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Wal-Mart's new Apple section seen as precursor to Mac sales

appleinsider.com — Wal-Mart's move to overhaul the electronics departments in many of its retail stores with Apple-designated shopping areas is being seen as a sign that the mega-retailer is making a pitch to eventually carry Apple's line of Mac personal computers.

Who dugg this? Made popular May 19, 2009

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  • darkism, on 05/19/2009, -12/+59Nothing reinforces Apple's image as a luxury brand like being sold at Walmart.

    What on earth are they thinking?
  • SteveIsTheDude, on 05/19/2009, -2/+33If you only buy ***** because others can't afford it your a "classist" - sometimes refered to as an "*****".
  • robbob, on 05/19/2009, -6/+33Good. Walmart can sell anything and everything.
    To buy Apple products to be "cool" makes you a "tool"
  • cowboy86, on 05/19/2009, -11/+37What's this luxury brand you speak of?
  • Braxo, on 05/19/2009, -1/+26Premium brand.

    http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/05/lu ...
  • ToastPop, on 05/19/2009, -1/+25Yes, you'll get it for like $1.10 cheaper. That's typically how it works for their other electronics that have standard prices like game consoles.
  • bratterscain, on 05/19/2009, -1/+18Not so special anymore now, are you?
  • budboomer, on 05/19/2009, -2/+19I just can't imagine a Wal-Mart employee answering a computer question.
  • cowboy86, on 05/19/2009, -1/+17I shop at wal-mart and own a MBP and G5, Time to switch.
  • SPNKrPunk, on 05/19/2009, -1/+16From TFA: "That said, the analyst doesn't see the existing Mac line as a particularly good fit for the discount retailer outside of the $599 Mac mini and $999 MacBook offerings, but said he believes the company is working on more sub-$1000 products that may eventually appeal to Wal-Mart's customer base."

    I think the analyst is disconnected from reality.
  • cowboy86, on 05/19/2009, -9/+23It never was cool.
  • cowboy86, on 05/19/2009, -1/+15Because we all know Apple cares more about its creative eclectic types than making money.
  • jelloatlunch09, on 05/19/2009, -8/+19Does this mean we can expect a roll back on all the expensive mac computers?
  • cowboy86, on 05/19/2009, -1/+11Exactly.
  • runeasgar, on 05/19/2009, -4/+14digg needs a facepalm button.
  • Dumbledorito, on 05/19/2009, -1/+11Then based on Apple's track record, they'll either make a VERY dumbed-down entry-level mac and macbook for WalMart, or they'll sell older equipment there.

    If competition against non-mac hardware won't make them lower their prices, Wal-Mart sure as hell can't make them do it, either.
  • amorrise, on 05/19/2009, -1/+11Can't we just buy products we like without having brand allegiance? Also does anyone want to join me on my yearly pilgrimage to Cupertino? /s
  • reefrmad, on 05/19/2009, -0/+9Apple IS a commodity.
  • gnixon70, on 05/19/2009, -0/+8The smug is strong with you young dannyspace
  • datdamonfoo, on 05/19/2009, -10/+17We can only hope.
  • FredFredrickson, on 05/19/2009, -9/+16The one that Apple is always trying to make itself out to be.
  • charlie55, on 05/19/2009, -1/+8apple and walmart are a couple companies that dumb people seem to love or hate too much.
  • diggan8, on 05/19/2009, -4/+11Oh man... I cannot wait for the day that having a Mac is synonymous with shopping at Wal-mart.

    Kinda like Jordache jeans.

    Yeah, people will point and laugh at you.
  • STARTSOMETHING, on 05/19/2009, -1/+8No because best buy dosn't have one. Although free internet while a buddy is shopping is always a plus. I imagine all mac homepages will be nascar.com.
  • anexanhume, on 05/19/2009, -1/+7They already carry ipods and iphones, and some stores have sold boxed xps machines. Them selling macs shouldn't be that big of a deal.
  • MacParrot, on 05/19/2009, -2/+8Right. Because no one who isn't white is allowed to buy Macs. Any chance people buy them because they like the OS or software?
  • thebigredcat, on 05/19/2009, -2/+7"Welcome to the Walmart Apple Genius Bar."
  • amorrise, on 05/19/2009, -3/+8Will there be a genius bar at Wal-Mart? I can't even imagine that.
  • MacParrot, on 05/19/2009, -1/+6Didn't happen with iPods. They sell them at the exact same price as everywhere else. Though I must admit I haven't been to a WalMart recently. Their sales lines are usually pretty bad. Target does a much better job at getting people moving to the cashiers.
  • freezerburn666, on 05/19/2009, -7/+12i dunno what a genius bar is and i hope i never do.
  • paulvq, on 05/19/2009, -2/+6Linux is pretty much free though, so xsecret really makes no sense.
  • strangewill, on 05/19/2009, -1/+5NERD RAGEEEEEEEEEEEE
  • MScrip, on 05/19/2009, -1/+5At least it will put Apple computers in front of more people. Best Buy and Apple stores are only in bigger cities... but every town has a Wal-Mart.

    Who thinks Apple will sell more computers if they are in more stores?

    I'll raise my hand.
  • runeasgar, on 05/19/2009, -0/+4I think a more accurate sentiment would be: if the average wal-mart shopper becomes the average Mac user, I will officially switch to linux.

    Apple's quality rests squarely on the fact that they cater to a smaller audience with a higher than average income. Taking both of those things away will result in a lower quality product.
  • 10ofDiamonds, on 05/19/2009, -4/+8"eclectic and creative types", who are also suckers for slick marketing.
  • inactive, on 05/19/2009, -1/+5I bought my MacBook because it was the only computer at Best Buy that came preloaded with BSD.

    But I'm not delusional enough to ignore how expensive that laptop was, or that it IS mostly hipsters that buy Apple. Stereotypes wouldn't be stereotypes if they weren't based in truth. Here is the stereotype: dude in converse shoes, tight jeans, listening to so-called indie music (aka mostly crap) on his iPhone while tweeting about that awesome PBR he's drinking (which is ironic, you see... because it's not really that great! ha!). I see these people all the time, they really exist everywhere.

    In fact, I've actually gotten ***** for my portable mp3 player, because it's not an iPod. They call it an iPod rip-off. But it's an iAudio, which actually has superior audio and controls (I know this because my new mp3 player is an iPod, and it's annoying as *****). Back in the day it was Sony Walkman, Nike Air Jordans, and baggy pants. Now it's geek = hip.
  • donjo, on 05/19/2009, -1/+5You can like take a piece of paper and stick it in and it puts a picture on it.
  • inactive, on 05/19/2009, -0/+4"You can strip away all the ***** marketing and "lifestyle" perception that is (falsely) maried to the Apple computer"

    falsely? Falsely???

    Please come to LA. I'll drive you around and show you building-sized billboards on Sunset Strip and the like which are marketed BY APPLE to the hipster crowd.

    Apple, over time, has created this perception. It's no accident, it's no myth, it's simple elementary marketing. You've obviously never been in the graphic design field either. Their brand loyalty to Apple is almost on the cultish level.

    So much denial going on today...
  • MScrip, on 05/19/2009, -0/+3>> "Apple would be flooded with returns."

    Why?

    In contrast, when you buy a new HP computer from Wal-Mart, the damn thing takes 10 minutes to boot because of all the crapware installed on it. That pesky McAfee 90 day trial just won't shut up! And also the HP Care, HP Registration, HP Help, etc...

    It's sad when you buy a new computer and it runs like ***** out of the box...
  • cowboy86, on 05/19/2009, -1/+4Except owning a Mac doesn't make you a geek.
  • reester, on 05/19/2009, -0/+3I was just wondering if this has happened at anyone else's Wal-Mart... the two I've been to (one here and one back home) have recently moved a collection of their iPods to be put on display in the jewelry section... anyone else see that?
  • FredFredrickson, on 05/19/2009, -1/+4Geeks can't enjoy the woods?
  • inactive, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2I hate Walmart. Enough said.
  • inactive, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2You got me.
  • AdamGorley, on 05/19/2009, -1/+3That's just ignorant.
  • seltaeb4, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2True, MScrip. And anyone who sees a PC and a Mac side-by-side won't be able to help but notice what a piece of crap the PC is.
  • cyoder, on 05/19/2009, -2/+4"I shop at many upscale stores and buy upscale things but you don't see me being a fanboy of Neiman Marcus or any other store."

    Cowboy, please. You may inadvertently trigger the lamest of fanboy wars with such a suggestion.
  • MicrosoftBob, on 05/20/2009, -0/+2Best Buy?
  • Amazetbm, on 05/19/2009, -0/+2Good luck rolling back the prices on them
  • inactive, on 05/19/2009, -0/+2So how do you know that? I live in Hamden (We have A Wal-Mart)
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