Hey Guest!
Hey - did you know if you click on the title of a thread it will take you to the first unread post since you last visited that thread?
but were afraid to ask: 
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smilie in place of the real @
Pretty Please - add it to our Events forum(s) and add to the calendar! >> 
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... just go into an Apple store. [sorry all you Apple-ites] It has the chaotic feel of a 3rd world country except that it is populated by geeks. Gads… you go into the maelstrom and are given a “appointment” for a salesperson a couple of minutes later, and that salesperson is someone that has been standing about 10 feet away looking geeky (e.g., with a thing on their ear, pad in their hand, blue T-shirt and hoop in their earlobe forming an eye-distracting huge hole). You might be told to “wait right here” or “someone will be looking for you based upon your clothing that I've entered into our system, so go ahead a look around.” Huh? The place is JAMMED, and I’m told it’s like that all hours (and I was there right as it opened)! No one person was more than 3’ from anyone else in this Apple crate of a store.
I’d been in one of these stores on a few other occasions, but back then I just looked with a kind of amusement at all the technology. And, frankly, it IS an interesting place in that it’s sleek and very simple (even stylish). In fact, when I went to buy something, I walked up to a guy and said “I see no cashier, so where do I buy this cool-looking, terribly overpriced, thingy?” He says “right here with me!” Turns out that he can enter my credit card on a hand-held gizmo and then he asked me “do you want me to print out the receipt or email it to you.” I say “oh, gosh, let’s go old-fashioned and print it out.” He adds… if you had a iPhone you could scan the product and your card so-as to check YOURSELF out.” I’m gobsmacked, and let out a giggle.
As for the technology, it’s pretty cool (and this from a guy that has had an iPod TOUCH for a couple of years now). Still, I’m amazed at the answer to a common question: “will this accessory work with the new version of the latest thing-a-ma-bob-PAD?” Answer: “probably not, but go ahead and see.” This seems equivalent to going to an appliance store and asking if that clothes dryer works on standard 220v/60cycle AC in my home and being told "maybe." Apple usually seems to have it’s cool-act together, but not always. I had gone in to get some info and stuff for the “new iPad” (iPad3) I purchased for wife's birthday. It’s being delivered directly to the house and will have her named engraved on it (like some new family heirloom). I'm sure Jobs would be pleased.
Anyway, speaking of birthdays, I felt OLD. When they answered my questions about the new iPad, I found myself struggling for follow-up questions (to which nearly all answers were “sure, it’s easy” as if I was an idiot – and I consider myself fairly capable in this arena). If I hesitatingly said “well, I think I MAY have the info I need,” the salesperson was gone before I could blink (with, possibly, a “bye dude, it was fun”). Except for a class of geezers learning how to use their laptops, I was the old guy in the shop (and it wouldn't take much to make that claim). Yes, all the stuff is simple and even cool (though I detest iTunes as a platform for everything), but I’ll never be as facile as those people with all the handheld gear or the iPads. Incidentally, they use the iPad for EVERYTHING (except, maybe, as a handkerchief – and I probably wasn’t around long enough to see that).
So, in conclusion......... wait.... gotta run..... "hey you kids, get off of my lawn!!!!!! Come back here..................."
I’d been in one of these stores on a few other occasions, but back then I just looked with a kind of amusement at all the technology. And, frankly, it IS an interesting place in that it’s sleek and very simple (even stylish). In fact, when I went to buy something, I walked up to a guy and said “I see no cashier, so where do I buy this cool-looking, terribly overpriced, thingy?” He says “right here with me!” Turns out that he can enter my credit card on a hand-held gizmo and then he asked me “do you want me to print out the receipt or email it to you.” I say “oh, gosh, let’s go old-fashioned and print it out.” He adds… if you had a iPhone you could scan the product and your card so-as to check YOURSELF out.” I’m gobsmacked, and let out a giggle.
As for the technology, it’s pretty cool (and this from a guy that has had an iPod TOUCH for a couple of years now). Still, I’m amazed at the answer to a common question: “will this accessory work with the new version of the latest thing-a-ma-bob-PAD?” Answer: “probably not, but go ahead and see.” This seems equivalent to going to an appliance store and asking if that clothes dryer works on standard 220v/60cycle AC in my home and being told "maybe." Apple usually seems to have it’s cool-act together, but not always. I had gone in to get some info and stuff for the “new iPad” (iPad3) I purchased for wife's birthday. It’s being delivered directly to the house and will have her named engraved on it (like some new family heirloom). I'm sure Jobs would be pleased.
Anyway, speaking of birthdays, I felt OLD. When they answered my questions about the new iPad, I found myself struggling for follow-up questions (to which nearly all answers were “sure, it’s easy” as if I was an idiot – and I consider myself fairly capable in this arena). If I hesitatingly said “well, I think I MAY have the info I need,” the salesperson was gone before I could blink (with, possibly, a “bye dude, it was fun”). Except for a class of geezers learning how to use their laptops, I was the old guy in the shop (and it wouldn't take much to make that claim). Yes, all the stuff is simple and even cool (though I detest iTunes as a platform for everything), but I’ll never be as facile as those people with all the handheld gear or the iPads. Incidentally, they use the iPad for EVERYTHING (except, maybe, as a handkerchief – and I probably wasn’t around long enough to see that).
So, in conclusion......... wait.... gotta run..... "hey you kids, get off of my lawn!!!!!! Come back here..................."
(though I feel the same way in the Apple store - though I must admit they have given us super service over a variety of products)
