Leopard delayed until October/November

[wlaidlaw]

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I know a lot of the forum are Mac users and might be interested in the following: I have seen today that Apple has announced that Leopard has been delayed until at least October, so that the engineers can concentrate on the iPhone. Well now we know where Mac computer users come in Apple's priority scales. I have just experienced HP's superb after sales service, when I had two faulty new HP B9180's in succession in the last few days. They phoned round their local agents to find the second replacement and had it sent to me by taxi. This is in stark contrast to the rotten and grudging service I had from Apple over my faulty iMacs.

 

Apple seems to be going out of its way to irritate its base customers. They seem to forget that a computer customer pays a lot more per unit than either an iPod or iPhone buyer. I suspect that the iPhone will be a flash in the pan and once it is no longer fashionable, will disappear off people's radar just like the Treo did (I sometimes think I must be the just about last user of these - I never see them any more - it's all Blackberries now). There are a lot of features of Leopard that I will find really useful and it will be disappointing to have had to wait over a year from the first teasers and all for a *^%$£@ phone.

 

BTW now that the B9180 is working, it is absolutely great. It really shows off what the M8 can do with the 13" x 19" prints. I am using mainly Ilford Galerie paper with the specific Ilford icc profiles for the B9180 and they seem just about spot on. I think my iMac screen could do with a calibrate but hopefully my Monaco Optix calibrator should reach me from the UK tomorrow, so I will be able to check that.

 

Wilson

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[nryn]

Reaction to this news will of course be relative to one's sense of entitlement, I suppose, but given how long Windows users waited for Vista and how long some of us waited for the M8 (some for years before its announcement, even), Q4 is hardly that far away.

 

I too am looking forward to Leopard, but Tiger has done alright by me and though the slated Leopard features are really cool, I can't say I'm lost without them.

 

As for Apple service, I really can't say I've had much issue, though I know several people who have. I've had three computers in about 20 years of Apple computing repaired and had them all back within 3 days, one of them a month past Applecare ran out.

 

Maybe the Leopard delay is a bit disappointing, but I certainly don't feel like I'm entitled to a new OS every 18 months and that I'm at the bottom of their priorities because it's delayed. Give me a break. Whether you want an iPhone or not, it's a new and potentially huge market for them, and kudos to them for developing their next OS a bit more to support it and other features. There are many other things to get upset about.

[John Maio]

One of the Mac rumor sites suggests that the real reason for the delay is that Apple plans to integrate the ability to run Vista from within Leopard instead of jumping out to another program. That would indeed be an accomplishment (?) if true.

 

In any event Apple's announcement isn't all that disheartening as the current OS 10.4.n is by far the best operating system there is - at least in my opinion.

[Guest sirvine]

Apple after-sales service is a total disaster, as I've said on the board before. I'm spreading the word to discourage potential Apple customers until they get their act together. I've also divested my shares in the company. They're turning into Sony before my very eyes. A good thing can't last forever...

[mark_a_h]

Living without Leopard quite nicely. Thanks.

[John Maio]

Apple after-sales service is a total disaster, as I've said on the board before. I'm spreading the word to discourage potential Apple customers until they get their act together. I've also divested my shares in the company. They're turning into Sony before my very eyes. A good thing can't last forever...

 

Hmmm

 

Last July I had my 3 month old PowerMac 2.5 Ghz Quad go down in the middle of a project. I called Apple Care and explained the criticality. They overnighted a new mother board and processor assembly to a local on-site tech service who arrived with all the needed parts and I was up and running three days later. (the wait was for the tech, not the parts) Everything was covered by AppleCare.

 

In my book, that's outstanding service.

[jrc]

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I have several Macs, and haven't had too many problems; but when my iMac went down, I took it back to the Apple store where I bought it. I hadn't bought Apple Care, and it was out of warranty, but they said that the problem in my machine was a "known fault" and they repaired it for free. That part made me happy. The unhappy part is that they didn't replace all the pieces, so now, when most people have a little white dot in the lower right-hand corner of their iMac, to indicate whether it's on or not, I have something that resembles a steering wheel, about three inches across. They apparently didn't replace a light shield around the white LED. It's irritating, but doesn't affect function, so I've never bothered to take it back. But it is irritating. All the time.

 

JC

[charlesphoto99]

I would rather wait another 6 months to have a fully realised update instead of one rushed to the market (hmmm sound familiar M8 users?). I already feel as if I'm learning some damn new piece of software every other week as it is.

 

Apple's always been good to me though I feel the service at the official Apple store is usually pretty lame. But hey, highschool/college kids need jobs too.

 

I think the phone could be quite revolutionary. Let's face it, the iPod is what's propped up the company for the most part so we can have our G5's. Personally I couldn't imagine a life of having to work on a Windows machine (and my girlfriend works at MS!).

[wag]

I'm a dye in the wool Mac guy - had them for years, but I do have a question. Would you wait for Leopard to be factory installed to buy a dual quad Pro or would you not think it's important enough to wait. I have no problem with 10.4.9.

Brad W

[Guest Jeffryabt]

One of the Mac rumor sites suggests that the real reason for the delay is that Apple plans to integrate the ability to run Vista from within Leopard instead of jumping out to another program. That would indeed be an accomplishment (?) if true.

 

In any event Apple's announcement isn't all that disheartening as the current OS 10.4.n is by far the best operating system there is - at least in my opinion.

 

The Mac system is "creamy' it all works seemingly effortlessly... all it's individual parts are a harmonious whole. I think it is the best operating system as well. The next Big Cat will no doubt be worth the wait.

[losta]

Apple after-sales service is a total disaster, as I've said on the board before. I'm spreading the word to discourage potential Apple customers until they get their act together. I've also divested my shares in the company. They're turning into Sony before my very eyes. A good thing can't last forever...

 

You are totally wrong! What other computer maker has 100's of stores you can walk into for service and speak to someone face to face and have your problems solved and things explained. Not Dell, or HP just Apple.

 

It's quite unusual for Apple to delay a major OS like this and I'm sure it is for the better. My guess is a major ipod upgrade in conjunction with the iphone release is also about to happen and will have things moving forward for Apple the next few months. I can wait. Now maybe I will order a new MacPro soon.

[Guest sirvine]

Hmmm

 

Last July I had my 3 month old PowerMac 2.5 Ghz Quad go down in the middle of a project. I called Apple Care and explained the criticality. They overnighted a new mother board and processor assembly to a local on-site tech service who arrived with all the needed parts and I was up and running three days later. (the wait was for the tech, not the parts) Everything was covered by AppleCare.

 

In my book, that's outstanding service.

 

That's because you paid the AppleCare tax. My hardware is under warranty, but I can't get it fixed unless I lug it into an Apple store or pay for "telephone support". That's just wrong.

[Guest sirvine]

You are totally wrong! What other computer maker has 100's of stores you can walk into for service and speak to someone face to face and have your problems solved and things explained. Not Dell, or HP just Apple.

 

Sorry, but you're wrong. I'm a ProCare customer and I wait waaaay more than 20 minutes in Soho past my scheduled times, and the in-store Geniuses are worse than useless.

 

Here's a good example: last time I went in to replace a dead MacBook battery and they told me to come back in a week when it's in stock. I walked over to the shelf where they had about fifty batteries for sale, brought one over and asked them to replace mine. They started in with some nonsense about different stock, blah blah. Then they told me I had to buy AppleCare (anyone seeing a trend here?) to get it mailed to my home. I had to come back two weeks later, wait forever again in the store, just to replace a defective battery. And I'm ProCare. Sorry, but this is my personal campaign to discredit Apple because they've been treating an insanely loyal customer like crap lately. You can disagree if you like, but I was there and lived the stupidity.

[losta]

AppleCare tax.

 

Sony gives 90 day warranty and very little support. Apple on the other hand charges $179 -$349 for a 3 year protection plan to cover equipment that could cost $6000 or more is hardly a tax. ($349 could cover a MacBook Pro and Cinema display)

[losta]

Sorry, but you're wrong. I'm a ProCare customer and I wait waaaay more than 20 minutes in Soho past my scheduled times, and the in-store Geniuses are worse than useless.

 

Here's a good example: last time I went in to replace a dead MacBook battery and they told me to come back in a week when it's in stock. I walked over to the shelf where they had about fifty batteries for sale, brought one over and asked them to replace mine. They started in with some nonsense about different stock, blah blah. Then they told me I had to buy AppleCare (anyone seeing a trend here?) to get it mailed to my home. I had to come back two weeks later, wait forever again in the store, just to replace a defective battery. And I'm ProCare. Sorry, but this is my personal campaign to discredit Apple because they've been treating an insanely loyal customer like crap lately. You can disagree if you like, but I was there and lived the stupidity.

 

Your arguments are really lame. Waiting more than 20 minutes is not a major problem. Have you ever been to a Doctors office? There are service parts and sales parts it makes perfect business sense. You could have tried another apple store or called applecare and they could have shipped you out a battery in a day or so. You expect things to revolve around you but you have to realize it's all part of the system.

 

20 minutes seems like nothing when you compare it to 5 weeks to send a M8 for upgrade then 4-6 week lens coding and 6 month UV/IR filter wait.

[Guest sirvine]

You missed the point. The hardware is under warranty. I shouldn't be paying anything for replacements. If you need over the phone support, that's your choice. I don't need it to know that my battery is dead, or that my 30" monitor is on the fritz. Like I said, Apple is becoming Sony slowly but surely. I don't think $348 is worth 3 years of the quality of phone support I've had in the past with AppleCare. Not even close.

 

I don't care how you try to justify it--any company with a hardware warranty should take phone calls from customers who are under warranty without charging an incremental support charge on the order of hundreds of dollars. They're nickel/diming their most loyal customers, and they're losing significant sales because of it.

[Guest sirvine]

Waiting more than 20 minutes is not a major problem.

 

 

ProCare customers pay not to wait more than 5 minutes. Look it up before you call me lame. Not to mention that I don't get any actual help from the Geniuses when they do take the appointment.

[losta]

ProCare customers pay not to wait more than 5 minutes. Look it up before you call me lame. Not to mention that I don't get any actual help from the Geniuses when they do take the appointment.

 

Where do you see this 5 minute term? You don't because there is none. If you don't like apple, buy a dell, but your complaints don't warrant such anger and railing against apple.

 

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Personal Training

ProCare customers are entitled to book one-on-one training sessions with our professionals in any retail Apple Store. Personal training is for information purposes only and reservations are subject to availability, and are provided on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers are limited to no more than one personal training appointment per calendar week (Sun - Sat). Members must book their reservations online using The Apple Store Concierge scheduling system. The system shows up to 14 days of availability. Members may only have one upcoming Personal Training reservation at any time. Personal Training topics include all Apple consumer applications. Support for certain Apple pro applications may not be available in all retail stores. Sessions start promptly at their scheduled time and instruction ends 50 minutes later allowing up to 10 minutes for wrap up. Reservations are subject to cancellation 15 minutes after their scheduled start time.

 

Fast Track

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Advance Reservations

ProCare customers are entitled to schedule standard Genius Bar reservations up to fourteen days in advance. Mac Genius consultation is for information purposes only or for services pursuant to Apple’s standard Mac Genius program. Advance reservations are subject to availability, and reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Customers are entitled to no more than three advance reservations per week.

 

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[Guest sirvine]

"Fast Track rapid repairs are given priority over standard in-store repairs. Fast Track rapid repairs are done on a first-come, first-served basis..."

 

The reservation-takers are required to put ProCare customers on the desk within 5 minutes. I've been told this on numerous occassions. It doesn't happen that way, even when they're not very busy.

 

I'm really not interested in debating this with you. I've made my point--Apple's warranty service is expensive, subject to pointless incremental charges, and designed to make warranty problems outside AppleCare coverage go away unresolved. Separately, ProCare is not worth $99 if you're using it to speed up service at the Genius Bar (your only recourse if you don't buy phone support).

 

Frankly, I think you're out of line calling my complaints lame and wrong. You've missed the point a few times now, and made this personal. At the end of the day, I don't really care whether you agree with my opinion of Apple service or not. Seriously, it's your life and I never told you how to live it. I'll just mark you down as an unpleasant character--one of the few I've encountered around here.

[losta]

"Fast Track rapid repairs are given priority over standard in-store repairs. Fast Track rapid repairs are done on a first-come, first-served basis..."

I'll just mark you down as an unpleasant character--one of the few I've encountered around here.

 

You are the one ranting against apple. I am just trying to defend and explain their practices. I am not an unpleasant individual I do take offense when someone trashes a company that I have trusted and used their prodcuts for over 27 years. You just can't expect company like apple to revolve around you. How can you complain about a 20 minute wait when Leica owners are waiting 5 weeks and five months?

 

I am just trying to be rational.