AppleTV Now Sells for $99 or Less, So Why Am I Not Buying It?
Posted: Monday, November 15, 2010
by Mogama
http://www.mogama.info
The audio version of this article is available. Just press play.
Though I have been using computer-related technology since the early 1990s, shortly after migrating to the United States, there is much that escapes me in the advancing world of technology. Among the tech things that I intentionally miss out on are many of the slake products that Apple Computer spins out on their clock-work sales calendar. Thus when I first saw the words "Apple TV", I almost said, "What's that? Apple Computer is making television sets now?"
Curiosity confirmed suspicion when I found the helpful Searchwarp article by Stepany Springer, describing how Apple started taking on the movie rental industry by January 2008. Another article by someone who belongs to the Cult Of Mac briefly raved about the generosity of Apple, when the company dropped the price of the 160-giga-byte AppleTV from $230 to $150.
I wanted to know why the very greedy Apple establishment would slice their TV price by that much. Surely not for love of their cultist buyers. That's when I headed over to the official Apple site, which shows that the $80 price fall was old news. Apple now sells the new version of AppleTV for just ninety-nine bucks.
Perhaps if Africans continue their boycott of the Apple market, the price of AppleTV may drop another $50 in a year or so. Who's buying this gadget anyway? Except for ardent worshipers at the "apple cult", this device is as close to nonexistent to most of us sober people across the border from MacWorld.
As constant as night follows day, Apple has a temptatious description of AppleTV. Seriously Apple should receive the computer industry's best-salesman award every year. These guys never disappoint in the sales department. Just read these words out loud, and sing along, in praise of the cutesy AppleTV:
" Our most entertaining design yet. The sleek new Apple TV has been completely retuned for your entertainment. It's 80 percent smaller than the previous generation ( which I never knew ever came into existence ) - even with a built-in power supply. Which makes it perfect for sitting neatly on a widescreen TV stand or squeezing into a crowded media cabinet ( like a beauty queen whose only claim to significance may be her looks couldn't boil an egg to save her life ). Not only does the new Apple TV have an amazingly small footprint ( a slap at those of us with big feet, or those who are not on board with carbon footprint mania ), it's also incredibly energy efficient. It stays cool without a fan, so it's never noisy. And when it's not filling your living room with drama, romance, and comedy, it uses less power than a night-light ( now, how am I supposed to know or prove that without hiring an Apple physicist? )."
The shorter version of the above commercial: "Silent, cool, and small. The new Apple TV is quiet, energy efficient, and so small it fits just about anywhere ( like in the palm of your hand )."
And it looks like this...
Do you own an AppleTV? Maybe I'm just way out of the loop, but why would I buy this pet, except for the status symbol that owning anything Apple bestows? Look, I still have the first TV I bought on American soil in 1991. Yep, this baby is 19 years old a 19-inch Magnavox. It's color, and it's a real TV, unlike AppleTV, which is NOT a TV. If you'd ask me, I'd say "false advertising!"
I wanted to know why the very greedy Apple establishment would slice their TV price by that much. Surely not for love of their cultist buyers. That's when I headed over to the official Apple site, which shows that the $80 price fall was old news. Apple now sells the new version of AppleTV for just ninety-nine bucks.
Perhaps if Africans continue their boycott of the Apple market, the price of AppleTV may drop another $50 in a year or so. Who's buying this gadget anyway? Except for ardent worshipers at the "apple cult", this device is as close to nonexistent to most of us sober people across the border from MacWorld.
As constant as night follows day, Apple has a temptatious description of AppleTV. Seriously Apple should receive the computer industry's best-salesman award every year. These guys never disappoint in the sales department. Just read these words out loud, and sing along, in praise of the cutesy AppleTV:
" Our most entertaining design yet. The sleek new Apple TV has been completely retuned for your entertainment. It's 80 percent smaller than the previous generation ( which I never knew ever came into existence ) - even with a built-in power supply. Which makes it perfect for sitting neatly on a widescreen TV stand or squeezing into a crowded media cabinet ( like a beauty queen whose only claim to significance may be her looks couldn't boil an egg to save her life ). Not only does the new Apple TV have an amazingly small footprint ( a slap at those of us with big feet, or those who are not on board with carbon footprint mania ), it's also incredibly energy efficient. It stays cool without a fan, so it's never noisy. And when it's not filling your living room with drama, romance, and comedy, it uses less power than a night-light ( now, how am I supposed to know or prove that without hiring an Apple physicist? )."
The shorter version of the above commercial: "Silent, cool, and small. The new Apple TV is quiet, energy efficient, and so small it fits just about anywhere ( like in the palm of your hand )."
And it looks like this...
Do you own an AppleTV? Maybe I'm just way out of the loop, but why would I buy this pet, except for the status symbol that owning anything Apple bestows? Look, I still have the first TV I bought on American soil in 1991. Yep, this baby is 19 years old a 19-inch Magnavox. It's color, and it's a real TV, unlike AppleTV, which is NOT a TV. If you'd ask me, I'd say "false advertising!"
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Top-level comments on this article: (7 total)I believe because of being empty inside…people have to add outside. And boy it sells. Mogama you have just given the proof.That's a very insightful observation, Walter. Thanks for commenting. ~mogama~
Nope, don't have one - actually we don't have any TV (since 1983 for me and I am relieved to say I do not miss it much at all) We read, play with the cats, hike, hunt and enjoy Colorado. No time for TV and it sure has deteriorated over the years basically. We see it when we travel and are in a hotel. ugh.Sounds pretty extraordinary, Marijo, in this day and age. I really admire that from the distance. Outstanding! ~mogama~We get as much "bad news' as we want online. When we got engaged Mick gave his TV to his roommate and said he and I needed to focus on communication since we had both been married before (before we came to the Lord too) SO we did and something must have worked as we just celebrated our 25th Anniversary this July! When the Gulf War was happening we went to the neighbors to watch news.So your relationship minus television equals better communication plus 25 years of marriage! Now, there's a real love story worth hearing and reading! In my book, you and your hubby have earned the right to be heard, even imitated. Thanks so much, Marijo, for sharing that slice of your rich life. I have so much to learn from that ... in one word: simplicity. ~mogama~Your right tv has got worse not! I guess you must have liked tv when it was racist!
thanks for the heads upThanks, Chris, for your comment. ~mogama~
I really enjoyed this article, and listening to your voice Mogama! Great commentary on Apple's advertising. I must be thick, but I don't understand - is an Apple TV a device you plug into your TV set? Or is that tiny thing it? Who would want such a small TV?Hi there, Jennifer. AppleTV is a device that you plug into your TV and the Internet so you can download or stream movies from the Internet to watch in HD on your actual TV, like watching DVD via the Internet. ~mogama~
I couldn't understand why you were down on the Apple TV until I read that you still have the TV you bought in 1991. We've come a long way, baby!! I love the Apple TV, but then I also loved the first black and white TV I bought in 1972, but I'd never what to go back to that.
Wow, David, you still have a TV you bought in 1972? How has that TV avoided a garage sale? ~mogama~
I must compliment you Mogama--you write a great article and you talk a good one too.
My best,
SteveThanks for your kind words. As long as my voice on the audio version of the article didn't scare you, I'm cool. ~mogama~
I don't believe I'd want an apple TVWell, David, we're on the same page then. ~mogama~
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