Slog - Comments on Apple Placates Bitchy Masses http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses Yesterday, Apple announced that they were dropping the price of the iPhone by $200, a mere 2 months after it hit the market at $600. This move made all the "I'll wait a few months" people unbearably smug while making all the early- and instant-adopters unbearably whiny. Today, Apple CEO Steve Jobs posted an "open letter" on Apple's site announcing that they will be giving early iPhone buyers a $100 credit. Love 'em or hate 'em, Apple is a smart company.... Copyright 2008 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 13:44:53 -0800 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:52:08 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Fnarf Unfortunately I'm not interested in having a closer personal and spiritual relationship with any giant tech corporations. Just gimme the goods and get the hell out of the way.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797724 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797724 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:05:56 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver Good on Apple, although it's always fun to get a laugh at the "just gotta be the first on the block to have it" crowd.

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797726 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797726 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:07:25 -0800 Comment by eloise seriously! this blog predicted it all (hilariously!) http://dirtycricket.blogspot.com/2007/06/i-am-owed-future-future.html

(i dont know how to do those fancy in text linky things, so i'm just copying the link. DEAL WITH IT! and then enjoy)

]]> eloise http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797730 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797730 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:09:42 -0800 Comment by Gabriel Apple still comes out looking bad, the drastic price reduction so soon after the launch being an admission that they were just gouging people initially.

]]> Gabriel http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797733 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797733 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:11:00 -0800 Comment by DOUG. My iPod died today. Coincidence?

]]> DOUG. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797742 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797742 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:18:04 -0800 Comment by Natalie In other news, Apples Placate Bitchy Masses: http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/hi_im_not_from_around_here

]]> Natalie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797743 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797743 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:18:42 -0800 Comment by Fnarf You mean, twenty-five years after they instituted the practice of just gouging people initially, right? I mean, that's what Apple does for a living.

]]> Fnarf http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797745 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797745 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:19:32 -0800 Comment by Tiffany Jobs said initially that the goal was to sell 10 million iPhones in the first fiscal year that they are available. Their report for the quarter stated that they had sold around a million devices. So it's clear that if they want to meet their goals, they are going to have to go ahead with these drastic price reductions.

]]> Tiffany http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797752 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797752 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:26:30 -0800 Comment by The Hand of Yobs. If microsoft had released a major product and then "refunded" a sixth of the price to the first customers, I'm sure that everyone would be charitable and call it a "smart" move. I mean, they wouldn't say that microsoft was gouging their customers and had to back down, right? NO! The Hand of Jobs works in mysterious ways, and we must be thankful for the bounty that he provides!

]]> The Hand of Yobs. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797755 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797755 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:30:30 -0800 Comment by tsm Bah, they caved in to the Apple sheep. Maybe those dumbasses shouldn't have been camping out and lining up for miles along city blocks just to be the first to get a phone!

]]> tsm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797758 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797758 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:33:15 -0800 Comment by Gabriel I'm still waiting for the openmoko general release.

]]> Gabriel http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797767 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797767 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:37:59 -0800 Comment by Jason H. Let's see... Apple charges a restocking fee to return merchandise to their company store, when you can purchase it cheaper at Costco and not pay a fee.

Apple charges $200 bucks more to early adopters of their products, only to reward those that didn't purchase...

Apple only makes the iPhone available to ATT or Cingular users, but expects people to give up their current plan (which you have to sign a contract for a year or two years) just to have their gimmicky toy...

and Apple is a smart company?

I don't get it... Apple is an idiot of a company... You can pick on MSFT all you want, but I would say that MSFT has it right... you must conform to the masses and not be so exclusive.

I sorta wish MSFT wouldn't sell office software to apple users... let them use Linux!

]]> Jason H. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797771 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797771 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:39:39 -0800 Comment by john I bought a 5gb ipod in spring 2002 for $399. Yesterday Apple released an iPod for $50 less that has 155 more gigabytes of storage. Clearly I deserve a credit as well.

]]> john http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797773 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797773 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:39:50 -0800 Comment by This is why Apples are for Suckers Market testing people. That's all Apple was doing. Market testing. They knew some folks would jump at the Iphone no matter what the cost and figured those nerds would A) tell them the real-world problems with the thing on Slashdot and B)help Apple make A LOT of money while doing said market testing.

Now that the Apple Army has done their duty (get gouged), the company is ready to sell to the rest of us. They knew all along that the price point was too high, but figured they could make a couple hundred extra bucks per phone while testing the product in the real world.

Thanks for doing the hard work suckers!

]]> This is why Apples are for Suckers http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797778 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797778 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 14:41:34 -0800 Comment by tsm @12 - "I don't get it... Apple is an idiot of a company... You can pick on MSFT all you want, but I would say that MSFT has it right... you must conform to the masses and not be so exclusive."

Well, it does appear that the market strongly disagrees with you, FWIW.

]]> tsm http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797809 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797809 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:00:48 -0800 Comment by Matt from Denver @ 13, you mean 15G, right?

@ everyone else, what else should we expect from the residents of microtown?

]]> Matt from Denver http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797884 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c797884 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 15:43:16 -0800 Comment by Tom I don't understand why this makes Apple a 'smart' company. If indeed they were a smart company, they would have come to their mutual-masturbation press release yesterday and said 'as a thanks to eager fans who waited in line for hours (days?) to get an iPhone, we're crediting you with $100 while we drop the price of the device by 200 bucks 3 months after you bought the thing'.

Instead, they waited to see if people would react negatively (you think?!) and then got their lovable spokesperson to send out a message correcting things, giving the image that he personally cares about each and every one of you.

In fact, I take it back. It makes them a very smart company that knows exactly how to play its mindless pawns.

]]> Tom http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798004 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798004 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:08:40 -0800 Comment by John @16... No, my first iPod had five gigabytes of storage.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_classic

]]> John http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798041 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798041 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 17:55:28 -0800 Comment by me Apple makes me happy. Microsoft makes me sad. I think Jobs did the right thing and I will go get my credit, thanks.

]]> me http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798191 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798191 Tech Thu, 06 Sep 2007 23:23:11 -0800 Comment by Bison Not smart, not at all. If they were smart, they would have been out in front of this, but the $100 credit makes it clear that they're in damage control mode.

]]> Bison http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798611 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/09/apple_placates_bitchy_masses#c798611 Tech Fri, 07 Sep 2007 12:52:08 -0800