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Apple banning Facebook in all retail stores
- Thread starter Luke1robb
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I didn't realise it was universally cool to hate on facebook already. I just got on board
You made me laugh out loud with this comment. It was funny. Thank you.
Meh, the geeky users will just use a Proxy Bypass..
It is bloody annoying though waiting to actually use a product in view of purchase but you can't get near due to the plethora of Emos all looking at their lives and there sad freinds lives who are stood next to them!
Believe it or not, they apparently have that covered, too. Proxies don't work, from what I've heard.
In any case, I think it's a great move.
Though admittedly, iPhoto has a Facebook upload, so if you wanna demo it, you can't. I guess.
And you kids get off my lawn!
This made me laugh out loud, too. Thanks.
God... You peeps are funny.
alrighty.... then I guess you should do all of your browsing at Apple Stores, they're both blocked.
PS: You're super cool for not liking networking sites!
Bunch of grouchy old men here
Probably rubbing yourself against the teeny boppers.
Creepy much?
Thank god, I tried to go into the Bluewater Apple Store and it was packed with teenagers all on Facebook, there was a sales rep who was trying to sell a MBP to a gentleman, and he couldn't actually show him any because of all the kids everywhere...
Also annoys me when they come in, turn all the iPhones music on, get the volume up max, then just walk out.
Also annoys me when they come in, turn all the iPhones music on, get the volume up max, then just walk out.
By the way... I'm not trying to be "cool". I just don't care for them. I didn't know that I had some sort of image to maintain. I don't browse myspace or facebook on my home computer either. However, I do have FaceBook on my iPhone because my girlfriend has FaceBook and sometimes that's how I find out what she's doing, but I still don't have to like it.
Also, I don't go into Apple Stores to play with the computers... I go there to look at all the cracks in the iPhone floor models and to remind myself how I'm so glad I didn't get black.
PS: I just realized that I took your last line as sarcasm. If it wasn't sarcasm, then I'm sorry for the above.
Mmmm, not so much....
Facebook is a website that anyone can access and doesn't necessarily keep a buyer from buying a Mac.
Photobook is a feature of the Mac and must be on and working to demonstrate to potential buyers. Understanding the features and benefits of any potential buy is critical in the purchasing process.
Just my 2 cents.
I am all for banning facebook in the apple store. The one near my house has tons of teenagers in it all the time hogging the computers, iphone, ipod touches all on facebook with their parents walking around drinking starbucks with this confused look on their face . Eventually parents see other parents they know and start chatting. Apple Stores are the new Chucky Cheese apparently. I don't mind the little kids or people who are actually buying stuff, but I can only handle so many obnoxious rich white tweens and teenagers. We need a good plague to thin out the ranks a bit.
Some educational institutions do not issue identification cards or at least don't issue it very easily.
Because of this, the only way to prove that you qualify for the educational discount without having to come back another day with a letter is being able to log into email or something.
Therefore, you cannot just enable the Apple site.
I also use Google at the Apple store to quickly compare different brand accessories.
Anyway,
I'd say if anything, ban meebo. I see that all the time at our Apple stores. Facebook is one thing. Some people don't chat, rather they just post stuff on walls and check their notifications, just like many people quickly check their email. Not really loitering...but meebo is solely chat.
Damn. Why did they do this?
Great. Now all the noobs won't be leaving their facebook accts logged in so I can go in and mess up their facebook lives.
Great. Now all the noobs won't be leaving their facebook accts logged in so I can go in and mess up their facebook lives.
Damn. Why did they do this?
Great. Now all the noobs won't be leaving their facebook accts logged in so I can go in and mess up their facebook lives.
Ha! I noticed that before with a hotmail account, luckily I was nice and logged them out
Bad move Apple.
Bad move Apple.
Focus on the real issue, not the symptoms.
First, let me say that I don't really like FaceBook or MySpace much. But Apple has gone the wrong way here.
Goal: Sell more computers. Get more people having hands on time with store computers.
Problem: Kids spending too much time on FB and MS.
Apple's solution: Ban FB and MS.
Wrong. As mentioned above, people will think macs don't work with FB or MS.
A different solution: Limit the amount of time people can spend on machines. Be generous - e.g 30 mins (each store might be different - maybe 10 mins at busy times). This could be through picking up a token from staff, or dispenser or some other Apple high tech way. When your time runs out, join the queue for another time slot.
Advantages:
- When time runs out, people will be left wanting more.
- Get used to using FB and MS on macs
- Less time pressure once you have a slot
- Fairer allocation of vacated computers.
- keep stores full and busy, but still give sales people the ability to jump the queue to give a customer hands on time.
- like it or not, FB and MS people are social networkers, and are able to influence others. Banning FB and MS loses this influence.
Disadvantages
- Makes the mac store more of a netcafe, which maybe Apple don't want.
- More regulation of people - perhaps Apple quite likes the casual anarchy we have at the moment.
x RT x
Bad move Apple.
Focus on the real issue, not the symptoms.
First, let me say that I don't really like FaceBook or MySpace much. But Apple has gone the wrong way here.
Goal: Sell more computers. Get more people having hands on time with store computers.
Problem: Kids spending too much time on FB and MS.
Apple's solution: Ban FB and MS.
Wrong. As mentioned above, people will think macs don't work with FB or MS.
A different solution: Limit the amount of time people can spend on machines. Be generous - e.g 30 mins (each store might be different - maybe 10 mins at busy times). This could be through picking up a token from staff, or dispenser or some other Apple high tech way. When your time runs out, join the queue for another time slot.
Advantages:
- When time runs out, people will be left wanting more.
- Get used to using FB and MS on macs
- Less time pressure once you have a slot
- Fairer allocation of vacated computers.
- keep stores full and busy, but still give sales people the ability to jump the queue to give a customer hands on time.
- like it or not, FB and MS people are social networkers, and are able to influence others. Banning FB and MS loses this influence.
Disadvantages
- Makes the mac store more of a netcafe, which maybe Apple don't want.
- More regulation of people - perhaps Apple quite likes the casual anarchy we have at the moment.
x RT x
Good move apple.
Have you ever wanted to check out a mac TO BUY only to have to wait for some kid checking on his meaningless life and his meaningless friends lives for 30 minutes?
It's called an APPLE STORE. Not an APPLE CAFE.
Boo Hoo. the kiddies have to go home to use facebook on their mom's computer.....
That's life kids. Get used to it.
I think banning ANY website (other than porn, of course) is a really bad idea. Especially popular sites like MySpace/Facebook. If someone is testing out a Mac for the first time, there's a good chance they'll be checking out one of their social networking sites first. Banning one of the first sites they go to doesn't necessarily leave a good impression. The person is NOT going to think "oh, they banned it because other people are taking up too much time on these sites. Good for Apple!" No, instead they're going to think "WTF?!? I can't even access a completely harmless site like Facebook? Lame!!! Apple is a bunch of censoring Nazis. No wonder all my friends hate them." Etc., etc....
Honestly, I don't understand why Apple can't figure out a way to just set a time limit for such sites? Surely there's an easy way to do it? Make it so a time-limit prompt pops up any time you enter such a site, and then after a certain amount of time shut off access to that site for the username that they used (so they can't go right back in). New users who are just testing a Mac out probably won't be on MyFaceSpaceBook that long anyway, and if they are, they at least got the time-limit prompt in the beginning and will be more understandable about it when they have to sign off it (rather than just cutting off their access completely).
EDIT: Just noticed RedTomato said basically the same thing (my bad for not refreshing). I agree, though I think 30 minutes is waaaaay too long. Even 10 minutes is stretching it, but acceptable. I would say between 5-10 mins. And don't make it so you have to do anything in order to be able to log in -- just log in like normal, with a warning that you will be logged off after a certain amount of time so that others can use the computer too.
Honestly, I don't understand why Apple can't figure out a way to just set a time limit for such sites? Surely there's an easy way to do it? Make it so a time-limit prompt pops up any time you enter such a site, and then after a certain amount of time shut off access to that site for the username that they used (so they can't go right back in). New users who are just testing a Mac out probably won't be on MyFaceSpaceBook that long anyway, and if they are, they at least got the time-limit prompt in the beginning and will be more understandable about it when they have to sign off it (rather than just cutting off their access completely).
EDIT: Just noticed RedTomato said basically the same thing (my bad for not refreshing). I agree, though I think 30 minutes is waaaaay too long. Even 10 minutes is stretching it, but acceptable. I would say between 5-10 mins. And don't make it so you have to do anything in order to be able to log in -- just log in like normal, with a warning that you will be logged off after a certain amount of time so that others can use the computer too.
Right... someone is going to decide whether to buy a mac or not based on access to facebook...
They can always ask an apple employee to turn it on to test IF THEY ARE SERIOUS ABOUT buying which is the point.
The kids hogging up the machines checking out which of their moron buddies saw katie last night and "texted" her don't buy.
And IF they do, it's their mom's money and mom is going to say, "do you want it or not, we are leaving for the dell store next if you don';t"
and any kid that doesn't deserves a DELL.
try any way you want to spin this, but this is directed to the kids that treat it like an Internet cafe, that don't spend money and actually cost apple money buy sitting in the "showroom cars" taking them for a spin, without ever buying the car.
These are the facts.
Apple knows this. The adults know this. and this is why apple after MUCH thought and way later IMO decided on this policy.
To the rest, whining, please don't cry over spilled facebook milk.....
This is probably a good idea, and if they can ban MySpace, too. I do like MySpace more than Facebook as it seems more secure. Facebook most often uses real names and idiotic people put everything on there that a hacker/cracker would dream of having.
People come into the local Apple Store, surf some, but most often buy software, iPod accessories, iPods, and Macs (but Macs very rarely as Mac Mall and other online places give free RAM and printers with purchase of Mac). The Apple Store mostly has the computers as window dressing and decor and they get dirty very fast, scratched, and are replaced. The computers bring people in and the other "stuff" makes the margin of profit and pays the rent. But even if every Apple Store "nets" a break even point, or even loses money in the costs from "gross" to "net", those stores are great advertising.
I saw one accessory, of medium quality, for Garage Band and the Apple Store had it for $70 dollars. A much higher version of the same thing is $31 dollars online. This is what makes "net". People buy a ton of impulse software and stuff for their Macs at the Apple Store.
People come into the local Apple Store, surf some, but most often buy software, iPod accessories, iPods, and Macs (but Macs very rarely as Mac Mall and other online places give free RAM and printers with purchase of Mac). The Apple Store mostly has the computers as window dressing and decor and they get dirty very fast, scratched, and are replaced. The computers bring people in and the other "stuff" makes the margin of profit and pays the rent. But even if every Apple Store "nets" a break even point, or even loses money in the costs from "gross" to "net", those stores are great advertising.
I saw one accessory, of medium quality, for Garage Band and the Apple Store had it for $70 dollars. A much higher version of the same thing is $31 dollars online. This is what makes "net". People buy a ton of impulse software and stuff for their Macs at the Apple Store.
Great move Apple retail! Whenever I try to see new hardware first hand at any of the NYC stores, every machine is occupied by some freeking tourist checking their email or Facebook. Hotmail, Yahoo and Gmail next, please!
If 30 mins is too long, fine. Let it be whatever.
But set a time limit. The problem is not FB.
If FB is banned, then they'll go to webmail. If webmail is banned, they'll go to flash games. If flash games are banned, then they'll go to forums. If forums are banned then they'll go somewhere else.
You end up banning the entire web.
But set a time limit. The problem is not FB.
If FB is banned, then they'll go to webmail. If webmail is banned, they'll go to flash games. If flash games are banned, then they'll go to forums. If forums are banned then they'll go somewhere else.
You end up banning the entire web.
Facebook is really that popular? No one I know has one. (It's all Myspace here )
Also, I can see bad word of mouth coming from this decision. Kids who couldn't access their facebook telling their friends "macs suck" because of that. I don't know, I just think it's a bad idea.
If you need to check out a Mac, ask an employee to throw one of the kids off. They have the power to do so.
)Also, I can see bad word of mouth coming from this decision. Kids who couldn't access their facebook telling their friends "macs suck" because of that. I don't know, I just think it's a bad idea.
If you need to check out a Mac, ask an employee to throw one of the kids off. They have the power to do so.
Yeah right! People can get use to Myspace and Facebook at home! Well as porn sites too!
Eh, I don't really care.
They've had MySpace blocked for awhile.
Ironically, I go onto MacRumors whenever I'm in the Apple Store.
They've had MySpace blocked for awhile.
Ironically, I go onto MacRumors whenever I'm in the Apple Store.
Right... someone is going to decide whether to buy a mac or not based on access to facebook...
Um, have you actually heard the really stupid reasons why people won't buy Macs? Many of them are for even dumber reasons than that.
You can argue that those kind of people might not buy a Mac anyway, finding any excuse. But then again, with some people, it really only takes that ONE THING to turn them off. So why give them more ammunition? Is it petty to be turned off by one little thing like that? Sure. But the point is, some people ARE that petty. And at the end of the day, the end result can still be a lost sale. And while it's true that person might be an idiot to give up on a Mac due to something as lame as having their Facebook banned, Apple is being JUST as silly for not thinking of a BETTER solution to handle the computer-hogging problem.
Why BAN a harmless website, when there are so many other simple alternatives you can do that will ALSO limit people's time, but not turn anyone off to your product? It just doesn't make sense to me...
I recall a graph recently illustrating that social networking sites have for the first time beaten adult sites as the most popular to visit at certain peak times for non-work Internet usage - of course, both are far ahead of any other sort of site.
So, Apple has gone from banning one of the two most popular sorts of site to banning both. Now, I can understand banning Facebook, but why ban porn? It seems to me that social networking sites will have a far greater impact on the teenager's social development than a naked body (which he will be madly browsing for on the home computer anyway).
I'd like to see an Apple store being erected in old Pompeii: enough real-life social amenities and images of the natural human form that Facebook would be redundant and porn would be passe. Shame about the volcano, but perhaps some MBA-style core throttling would fix that. OK, OK, it's not from the core...