[Wrao]

I went down to the Apple store in cambridge with the intention of getting iLife '05, Jampack 4, a mouse, and possibly World of Warcraft. I had a hunch there'd probably be something of a crowd there, But I didn't expect there to be quite so many people!

There was a line of about 30-40 people, and there was a total population of about 30-40 more people in the store, plus about 20 staff members. It was pretty crowded in there!

They didn't have Jampack 4 in yet, and they didn't have WoW, or any mice I particularly wanted. So I decided to not wait in line, since it wouldn't really be worth it just for iLife, So I'll just order this stuff online.

But, all over the place people were asking "where are those really little iPods?" and "do you have the 60 GB iPods?" and "I want that new iPod"

I overheard one funny conversation between a 30 something year old man and a staff member.
"do you have any of those new super small iPods?"
"no sorry, we're all sold out, we have the mini though if you're interested in that?"
"hmm, well then how about the one with the 60 gigabyte one?"
"yes, the iPod photo, we have those over there next to the minis"
"hm, and you have regular iPods?"
"ya, all our models are over there *pointing to the other side of the store*"
"Thank you"

then the guy left the store!

Well, I got to see one of the new iPod shuffles in person. it's really really small. So much smaller than I thought it was. It's kinda like a longer version of the iPod headphone remote. I don't have any use for one, but just seeing it made me want it a little!

The other fun factor to this expedition was the pending blizzard that has now hit boston. Though I mostly beat it, on my way back home it started up something fierce. That is all.

[LoCash]

Blizzard stopped selling new copies of WoW, so you may want to find one sooner rather than later. And when you do, start a char on the Shadow Moon realm

[torifile]

I thought about buying iWork and iLife tonight but I decided against it (mostly because we can't use ed discounts on software at the store). The shuffle is really small. Just slightly bigger than my thumb drive.

While I was there, some dude bought 6 iPods! I was thinking, "hey man, can I be your friend??"

[morningstarrising]

More people went out to get something not needed before another snowstorm..really crazy people...

[porter]

I went to the Apple store too.

The Mac Mini is seriously tempting me now... I like the iMac (G5), the PB (portability), and the Mac Mini (so cool- like another cube)- can't decide which one I want.

Didn't buy iWork- gotta get the edu discount

iPod shuffle is small as hell, amazing

That 30" monitor never fails to amaze me...

I'm holding off all hardware purchases until Tiger is out and is preloaded on new macs.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by porter Didn't buy iWork- gotta get the edu discount

You know you can get the educational discount right there in the Apple Store, right? All you have to do is show your student ID to the cashier and... voila! Student price!

[BlueRabbit]

Originally Posted by Brad You know you can get the educational discount right there in the Apple Store, right? All you have to do is show your student ID to the cashier and... voila! Student price!

Isn't that only for hardware though? I thought you could only get student discounts for software online for some reason.

[FFL]

That is correct - hardware no problem, software online-only.

[Brad]

Huh, I'm pretty sure I got iLife 04 last winter with my discount there. Maybe the cashier made an exception for me?

[Wickers]

hehe... the parent post reminded me of what one of the sales reps. said to a customer a day after the iPod shuffle was released.

client: Do you have the new iPod shuffle yet?
rep: Yes, but we just sold out. . . try back in 3 weeks when the next shipment arrives
client: cool. thanks.

He said it with such a straight face... it made me crack up laughing.

[FFL]

Originally Posted by Brad Huh, I'm pretty sure I got iLife 04 last winter with my discount there. Maybe the cashier made an exception for me?

Or didn't know any better.

[Wrao]

Originally Posted by LoCash Blizzard stopped selling new copies of WoW, so you may want to find one sooner rather than later. And when you do, start a char on the Shadow Moon realm

Hm, That's lame, I'm sure I can find it somewhere.

[silberpete]

errrr... somewhat altered (beer) sorry.
I thought I might have the discipline to wait for an updated Imac 6 months or so from now to bundle the Ilife price... but no! I drove past lots of ice related accidents to spend 180 bucks on Ilife and Jampack 4 at the raleigh store on the first day! A cute checkout appless was happy to tell me all about the unavailable ( in NC ) ipod shuffle around her neck.... and I finally got to watch a tivoed special about the apple II from g4techtv today. Of course I went home and had a blast updating a garageband 1 song. Check my homepage if ya like for the versions (folder in downloads section). Otherwise....
eastcoast ya'll!

[Franz Josef]

"appless" - now that is cute ....

[johnq]

Originally Posted by \/\/ickes hehe... the parent post reminded me of what one of the sales reps. said to a customer a day after the iPod shuffle was released. client: Do you have the new iPod shuffle yet? rep: Yes, but we just sold out. . . try back in 3 weeks when the next shipment arrives client: cool. thanks. He said it with such a straight face... it made me crack up laughing.

I....don't get it. What's funny there?

[Eugene]

I went into the store around 4:00 in the afternoon to pick up iWork and iLife. The place was bursting at the seams with people looking for Shuffles. Too bad the store probably sold out of them within an hour of opening...

But then again, I'm sure extra copies of iWork and iLife were sold just because of all the foot-traffic. The iPod shuffle will probably create more "switcher" opportunities than the Mac mini...

[pscates2.0]

Just imagine the next big keynote (WWDC, Paris or even MWSF 2006)...when Jobs shows the numbers of iPod shuffles sold so far, and shows that little pie chart that displays iPod/Apple marketshare of mp3 players.



"Apple: 97%. The other guys, together, make up the remaining 3%...".



They built a better mousetrap, it seems. The others can mock, whine, overdesign, etc. all they want, but in the same way that Macs are an awesome blend of hardware, software and OS from the same company (the "whole widget" thing), the iPod stands above all others because you have it (in all its variations), iTunes and the iTMS all strongly - and beautifully - working together. It's simply not a pain-in-the-butt.

A controlled, ultra-tight and integrated experience that most people probably prefer, as opposed to yet another button/switch-laden player from one company, some weird-ass proprietary jukebox software on the computer from another company and buying songs from God-knows-where (Napster, Wal-mart, etc.). And trying to make sense of it all.

Good luck.

[ixocean]

Just wanted to chime in...we don't have an Apple store here in Naples yet. Closest one is about an hour and a half away in Miami metro, so I spent an hour or so poking around CompUSA, Circuit City, and Target in the hopes that one may have received a small shipment of Shuffles. I got really used to hearing, "What's that?" or "I think you're confusing that with another brand?" and "Oh those won't be out for a long time." I refrained from getting into an Apple lecture with all of them, and resolved myself to going back home and viewing them from afar on the web. In the end, I made my purchase from target.com, with their 10% off coupon, the total came to $101 and some change including shipping and tax.

Here's the kicker:

Shipping estimate for these items: March 7, 2005
Estimated Delivery: March 11, 2005 - March 15, 2005

WOW! Guess they're a little backordered! So, by then, maybe Tiger will have been released and I can migrate away from PC and pick up a mini and new PB. Aye Carumba!

[Ã¥sen]

Originally Posted by pscates2.0 Just imagine the next big keynote (WWDC, Paris or even MWSF 2006)...when Jobs shows the numbers of iPod shuffles sold so far, and shows that little pie chart that displays iPod/Apple marketshare of mp3 players. "Apple: 97%. The other guys, together, make up the remaining 3%...".

and maybe Jobs will continue:

"And today we'd like to go after the remaining 3%... introducing the newest member of the iPod family... the iPod insane..."

[porter]

Oh yeah, there were these two people asking about the iPods and they were just amazed... one of the said, "Wow, I thought it cost like a $1000 or something like that..."

[Wickers]

Originally Posted by johnq I....don't get it. What's funny there?

We never had the shuffle in stock in the first place. We were getting customers that keeped asking if we had the shuffle (and Mac mini), even a few hours after the keynote. Our sales reps. were getting very pissed with people. So I found it comical that, with a near perfect straight face, he was able to say that we were sold out and to try back when we expected our first shipment.

[Wrao]

It's pretty annoying though, now that the snow storm has hit. It'd be much more enjoyable if I had Garageband 2 to explore.

[ohara]

"appless" - now that is cute ....

and sexist...

[Kickaha]

Oh, totally. I prefer 'applette'.

[BlueRabbit]

I was at Apple Store Bellevue Square today, and there was a security guard at the entrance. I don't recall ever seeing one at an Apple store before. Is this something new?

And yeah, there were a ton of people in there for 11 AM on a Sunday. There was a clump of 5-10 people around the iPod table watching an employee talk about the different kinds of iPods. It looks like Apple's financial future has no problems.

[The Return of the 'nut]

apple's soho store always has several "bodyguards" at the door. they are usually assholes.

[FFL]

Originally Posted by The Return of the 'nut apple's soho store always has several "bodyguards" at the door. they are usually assholes.

...which is usually an essential skill for a "Loss Prevention Specialist"
According to ifoapplestore.com (I believe), it's a new position in the chain, implemented first at the larger locations.

[johnq]

Originally Posted by \/\/ickes We never had the shuffle in stock in the first place.

Oh! Ok. I see now. Wasn't clear.

[Eugene]

Originally Posted by The Return of the 'nut apple's soho store always has several "bodyguards" at the door. they are usually assholes.

The security person at my Apple Store was asking product questions left and right, so that was kinda cool. I was paying enough attention to see if he was gruffy or not.

[ixocean]

Originally Posted by ixocean Just wanted to chime in...we don't have an Apple store here in Naples yet. Closest one is about an hour and a half away in Miami metro, so I spent an hour or so poking around CompUSA, Circuit City, and Target in the hopes that one may have received a small shipment of Shuffles. I got really used to hearing, "What's that?" or "I think you're confusing that with another brand?" and "Oh those won't be out for a long time." I refrained from getting into an Apple lecture with all of them, and resolved myself to going back home and viewing them from afar on the web. In the end, I made my purchase from target.com, with their 10% off coupon, the total came to $101 and some change including shipping and tax. Here's the kicker: Shipping estimate for these items: March 7, 2005 Estimated Delivery: March 11, 2005 - March 15, 2005 WOW! Guess they're a little backordered! So, by then, maybe Tiger will have been released and I can migrate away from PC and pick up a mini and new PB. Aye Carumba!

UPDATE:

I couldn't resist, found another CompUSA, called right after they opened today and found out they had ONE (1) 512MB Shuffle left, I begged for them to hold it for me, and they agreed. When I picked it up, the guy said that this one (sale) polished off two cases of 512's...not sure how many come in a case, but I can only help but wonder if SJ knew it would fly off the shelves like it is...?

I sit here, listening to my new iPod...SHUFFLE is the new order. I am in love with iTunes, Shuffle, and all things APPLE. Oh my, oh my...



The conversion has begun.

P.S. I've posted some pics on my blog, if anyone is interested.