phones, sat nav systems, or MP3 players. The Ciao online shopping community makes searching products easy for you.

Mac Scope

Playing the Game of Hype

Stephen Van Esch - 2002.03.27

Apple is one of the few companies that can really get the hype machine working overtime. Both hardware and software have received the treatment as Apple has released each new product as the one thing that will bring world peace, alleviate famine, and abolish old age.

The problem is the sizzle versus steak ratio can be a bit high at times.

The iPod is an example of this. Hyped beyond belief, it could do nothing more than disappoint when it was delivered. Of course, the Mac press got into the act and, fueled by the Apple marketing machine, speculation was rampant.

In truth, Apple was only one of the players in the iPod hypefest - not innocent, but not entirely guilty either.

Things seem a little different with the new iMac.

In this case, Apple might have to shoulder most of the blame. While the iMac is one great machine, it'll only reach it's full flat panel iMacpotential if it can actually reach the doors of the people who buy them. It's not news that the iMac is hitting retail shelves at a very slow rate. With the anticipation surrounding this machine, Apple has to be able to ride that wave of expectation. Many people may have been caught up in the moment and bought an iMac. Apple must strike when the iron is hot and make sure that pre-orders are filled quickly.

Of course, Apple is not entirely to blame. The shortage of flat panel monitors seems to be culprit, but at the very least Apple should be as forthcoming as possible with the problems they're encountering. That's just plain old fashioned customer service.

More troubling are reports that Apple is holding onto machines for their own stores while letting the resellers slide. Apple can't carry the entire selling load with their few Apple retail stores and online store. Resellers keep the company bottom line healthy. Without the resellers, Apple is dead in the water. Resellers shouldn't have to pay the price for Apple's roll out mistakes.

Apple enjoys playing the hype game and, for the most part, it works and helps the company sell machines and software. The press gets to spill ink and gain readership as they speculate about Apple's next big thing. I'm still amazed that the iMac is still getting great press from newspapers around the world. It seems that almost every day since Macworld, some journalist discovers the iMac and how great it is. Pretty much everybody benefits from the hype arrangement.

Sometimes, however, Apple gets ahead of itself. While it's impossible to predict every production problem, contingency plans and an honest policy with customers and resellers can only improve relations for everybody involved.

Too much sizzle and not enough steak will only be tolerated by the press and customers for a limited time.

Yes, Apple has created a product that almost sells itself. It's useless, though, if it remains vaporware for customers.

Stephen Van Esch is the founder and president of the E-learning Foundry, an online training resource for Mac users. Steve loves the Mac and is doubly bilingual, since he's also fluent in Windows and French.

Recently on Mac Scope

Links for the Day

  • Mac of the Day: 17" iMac G4/800 MHz, July 2002 - The iMac 'grows up' with a 17" 1440 x 900 display.
  • Group of the Day: LisaList supports Lisa users.
  • November 8 in LEM history: 99: OS 9: I think I like it - 01: The simplified Mac life - Soured on Windows - Flea market Mac - 02: Little room for improvement in new 'Books - Combo drive upgrade for iceBooks - 04: Re-Porter - 05: Fix the old iMac or buy a Mac mini? - Apple's Copland project - 06: MacBook Core 2 - MacBook value equation - Cheap is as cheap does - 07: Problems with Classic mode in Tiger - The G4 Power Mac that won't run Leopard
  • Support Low End Mac

Recent Content on Low End Mac

Recent Deals

  • Best Mac Pro Deals, 11.03. Used 2.66 GHz 4-core, $1,300; 3.0 8-core. $2,299; refurb 2.66 4-core Nehalem, $2,149; 2.93, $2,549; 2.26 8-core, $2,799; 2.93, $4,999.
  • Best iPhone Deals, 11.03. New 8 GB iPhone 3G, $$99; refurb 16 GB 3GS, $149; new, $199; 32 GB, $299.
  • Best 12" PowerBook G4 Deals, 11.03. Used 867 MHz SperDrive, $348; 1 GHz, $499; 1.33 Combo, $298; SD, $559; 1.5 Combo, $448; SuperDrive, $589.
  • Best Power Mac G3 and PCI Video Card Deals, 11.02. Used beige 300 MHz, $25; G4/366, $49; blue & white 350, $80; 400, $90; 450, $105; PCI video cards from $15; shipping additional.
  • Best Power Mac G4 and AGP Video Card Deals, 11.02. Used 400 MHz, $50; 733 MHz, $69; 933 MHz, $209; 1.25 GHz dual, $299.
  • Best 15" MacBook Pro Deals, 11.02. Used 2.0 GHz, $800; 2.2, $900; 2.4, $1,000; refurb 2.53, $1,449; 2.66, $1,699; 2.8, $1,949; 3.06, $2,169; new 2.53, $1,579; 2.66, $1,799; more.
  • Best Mac mini Deals, 10.30. Used 1.33 GHz G4 mini, $379; 1.42, $389; 1.5, $419; 1.83 GHz Core Duo, $350; Core 2, $439; new 2.26 GHz nVidia, $580; 2.53 GHz, $770; Server, $990.
  • Best G4 iBook Deals, 10.30. Used 12" 1.07 GHz Combo, $225; 1.33 GHz, $298; 14" 1 GHz, $349; 1.33 GHz, $398; 1.42 GHz SuperDrive, $498.
  • Best Classic Mac OS Deals, 10.30. System 6.0.8 floppies, $10; 7.1, $12; 7.5, $20; 7.5 CD, $4; 7.6 $13; 8.1, $11; 8.5, $20; 8.6, $90; 9.0, $20; 9.2.2, $30.
  • More deals in our archive.

About LEM | Support | Usage | Privacy | Contacts

Custom Search

Amazon.com

Navigation

Used Mac Dealers
Apple History
Video Cards
Email Lists

Favorite Sites

MacSurfer
MacMinute
MacInTouch
MyAppleMenu
InfoMac
Macs Only!
The Mac Observer
Accelerate Your Mac
RetroMacCast
PB Central
MacWindows
The Vintage Mac
   Museum

DealMac
DealsOnTheWeb
Mac2Sell
ramseeker
Mac Driver Museum
JAG's House
System 6 Heaven
System 7 Today
the pickle's Low-End
   Mac FAQ

Abandonware
   Petition

Mac vs. PC Info

Affiliates

The Apple Store
Mac Connection
B&H
MacMall
TechRestore
ExperCom
Crucial Memory
batteries.com

Advertise

Open Link