Comments on: Apple, MacWorld and Steve Jobs – the Wal-Mart Connection http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/ Cringely on technology Thu, 18 Mar 2010 12:24:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Atomic Wall Clocks http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-13758 Atomic Wall Clocks Thu, 25 Feb 2010 06:45:45 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-13758 That is stunning and very well thought out. Generally I tend not to make comments on post on blogs, Then again I have got to congratulate you on this one. Brilliant blog That is stunning and very well thought out. Generally I tend not to make comments on post on blogs, Then again I have got to congratulate you on this one. Brilliant blog

]]> By: Roman Berry http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-550 Roman Berry Fri, 16 Jan 2009 01:11:41 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-550 Well, looks like Steve Jobs decision to forgo MacWorld may have been health related after all. As I said over at The Pulpit on the old PBS site, my prediction for 2009 was that Steve Jobs would not be CEO of Apple come 2010. Looks like I was (unfortunately) correct, and much sooner than I expected. And again (as I said in my comment at The Pulpit), Steve Jobs is Apple. Without him, they go back to wandering in the wilderness. Not all at once mind you. But slowly. Very S-L-O-W-L-Y. Hormone imbalance? That hormone would be insulin. This is a very serious condition (related to the pancreatic cancer) and I'm not sure that the long term prognosis for even someone who has their own personal reality distortion field is very good. Best of luck to Steve Jobs (whose only huge mistake at Apple has been to be a hardware company. Had Jobs licensed the Mac OS back in the day, the positions that Apple and Microsoft find themselves in today would likely be reversed.) Well, looks like Steve Jobs decision to forgo MacWorld may have been health related after all. As I said over at The Pulpit on the old PBS site, my prediction for 2009 was that Steve Jobs would not be CEO of Apple come 2010. Looks like I was (unfortunately) correct, and much sooner than I expected. And again (as I said in my comment at The Pulpit), Steve Jobs is Apple. Without him, they go back to wandering in the wilderness. Not all at once mind you. But slowly. Very S-L-O-W-L-Y.

Hormone imbalance? That hormone would be insulin. This is a very serious condition (related to the pancreatic cancer) and I’m not sure that the long term prognosis for even someone who has their own personal reality distortion field is very good. Best of luck to Steve Jobs (whose only huge mistake at Apple has been to be a hardware company. Had Jobs licensed the Mac OS back in the day, the positions that Apple and Microsoft find themselves in today would likely be reversed.)

]]> By: Dave Smith http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-329 Dave Smith Tue, 06 Jan 2009 20:12:03 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-329 After this morning's Macworld announcements and being a little disappointed that most of what we got were new versions of iLife and iWork, I wonder if this might be another clue to why Apple is pulling out. I think Bob mentioned elsewhere that Apple would like to control their press more and not put so much stock in Macworld. Along those lines, I wonder if Apple's partners try to use Macworld to leverage their bargaining. Before the conference someone leaks a tidbit about Apple having this or that with the hope that in order to announce it at Macworld, Apple will agree to the terms being offered. I realize this is probably Negotiations 101, but it was a slightly different angle on Apple pulling out of Macworld After this morning’s Macworld announcements and being a little disappointed that most of what we got were new versions of iLife and iWork, I wonder if this might be another clue to why Apple is pulling out.

I think Bob mentioned elsewhere that Apple would like to control their press more and not put so much stock in Macworld. Along those lines, I wonder if Apple’s partners try to use Macworld to leverage their bargaining. Before the conference someone leaks a tidbit about Apple having this or that with the hope that in order to announce it at Macworld, Apple will agree to the terms being offered. I realize this is probably Negotiations 101, but it was a slightly different angle on Apple pulling out of Macworld

]]> By: Johnathan Grant http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-260 Johnathan Grant Tue, 30 Dec 2008 20:57:37 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-260 I agree that Walmart & Apple pretty much are on the same level, in that neither one is going to kneel before the other. And, yes, a relationship could be mutually beneficial. Something else to consider is that if Apple wants to maintain more control over their brand experience, they could even lease space to place miniature Apple Stores inside WM Supercenters. Many other businesses, such as salons, photo studios, and health clinics are now leasing space in this way. It's already been mentioned in the press that Walmart intends to set up an in-store service center powered by and/or featuring Dell products, so perhaps they want to capture what will soon be the other mass market computer/device maker, Apple. Also, my "pie in the sky" idea for all that cash Apple has on hand is this: Apple should either buy their own slice of 3G wireless spectrum, or enter a long term lease deal with an operator like Clear, who would probably welcome the cash infusion. This would allow them to finally cut AT&T out of the picture and capture 100% of the monthly revenue from each customer. Plus it would probably be relatively cheap to build in a WiMax chip into any/all future Apple products (even desktops). Then Apple could offer wireless data on a price competitive basis with Comcast, AT&T, etc landline data providers. They might even allow large iTunes purchases to be downloaded over the WiMax network even for those who do not subscribe to a data plan. This would be a fantastic way to get around the caps that Comcast and others plan to or have implemented. Ultimately, if Apple can offer unencrypted iTunes files in more cases, they might even try to use some distributed mechanism such as BitTorrent over the WiMax, allowing even more load to be taken off of Apple's own network & servers. I agree that Walmart & Apple pretty much are on the same level, in that neither one is going to kneel before the other. And, yes, a relationship could be mutually beneficial. Something else to consider is that if Apple wants to maintain more control over their brand experience, they could even lease space to place miniature Apple Stores inside WM Supercenters. Many other businesses, such as salons, photo studios, and health clinics are now leasing space in this way.
It’s already been mentioned in the press that Walmart intends to set up an in-store service center powered by and/or featuring Dell products, so perhaps they want to capture what will soon be the other mass market computer/device maker, Apple.
Also, my “pie in the sky” idea for all that cash Apple has on hand is this: Apple should either buy their own slice of 3G wireless spectrum, or enter a long term lease deal with an operator like Clear, who would probably welcome the cash infusion. This would allow them to finally cut AT&T out of the picture and capture 100% of the monthly revenue from each customer. Plus it would probably be relatively cheap to build in a WiMax chip into any/all future Apple products (even desktops). Then Apple could offer wireless data on a price competitive basis with Comcast, AT&T, etc landline data providers. They might even allow large iTunes purchases to be downloaded over the WiMax network even for those who do not subscribe to a data plan. This would be a fantastic way to get around the caps that Comcast and others plan to or have implemented. Ultimately, if Apple can offer unencrypted iTunes files in more cases, they might even try to use some distributed mechanism such as BitTorrent over the WiMax, allowing even more load to be taken off of Apple’s own network & servers.

]]> By: Kevin Kunreuther http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-196 Kevin Kunreuther Sat, 27 Dec 2008 03:40:04 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-196 Steve is not speaking at Bentonville to shill the phone. I think he has a bigger idea he's preparing to foist on the world and I'm sure it has to do digital television and video delivery. Steve is not speaking at Bentonville to shill the phone. I think he has a bigger idea he’s preparing to foist on the world and I’m sure it has to do digital television and video delivery.

]]> By: Sandy http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Sandy Fri, 26 Dec 2008 08:32:43 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-165 IF the Android platform from Google is about to arrive in a big way in 2009, Jobs needs the likes of WalMart to get mass adoption of the 3G iPhone fast! WalMart could do that for him. Also, we iPhone users really need some of the annoying quirks in the phone fixed a.s.a.p.; sideways keyboard available in e-mail and many other programs, calendar alerts fixed (selectible sound, with snooze and approx. 2-minutes beep if alert left unattended), a "dock" for running programs, so that if you wish to keep one program open and use a different one, you can always go back to the first one, fix unwieldy calendar entry and make entry of most items on one or two screens - not (4 to 5). (Just a few of my beefs) Great phone otherwise! IF the Android platform from Google is about to arrive in a big way in 2009, Jobs needs the likes of WalMart to get mass adoption of the 3G iPhone fast! WalMart could do that for him.

Also, we iPhone users really need some of the annoying quirks in the phone fixed a.s.a.p.; sideways keyboard available in e-mail and many other programs, calendar alerts fixed (selectible sound, with snooze and approx. 2-minutes beep if alert left unattended), a “dock” for running programs, so that if you wish to keep one program open and use a different one, you can always go back to the first one, fix unwieldy calendar entry and make entry of most items on one or two screens – not (4 to 5). (Just a few of my beefs) Great phone otherwise!

]]> By: Kevin Kunreuther http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-155 Kevin Kunreuther Thu, 25 Dec 2008 09:22:16 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-155 Quick with the insults and fire.Wash your mouth out with soap. And learn to read comprehensively,too. I didn't say Sam Walton didn't drive his beat up piece of crap pick up truck, that barely got around town in Bentonville. And I didn't say he didn't fly into town either. He and his execs stayed in economy or modest business class hotels, shared rooms, drove cheap rentals.They sure as hell didn't Lear Jet into Dallas as I picked a few up from Southwest terminal at Love Field once.The team were not into ostentatiousness (which is more than I can say for the grown up children). I'm sorry you hate Walmart and Sam Walton.But he won't burn in hell, as there is no hell, so he's just dead and no longer in a position to feel pain or care how you or anyone thinks. You'll have to learn how to resolve your anger another way Glenn. Have you tried building Apple I kits? Quick with the insults and fire.Wash your mouth out with soap. And learn to read comprehensively,too.
I didn’t say Sam Walton didn’t drive his beat up piece of crap pick up truck, that barely got around town in Bentonville. And I didn’t say he didn’t fly into town either. He and his execs stayed in economy or modest business class hotels, shared rooms, drove cheap rentals.They sure as hell didn’t Lear Jet into Dallas as I picked a few up from Southwest terminal at Love Field once.The team were not into ostentatiousness (which is more than I can say for the grown up children).

I’m sorry you hate Walmart and Sam Walton.But he won’t burn in hell, as there is no hell, so he’s just dead and no longer in a position to feel pain or care how you or anyone thinks. You’ll have to learn how to resolve your anger another way Glenn. Have you tried building Apple I kits?

]]> By: Glenn http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-154 Glenn Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:50:37 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-154 Ted said: Why the angst against Wal-Mart? They are an excellent company and treat their associates better than most in the discount retail space. The Walton family are huge Apple fans, so relax will you? And just exactly what do you base this statement on? I worked for Walmart in the mid 1980s...the absolute worst job of my career. Treatment of "associates"??? Oh yeah... that's why Walmart is being sued in countless courts for labor violations...and settling those suits in hundreds of millions of dollars, though exact numbers cannot be released. "The Walton family" should not be confused with "Walton's Mountain"!! Ted said:
Why the angst against Wal-Mart? They are an excellent company and treat their associates better than most in the discount retail space. The Walton family are huge Apple fans, so relax will you?

And just exactly what do you base this statement on? I worked for Walmart in the
mid 1980s…the absolute worst job of my career. Treatment of “associates”??? Oh yeah…
that’s why Walmart is being sued in countless courts for labor violations…and settling
those suits in hundreds of millions of dollars, though exact numbers cannot be released.
“The Walton family” should not be confused with “Walton’s Mountain”!!

]]> By: Glenn http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-153 Glenn Thu, 25 Dec 2008 05:45:21 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-153 Kevin said I remember meeting THE Sam Walton exactly three times. Each time, he was in town, visiting local stores. He drove the plainest, vanilla rental (usually either Enterprise or Rent-a-Wreck), nothing ostentatious or fake about him, very affable fellow. Nothing about him suggested he was worth about sixty billion dollars. He wasn’t frugal to a fault but frugal where it counts. Oh for crying out loud! YOU SWALLOWED IT HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER! Sheesh... I hope Sam Walton is burning in everlasting hell-fire...the fraud would not drive your plain vanilla rental, dipstick! He flew into town in one of his Lear jets, many times would have his old 1954 Ford pickup truck brought in just outside town, to drive in and show the morons he was "just an average Joe Public"...you idiot! Kevin said
I remember meeting THE Sam Walton exactly three times. Each time, he was in town, visiting local stores. He drove the plainest, vanilla rental (usually either Enterprise or Rent-a-Wreck), nothing ostentatious or fake about him, very affable fellow. Nothing about him suggested he was worth about sixty billion dollars. He wasn’t frugal to a fault but frugal where it counts.

Oh for crying out loud! YOU SWALLOWED IT HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER! Sheesh…
I hope Sam Walton is burning in everlasting hell-fire…the fraud would not drive your plain
vanilla rental, dipstick! He flew into town in one of his Lear jets, many times would have his
old 1954 Ford pickup truck brought in just outside town, to drive in and show the morons
he was “just an average Joe Public”…you idiot!

]]> By: Wally Glenn http://www.cringely.com/2008/12/apple-macworld-and-steve-jobs-%e2%80%93-the-wal-mart-connection/comment-page-1/#comment-152 Wally Glenn Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:41:02 +0000 http://www.cringely.com/?p=43#comment-152 I really wonder what IDG did to piss off Apple. When you get down to it, how can Macworld be bad for Apple? Since Steve started giving his keynote, the event has helped Apple immensely by being a gigantic publicity event. How many other companies can get a product announcement like that released where it totally dominates the world press? Why would you willingly give that up? My guess is that something better is planned where Apple will have full control. I have a great idea for a show like that. Who do I talk to? Selling the iPhone at Wal-Mart is a fantastic move for Apple and for AT&T. It expands the presence of both brands at the world's biggest retailer, which already carries the iPod and builds on the success of selling the iPhone at Best Buy. I doubt Apple will ever close it's stores because they sell a lot of merchandise and it's the only place in the world that lets Apple sell it's products the way they want to sell their products. There was a time when Apple had no retail stores and it's product sales were at the whim of store buyers, which is why Apple started opening the Apple stores. Everyone thought Apple would fail in that venture like Dell and Gateway did with their stores. I think there is very little chance Apple would willingly give up their product sales safety blanket. I really wonder what IDG did to piss off Apple.

When you get down to it, how can Macworld be bad for Apple? Since Steve started giving his keynote, the event has helped Apple immensely by being a gigantic publicity event. How many other companies can get a product announcement like that released where it totally dominates the world press? Why would you willingly give that up? My guess is that something better is planned where Apple will have full control. I have a great idea for a show like that. Who do I talk to?

Selling the iPhone at Wal-Mart is a fantastic move for Apple and for AT&T. It expands the presence of both brands at the world’s biggest retailer, which already carries the iPod and builds on the success of selling the iPhone at Best Buy.

I doubt Apple will ever close it’s stores because they sell a lot of merchandise and it’s the only place in the world that lets Apple sell it’s products the way they want to sell their products. There was a time when Apple had no retail stores and it’s product sales were at the whim of store buyers, which is why Apple started opening the Apple stores. Everyone thought Apple would fail in that venture like Dell and Gateway did with their stores. I think there is very little chance Apple would willingly give up their product sales safety blanket.

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