Posted on 02/24/2011 3:52:48 AM PST by Swordmaker
If you like the better hardware, but want to run Windows on that Mac, you have two options:
1) Buy Parallels or VMWare Fusion and run Windows in a virtual machine.
2) Use the Mac’s Boot Camp feature to dual-boot Windows and OS X. I’ve done it, and it’s by far the most seamless Windows install I’ve ever done. And to boot you even get a graphical chooser screen, double-click on the OS you want to run.
Some people travel and are looking for free WiFi. That would be the only reason I would go to a cafe or similar.
Most hotels have wifi or free internet.
However there may be a few who do that. My guess is still that it's more of a "look at me with my cool laptop" attention whore action than anything else.
I also have a problem with people who go to bookstores to read the books there. What morons the bookstore management are. They sell a couple cups of coffee but run themselves right out of business because no one actually buys the books anymore. Again these folks are just there to be seen.
I was thinking more of the business person who is between hotels.
I suspect many of the people in cafes simply do not know how to make coffee themselves!
You seem familiar with it. Are you a regular?
:-)
Raybbr: "I like Snap-on tools but I can get something very much like it in Craftsman for about a third the price - just like the Apple/Generic laptop difference."
~~~~~~
Mazda77 is probably closer: If you hand a broken Craftsman tool -- no matter how old or where you got it -- to a Sears hardware salesman, he will grab a new one and give it to you. That is a lot like Apple support.
~~~~~~~~~~
Fresh in-my mind Apple support story:
Earlier this week, I noticed that the battery in my MacBook Pro (purchased Mar 08) had begun to swell. Online forum checks revealed there was a ca '08 problem with a small batch of batteries; I apparently had a "late bloomer".
Logged into Apple support's online "Fast Track"; it recognized me by name, and indicated I had failed to register the $299 three-year AppleCare extended warranty I had purchased (with the MBP) nearly three years ago, and opened a registration page -- which asked for proof of purchase.
The webform page provided a way to attach files (like e-mail), so I supplied a PDF of my '08 invoice, a screenshot of my System Profile (with machine S/N & battery usage history) and a scan of my AppleCare registration card (with number).
There must have been a human monitoring that screen, because the website responded almost immediately with an 800 phone number.
"Michael", who answered, said,
"Yep, that sounds like one of that old batch of bad batteries. Is your shipping address still XXXX? OK, a new battery is on its way. You didn't need AppleCare for that, but I'll transfer you to "Mariyah", so she can help you complete your AppleCare registration..."
"Mariyah" finished the registration and then said,
That "AppleCare" coverage has less than a month left on it. You didn't get the three years of coverage you paid for. I'd like to send you a refund check for the entire $299 you paid for that "AppleCare" coverage you didn't get to use..."
Whoa!! I screwed up and failed to register the warranty -- and Apple not only sends me a free $129 ($115 aftermarket) replacement for my three-year old "smart" battery -- but voluntarily refunds the $299 I paid for the "AppleCare" warranty!
~~~~~~~~~
Let's see HP or Sears or Matco (or name your favorite Windows PC supplier) top that for service!!
No wonder we Mac owners have " a cult-like loyalty to Apple"...
It could also be that the HP buying bunch are too cheap to treat themselves to a cafe coffee or food.
Lenovo did the same thing for us on a battery issue. Never asked for proof of the extended warranty.
Mazda77 is probably closer: If you hand a broken Craftsman tool -- no matter how old or where you got it -- to a Sears hardware salesman, he will grab a new one and give it to you. That is a lot like Apple support.
Not really. The Craftsman tools are LOT less expensive than the Matco or Snap-On AND you get the above mentioned service. It's like the support I got for my two Toshiba laptops when they discovered the power connector was poorly designed. Both were fixed free of charge.
So, let's see: Lenovo replaced a battery two years out of warranty and Toshiba fixed two laptops with problems. All three of those still working laptops cost less than one Apple laptop.
Tell us again the reason Apple's support is better....?
I admit that I don't run a webserver on my laptop -- but why would one do that?
Funny, if HP’s are so cheap how about this from Newegg:
HP EliteBook 8740w (XT911UT#ABA) Intel Core i7 740QM(1.73GHz) 17.0” 8GB Memory 500GB HDD NVIDIA Quadro FX 3800M Notebook: $3608.99
Or this:
HP EliteBook 8440p (BQ295US#ABA) Intel Core i5 540M(2.53GHz) 14” 4GB Memory 250GB HDD Notebook: $2049.99
In fact I saw no fewer than 10 laptops for over $1600 made by HP. Boy, those HP laptops sure are expensive.
The other day I was at a BMW dealership and discovered that some Toyotas are more expensive than some BMW’s!
If Macs weren’t a value, people wouldn’t keep buying them. Are they the perfect computer for everyone? Nope. Do they ignore the bottom feeders? Yep. If you only buy the least expensive anything, then Apple isn’t for you. If, like most people, there are some items that are so important to you that you will pay a little extra to have a better/easier/more reliable version, then seriously look at Mac.
Did any of those companies ever voluntarily send you a full refund of a $299 service contract (after three years) because you screwed up and didn't register it?
I knew I could walk into an Apple store and (like Sears) walk out with a new battery -- but the nearest store is over a hundred miles away. The Apple guy "stepped into the middle of" a warranty registration process, sent me a new battery without question, then handed me to the lady who sent me a $299 check.
Glad you're happy with your service; I am with mine...
HP laptops are junk. I bought two for our Church and both had completely fallen apart in a year. Never will buy another HP laptop...
I run 4GB of RAM. I have to run a JSP server on my laptop for development purposes. Plus it comes in handy when you need a customer to look at something before you get release managers involved.
It’s the proactive service. The support people at most computer OEMs are told to not offer anything, but let the customer demand it first, then they will fulfill the support request. This is only one of many stories I’ve heard where Apple customers were shocked at Apple support personnel proactively offering them things and services they didn’t even think to ask for.
"Clever"? It's simply the truth. As for pinging others you did in your reply to me so I thought those others would like see the reply. Is there something I did that offends you?
Oh — OK.... For such things, I just FTP it into a private directory on my online domain server and give the client the URL. Never considered using local laptop resources to do that...
That's cool. I am not about getting into a pissing contest. I get that Apple customers are happy. But. So am I with my Toshibas.
An Apple notebook sells for about $1600. With the overhead on that they can afford to replace a battery or fix it a couple of times before the overhead is even touched. One of my Toshibas cost $399. I guarantee that they lost money on that repair.
I am not an Apple hater. I just think that I got a good deal with my PC's and laptops. I don't understand why the Apple lovers take offense to this.
Offended? Nope -- but I note you didn't tell us which of your suppliers it was that voluntarily sent you a full refund check for a service policy you didn't use...
Where I come from, we call that "cherry-picking" your responses...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.