mollytjm

Motorola Droid: A Promising iPhone Challenger

Apple not innovating anymore? Where do you live? Apple is the best at innovation and if you think they'll sit still and let anyone else lead, think again.

E-Reader Wars Heating Up: Apple May Have Edge with Younger Generations

huh? young people don't read?!! that's not true. i'm a senior but i'm in bookstores a lot and there are as many kids/teens in there as older people and they are reading...check out the SciFi section. That's where they are. They also listen to books on cd's in their cars anytime they take trips and also while working out at the gym or walking/riding for exercise. they just read differently.

i do a lot of special exhibits for a zoo and the kids still pour over the books. But they are all getting iTouchs, etc a lot younger, so they are often reading almost constantly, between texting, emails, web surfing news sites and researching school topics.
Eventually a tablet will replace those bookbags for many books and learning cursive writing will be a thing of the past...but the younger generation is info hungry and wants to be in the loop constanty. Humans have always loved a good story...whether oral or written.
This all bodes well for Apple and probably Google stocks.

Portable Gaming Systems: Is Nintendo or PlayStation Winning This Round?

portable? i wonder if the iPhone has made a difference to the sales numbers of these other products. Gaming is really taking off on the iPhone and it really IS portable.

Rate of Consumer Spending Decline Stabilizes - Overall Outlook Remains Grim

Target is a suprise, though Warren B sold his Target but not Wal-Mart saying that in a bad economy, Wal-Mart would do better. Now that Apple is off the Macworld treadmill in the future, that will help them place their newest in the marketplace when the timing is good...which ISN'T right after Christmas. Circuit City still gives the customer short shrift. They seem to hire people who don't know products very well. Plus, i know people who aren't shopping there because the company is in trouble and they know there's no bringing anything back if the stores close. Lots of speed bumps out there and plenty of crevasses.

E-Commerce Holiday Sales Show Continued Strength

interesting article, especially about Apple...one bright spot on the horizon of doom. thank you!

CE Spending Looks Dismal - But Macs Set to Hit New All-Time High

Apple opened 3 more stores in the U.S. yesterday and they remain the most profitable retail space, per square foot. i've read that microsoft is using seinfeld in their ads in an attempt to humanize the company. if they spent that 10 million paycheck on making a better product, that might help.
Apple has the best products but also the best interaction with the customer.
Dell still sells because people think it's cheaper so therefore more economical...until they have a virus wipe their hard drive and realize they need to buy virus protection, which doesn't always work.

I wonder if there's data on the difference between IT departments in companies that have gone Mac and those that remain PC. some businesses are cutting the bottom line by switching to Macs and getting rid of some IT people (who are expensive) and using Apples excellent and FREE tech support, when need, which isn't often. also, in areas where there are Apple stores, companies can sign employees up for free classes. I know there's some movement in this direction, i just wonder if anyone has data.

What's So Special About RadioShack? - Barron's

here's where the senior citizens have it over on the rest of us...they don't go during any busy times. they lunch at 11, so go before that. and they go on a weekday.
i'm not justifying poor service, but i've been in 3 of the mall R.S's close to me and by and large, the service was genial and they knew the products they sold. their long term full time staff is pretty good...the temporary hires, usually teens, are sometimes there to steal the stuff (an entire group was jailed at one of the places here) but obviously if you're a tech wiz, you'll be working at the Apple Store or in industry.
but with an aging population, having a small store, that seems safe and familiar, in the mall, will still make R.S. a choice for certain people and i think they'll survive on that.

What's So Special About RadioShack? - Barron's

most radio shacks around the philly area are in malls and they cater to people who want help with ordinary things...like replacing their hearing aid batteries or setting up a cell phone account. seniors have learned that if you buy it at radio shack, they'll help if you have a problem, or just do it for you.

and..if you want to do a 'get around'...they'll help with that too. they were the first chain to offer and help with ways to have your own phone and hook ups...or how to split your cable so you still only pay for one, etc.

they never really left the 'do what you can for the customer' model and it paid off and as tech gets more complicated, it'll keep paying off as long as they stick with the model.

Best Buy to Sell iPhones: The Symbiosis Grows

my local Best Buy also has an Apple tech guy who use to be the only good tech person at the (now gone) compusa store. i asked him if they were hiring others and he said yes, that Apple's partnership with Best Buy included this demand, that they had to have Apple tech people on site, full time. this guy is not the usual store clerk..he's very savvy and apple customers really liked him. compusa's mistake was not having any other Apple person on site, when this guy wasn't there. Best Buy probably isn't going to make the same mistake.
so Apple people will go to Best Buy once they learn that they have real tech support there and Best Buy will, of course, benefit. While in the store just to check out the new Apple section, my friend and i spent over $100 on OTHER STUFF, half of which we hadn't planned to buy when we went there. I'm sure this will be repeated over and over again.

Apple's Interesting Challenge with Its Best Buy Deal

i think you missed the real 'coolness' of apple products...they're always ahead of the game. so, ok, THIS iphone might be one everyone eventually has, but everyone won't have the one coming out next year. the word is 'innovation'!!

companies that rested on their laurels with one popular product, got what they deserved. Apple makes a range of products and is developing new ones all the time. you just can't compare them to one-trick-ponies.

best buy has reported that people are constantly asking if they carry the iphone...and the best buy i went into (to see the Apple department) has a surprise waiting... a real APPLE guy!! in uniform and everything just like at the Apple Store, ready to deliver good customer service. He said he's full time there and there are others being hired. This guy had previously been the ONLY person at the compusa store who knew what he was doing. (one clue about compusas' failure)
so Apple is not just sending off their complicated products... they're making sure it's done right. they learned the hard way, but it was a good lesson and paying off now.