Some Parents Annoyed at Presence of iPads in Brooklyn Library

[piper28]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Which amounts to a $20 discount per iPad when purchased in bundles of 10.

Apple sure is generous

Apple hasn't actually had real big discounts for education in a long time, like a decade or two. I think our discounts on an imac is about $100 off the retail pricing. Ironically, they still have the reputation of doing big discounts for education, because everyone remembers that that's how mac got big the first time around. But I definitely still run into people that expect that apple products are going to be cheaper because we're at an educational institution.

[jersysman]

Originally Posted by piper28

Apple hasn't actually had real big discounts for education in a long time, like a decade or two. I think our discounts on an imac is about $100 off the retail pricing. Ironically, they still have the reputation of doing big discounts for education, because everyone remembers that that's how mac got big the first time around. But I definitely still run into people that expect that apple products are going to be cheaper because we're at an educational institution.

The people who were in school and used mostly Apple IIs and Macs are now the ones that make the purchasing decisions for a lot of institutions.

You still see a lot of Apple products in education and such, but mostly PCs in the business world.

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

In these days of limited budgets, libraries need to think hamburger helper and forget the filet mignon.

Park Slope is not a hamburger helper neighborhood.

I have mixed feelings. The picture one gets is of upper class tiger moms and dads channeling their children into a rigorous straight pathway to Harvard, Yale and Princeton. This is not a parenting style my DW and I would have been comfortable with. But, well, that famous tiger mom did get the desired results. Intellectual parents who rigorously limit screen time often raise children who do extremely well in school.

Here's an earlier article with a little more on the class angle:

http://www.dnainfo.com/new-york/2012...-young-readers

Brooklyn Public Library Director and Chief Librarian Richard Reyes-Gavilan . . . said he's sympathetic to those gripes, because his own 6-year-old daughter "fantasizes" about iPads.

"But those complaints are coming from parents who themselves have a laptop and a desktop and a cell phone," Reyes-Gavilan said.

"We're serving all of Brooklyn's kids — most of whom don't have access to that kind of technology at home."

[Fluribus]

Originally Posted by jersysman

Ever since the beginning of the company, Apple has always provided huge discounts for schools because they wanted to get potential customers very early. I can see them doing the same thing for libraries.

I think that plan was a failure. I used an Apple II in school. I did look at getting an Apple. "How much? Does that come with a yacht?" I got a Commodore 64. Years later, even with the discount offered at the college bookstore, a Mac was much more expensive than a Windows machine.

Maybe the library got the iPads for $2.50. If so, they ought to say so. Anyone spending the public's money ought to be concerned to be frugal and to demonstrate that frugality to the public. Government, given its history, has not earned the benefit of any doubt.

Originally Posted by jersysman

You still see a lot of Apple products in education and such, but mostly PCs in the business world.

Another reason, I think, why Apple wasn't a dominate force in home computing. One could get a Windows machine for much cheaper and get what one would likely be using at work.

[Sregener]

Originally Posted by Fluribus

Another reason, I think, why Apple wasn't a dominate force in home computing. One could get a Windows machine for much cheaper and get what one would likely be using at work.

Yes, you can get a slow, underperforming Windows PC much cheaper than the cheapest new Mac. But when you compare similar hardware (quality screen, resolution, processor speed, case durability etc.) the price difference all but disappears.

Same for the iPad. You can get a cheap Android tablet, and discover that the case isn't aluminum, the glass scratches easily, or the speed is horrible. Or you can buy a comparable Android tablet in quality to the iPad and spend close to $400. Still less than an iPad at retail, but that difference may be made up with institutional bulk orders and educational discounts.

Originally Posted by Sregener

Yes, you can get a slow, underperforming Windows PC much cheaper than the cheapest new Mac. But when you compare similar hardware (quality screen, resolution, processor speed, case durability etc.) the price difference all but disappears.

Try comparing a Lenovo ThinkPad T430 to MacBook Pro's. You will find that you're getting more and paying less. Incidentally, Lenovo is one of the more expensive brands out there.

Same for the iPad. You can get a cheap Android tablet, and discover that the case isn't aluminum, the glass scratches easily, or the speed is horrible. Or you can buy a comparable Android tablet in quality to the iPad and spend close to $400. Still less than an iPad at retail, but that difference may be made up with institutional bulk orders and educational discounts.

Apple uses aluminum and glass because it is cheap and gives the impression of quality (the, "it feels solid," mentality). The reality is that neither aluminum frames nor glass absorb shock very well. Many plastics are better at absorbing shock. I also love your comment about education discounts: you have already had two people tell you that Apple hasn't offered deep discounts in at least a decade. Here's an idea of what an institutional discount gets you from Apple these days:

http://arstechnica.com/apple/2013/03...r-good-reason/

I also don't understand why you think that institutional bulk orders will push the cost of Apple products near (or below) the price of products from other vendors. Keep in mind that these vendors are capable of providing discounts too.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by crich70

I don't have a beef. Was just pointing out that as time passes things change. Still plenty of old school paper books (at the library) where I live. They have just expanded to include other services as well. Things always change. At one time books were scrolls & there was no Dewey Decimal System to keep things sorted.

That wasn't really directed towards you, but rather the patrons who were complaining.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by piper28

Apple hasn't actually had real big discounts for education in a long time, like a decade or two. I think our discounts on an imac is about $100 off the retail pricing. Ironically, they still have the reputation of doing big discounts for education, because everyone remembers that that's how mac got big the first time around. But I definitely still run into people that expect that apple products are going to be cheaper because we're at an educational institution.

All I can say is that two weeks ago, a co worker of mine bought a macbook pro and got a substantial discount by buying it with his wife's education discount. I'm pretty sure he wasn't lying about it.

[crich70]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

That wasn't really directed towards you, but rather the patrons who were complaining.

Ah ok. Sorry misread your post.

[fratermus]

Originally Posted by tubemonkey

Link?

Here ya go.

This kind of thing is very common. Get the kids to use the product and they are more likely to buy (or receive as a gift) in the future.

Originally Posted by fratermus

Here ya go.

This kind of thing is very common. Get the kids to use the product and they are more likely to buy (or receive as a gift) in the future.

I'm seeing discounts in the 5% to 10% range. I wouldn't call that a substantial discount, as some posters are.