Comments on: Precise angle of open MacBooks in the Apple Store

By: retepslluerb

retepslluerb — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:08:00 +0000

Well, the angle and the reactivation times can be classed as sales tricks, I guess, but the apps?

I mean, this is a a computer. I want to see what I can do with it.

By: retepslluerb

retepslluerb — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 07:06:00 +0000

Actually, different angles might make sense, since not all populations have the same average height.

However, one app should suffice – it would then load the correct angle according to the geo data gathered by the phone.

By: V

Wed, 20 Jun 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Soo… ‘I like the tilt of his laptop’ is the new ‘I like the cut of his jib’?

By: James B

James B — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 16:40:00 +0000

Seems like a sliding T bevel, locked at 110 degrees, would be faster than an app.

By: Michael Smith

Michael Smith — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 08:25:00 +0000

The advantage of using the app is in configuration management and metrics. Head office can tweak the angle of the laptop screens just by deploying a different version of the app to different stores. And they can experiment with a few stores by giving them a special version and watching the sales numbers.

By: teapot

teapot — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 04:55:00 +0000

This seems like something XKCD would do.... so I made it for him :) Obligatory

By: pjcamp

pjcamp — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 03:52:00 +0000

Maybe, but I personally hate those antiseptic pits. It combines the worst aspects of the hospital gift shop and the O.R.

By: ROSSINDETROIT

ROSSINDETROIT — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 02:11:00 +0000

I worked in a mall with an Apple Store and a number of high end shops. Apple does consumer electronics better than their direct competitors. Bang and Olufsen has pretty nice shops as well. But Apple ‘does retail better than most anyone else’ except Gucci, Ferragamo, Louis Vuitton and that rank of stores.

By: unclemike

unclemike — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:58:00 +0000

Man, if I had a nickel for every time I’ve been seduced by the tilt of a laptop…

By: awjt

awjt — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 00:10:00 +0000

This conversation has become EXTREMELY protracted.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:40:00 +0000

Starch is harder to remove.

By: Terry Fairbrother

Terry Fairbrother — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:05:00 +0000

Note to self. When visiting an apple store have a greasy mcD’s with fries. Dont wipe fingers after. Leave smudges all over lid.

Oh the evil in me :)

By: Felton / Moderator

Felton / Moderator — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 22:03:00 +0000

I think we’ve gone off on a tangent.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:56:00 +0000

You have a point, but only to a degree.

By: Sxe

Sxe — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:20:00 +0000

Ha, whenever I’ve gone into an Apple store, instead of touching the screens, I’ve adjusted my standing angle to see them. I think it’s ’cause my perception is they’re fragile, expensive, not robust, and too nice for a down-and-dirty type like me to get his grubby hands all over! I’ve never been an Apple guy.

By: grimc

grimc — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:09:00 +0000

You’re all squares.

By: penguinchris

penguinchris — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:09:00 +0000

Apple also does retail better than most anyone else. There’s value in reporting stuff like this because it may finally get the point across to other retailers that paying attention to details and having your store be pleasant for the customers pays off.

By: oasisob1

oasisob1 — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 21:02:00 +0000

I saw sales men setting laptops up that way one morning.

By: jwkrk

jwkrk — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:58:00 +0000

OCD marketing…

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:17:00 +0000

Damn, I think I just gave away a million dollar marketing job with Apple…

The maxim that you need to move the merchandise if you want to move the merchandise has been around for decades, possibly since Roman times.

By: Felton / Moderator

Felton / Moderator — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:12:00 +0000

You’re right.

By: Antinous / Moderator

Antinous / Moderator — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 20:07:00 +0000

That’s a cute way of putting it.

By: awjt

awjt — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 19:00:00 +0000

It’s clever, definitely. Also, having short screensaver reactivation times, so you jiggle the mouse/trackpad to make it go away when you walk up, as well as having intriguing apps on the dock/front screen. sell sell sell, and apple does it well

By: Rob Beschizza

Rob Beschizza — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:35:00 +0000

The great thing about it is that it’s not the optimal viewing angle, but one likely to make you want to adjust it.

By: Wreckrob8

Wreckrob8 — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 18:21:00 +0000

110 + 70 = 180. It says the screens are angled at 70 degrees not open at 70 degrees, so it could be taken either from front or back, I suppose.

By: steve849

steve849 — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 17:50:00 +0000

The display is not open 70 degrees. It is open more than 90 degrees. Perhaps 110 degrees is accurate.

By: Benjamin Rockhold

Benjamin Rockhold — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:08:00 +0000

An iPhone app now? I worked at Apple Retail only last year, and we just did this by eye. Or, if we were not feeling like doing work, the little acrylic stands that hold the specs can be flipped up on end, and they have the same angle.

By: Nathan Hornby

Nathan Hornby — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:06:00 +0000

Because then things would look a bit messy, you have to get the balance right.

Although I agree about repositioning. Maybe it’s done in the morning because then everything looks effortless, once you see people meticulously fiddling with everything in the shop it takes some of the sheen off of everything.

By: AnamDuine

AnamDuine — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:05:00 +0000

Yes, it’s rather obtuse of them.

By: Nathan Hornby

Nathan Hornby — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 16:03:00 +0000

It’s just encouraging engagement, and once someone engages a product they’re more likely to buy it. So in a in a sense, yes it’s been studied.