question about Amazon Rising ?

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

I hate Apple for what they do, and would never freewilly fork over money to them.

I didn't like when they abandoned the Apple II line around 1990 or so, since I was an Apple II hobbyist. But I don't think I hated them for it, and certainly don't almost 30 years later.

As for their products after that, mostly they were too expensive for me to easily afford. I could have bought them used, but didn't (in part because the Mac wasn't made for hobbyists -- sometimes they were in sealed cases). I also haven't bought a used Lexus. But I don't hate Lexus or Apple. Am I missing something? Are you saying that Apple is worse than other luxury (or semi-luxury) goods brands?

Originally Posted by DuckieTigger

Yet I acknowledge that they are vastly successful as a business.

Well, yes. I guess that anyone here who owns their stock will consider that a plus. Me, I don't care one way or the other whether they are successful.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Oh! Not me! Long lines, clerks if available at all being rude, limited selection, having to actually wear clothes to buy books! I am quite happy with an all electronic book buying and reading experience.

Me too! The less I have to deal with other people, the better for all concerned.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

I didn't like when they abandoned the Apple II line around 1990 or so, since I was an Apple II hobbyist. But I don't think I hated them for it, and certainly don't almost 30 years later.

Personally, I consider Apple an active enemy to personal computing. Their philosophy of reducing computer programs to buttons you click on, their moves to remove my ability to upgrade or service my machines, the recent revelation about how they slowed down older iphones to get you to buy new ones, it goes on and on.

I want the next generation to know more about how a computer works than you click on the shiny button.

[DuckieTigger]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

Am I missing something? Are you saying that Apple is worse than other luxury (or semi-luxury) goods brands?

It is okay to charge extra for low or limited quantity luxury items. Most even have a reason to be more expensive -- inflated prices in luxury cars is mainly due to lower volume production. Now a commodity like a cell phone? The only luxury there is the name. What does Apple do with all the profit? Absolutely nothing, simply leave it rot in a gigantic pile of useless money.

Well, yes. I guess that anyone here who owns their stock will consider that a plus. Me, I don't care one way or the other whether they are successful.

I don't own Apple stock. For me there is a red flag going up when gambling on a one-trick-pony. Even the iPhone is not immune to some horrible crash. Sure, that will never happen as long as we use cell phones. But who is to say we will use cell phones 10 or 20 years from now.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by Tony1988

True. But again human error. If a worker does a good job most of the time and puts an item In the wrong box they shouldn't be treated like the devil. We are not talking malpractice here. Lol. Amazon is making loads of money and misplaced product here or there won't break them. As for the customers who are obnoxious jerks about it that is probably a customer not worth having. There is not one person who works that hasn't made a human error. It happens. Now if it happens on a regular basis YES. That person should be let go. But one or two times during a mostly excellent track record... NO.

That is usually the case. Records are kept. Performance is tallied, standards are calculated and discipline is applied as necessary.

[sealbeater]

Originally Posted by frahse

That is usually the case. Records are kept. Performance is tallied, standards are calculated and discipline is applied as necessary.

The beatings will continue until morale improves!

[SteveEisenberg]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Personally, I consider Apple an active enemy to personal computing.

I could say that laptops are an active enemy to hobbyist computing, since the small form factor makes it hard to built from parts, tricky to repair, and limited in upgrade possibilities. I could say that, but I won't. No one is forcing me to buy a laptop, Apple product or otherwise.

Most people are not hobbyists looking for a challenge. They just want devices doing the jobs they were designed for. I don't see anything wrong with a company, that treats its staff well, fulfilling that need at whatever price point some part of the public is willing to pay.

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Me too! The less I have to deal with other people, the better for all concerned.

I'm not anti-people, I'm just anti-sales clerk.

Because I do my homework, they rarely know as much as I do about whatever it is I am buying. I want the sales clerk to go into the stockroom and get the thing I'm buying, that's it. Do that, and ring me up!

Amazon and its competitors are just easier for me, and less stressful. (Not ALWAYS cheaper though)

[GlenBarrington]

Originally Posted by sealbeater

Personally, I consider Apple an active enemy to personal computing. Their philosophy of reducing computer programs to buttons you click on, their moves to remove my ability to upgrade or service my machines, the recent revelation about how they slowed down older iphones to get you to buy new ones, it goes on and on.

I want the next generation to know more about how a computer works than you click on the shiny button.

I don't hate 'em. I don't use them, but I don't hate them. They found a niche that needed filling, and they filled it. They were the first to understand that technology had the potential to define a self selected group of people to themselves, which forced OTHER people to also define themselves, in part, by the technology they use. Remember the Mac/Windows flame wars of the early 2000s?

We were all used to prestige branding, but the idea of using tech branding to define practically the entirety of our lives was new.

Fortunately, the worst of that is over. From what I've seen, sparks still occasionally fly between smartwatch fans, and tablet, Chromebook, and Surface users. But I get the impression that everyone but the die hard fanboys are painfully self aware and a bit embarrassed by what they are doing.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by SteveEisenberg

I didn't like when they abandoned the Apple II line around 1990 or so, since I was an Apple II hobbyist. But I don't think I hated them for it, and certainly don't almost 30 years later.

As for their products after that, mostly they were too expensive for me to easily afford. I could have bought them used, but didn't (in part because the Mac wasn't made for hobbyists -- sometimes they were in sealed cases). I also haven't bought a used Lexus. But I don't hate Lexus or Apple. Am I missing something? Are you saying that Apple is worse than other luxury (or semi-luxury) goods brands?

Well, yes. I guess that anyone here who owns their stock will consider that a plus. Me, I don't care one way or the other whether they are successful.

I pretty much went through the same cycle with Apple, except I moved to the Mac back in 2007 when I got annoyed with how Microsoft was doing the authorization thing with Windows. Since I was building my own PC's at the time, every time I would upgrade a major component, Microsoft would think that I was using my copy of Windows on a new machine and accuse me of being a pirate. That's a pretty quick way to lose a customer. (and yes, a customer service rep at Microsoft did accuse me of being a pirate when I had to call in to get my copy of Windows reauthorized after replacing the mother board.)

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by GlenBarrington

Remember the Mac/Windows flame wars of the early 2000s?

...

Fortunately, the worst of that is over.

Read any comments on any tech review of a phone, tablet or PC (or don't. you will be a happier person). Within 5-10 posts a Windows/iOS/Google flame war will break out and someone will come in preaching about Linux.

But I get the impression that everyone but the die hard fanboys are painfully self aware and a bit embarrassed by what they are doing.

I think it has really been that way from the beginning. But the fanboys are the squeaky wheels. Over time we've just learned that it is better to ignore them.