Apple Stores Blocking Facebook
Apple has apparently added Facebook to the list of websites people are unable to access when playing on Macs in the Apple store.
We’ve all done it. You’re waiting for a friend to show up so you wander into a computer shop and start browsing the web on their dime. Sometimes a salesperson will walk up to you and ask you what kind of computer you’re looking for and you’ll close the Facebook tab so fast, they think you must have been watching something involving a couple of girls and a beverage container.
According to TinyComb, Apple banned MySpace back in 2007 saying that nearly 2 million people visit Apple Stores every week and the company wanted to give everyone the chance to test-drive a Mac. In other words, kids were using Apple stores to check their MySpace and not giving people who may actually want to buy a Mac the chance to try one out. Makes sense, right?
That said, blocking Facebook could be a little different, given the fact that the MySpace crowd is a little younger than the Facebook crowd. A lot of people use Facebook to connect with colleagues and friends from work and while you’ll get the regular time wasting crowd, Facebook accounts for a huge portion of online activity for millions of people. Surely people considering purchasing a new computer will want to try out the things they do most on the models in the store to get a good feel for the machine. They’ll want to check out some news headlines, maybe sign into Gmail, watch a video on YouTube, update their twitter and more than likely check their Facebook.
While we’re all for stopping the freeloaders from clogging up test machines, we’re sure there’s an easier way to prevent people from spending an hour on the web. Perhaps limiting people to a 10 or 20 minute test-drive or restricting the amount of time customers are allowed to surf the web on machines.
After all, Apple wouldn't want its potential customers to get the wrong idea and think that Macs have compatibility issues with social networking.
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I've honestly never been inside a mac store that I've liked. They're all filled with pushy salesmen that like to state glaringly false information, rows of the same computer occupied by noisy people who have no intention of ever buying a computer, let alone an expensive mac, and the enviroment always makes my skin twitch.
If there ever was a time that I'd actually start shopping for a mac again, it'd be exclusively online.
I'd have to agree with you there. While I have no intention of using a Mac, that doesn't mean I hate anything Apple. I figured I'd get some good hands time with a few units.....never again. I never felt so sufficated in all my life.
If this is a mac buyer's idea of "computing", I have a wonderful computer to sell you for $1,999. It will look just as shiny as that Mac, I swear! Go ahead and make out two checks, one for $400 to "newegg.com" and $1599 to "cash".
Seriously, checking facebook/twitter/whatever on a prospective new computer is akin to foregoing a test drive on a car in order to repeatedly lock and unlock the doors because that's the most important feature to you.
LOL! Thanks for that one joebob2000.
I hate apple stores. That's why when I get dragged into one by my apple loving friend I always change every keyboard input to dvorak. It's funny watching people try to figure out what is wrong with the darn thing.
LOL, nice reference to two girls, one cup. You're gross.
I hate apple stores. That's why when I get dragged into one by my apple loving friend I always change every keyboard input to dvorak. It's funny watching people try to figure out what is wrong with the darn thing.
That's just mean. Funny...but mean.
this made news why ???????
another late breaking story at Toms...... you know its ground breaking when the have to mention 2 girls one cup.....
god get an editor to filter this crap out.
I hate apple stores. That's why when I get dragged into one by my apple loving friend I always change every keyboard input to dvorak. It's funny watching people try to figure out what is wrong with the darn thing.
That's pretty good, when I go to best buy I like to switch the desktop to tubgirl or sometimes goatse.
I always enjoy a good reference to a couple of girls and a beverage container.
My research documents reports of the Koobface worm infecting (or attempting to infect) workplace-related computers by way of Facebook. Employers thus have security as a reason to block social network sites. http://computersafety.wordpress.co [...] e-at-work/ --Ben
Actually, If you walk into any Best Buy or Circuit City you will notice that almost all of their demo computers are not connected to the internet. Probably to prevent the common folk from installing or downloading viruses and other malware. I'm sure that the slobbering masses appreciate a warm landing spot like an Apple Store where they can actually go online and experience the web á la Mac.
That said, I too hate Apple Stores. Limited inventory peddled by shiny happy apple cultists who have no clue what they are selling or how one brand or model of inventory compares to another. Don't expect to carry on an intelligent conversation with anyone other than a "Genius" whom you'll have to schedule an appointment with to talk to.
I called one of the stores in California the other day to find out if the new 17" MacBook Pro was in stock in the local store. The voice prompts informed me that I could "book" a personal shopping appointment. I thought wtf, "personal shopping appointment"?
It reminded me of the restaurant scene in Steve Martin’s movie "LA Story", where, to get a table he has to schedule an appointment to make a reservation and is vetted by the Fourth Reich Bank of Hamburg before being told he’s not rich enough to order the duck. Apparently customers at Apple Stores must do the same to view Facebook.
Drink the nice apple flavored KoolAid...
lol i got kicked off when i went to facebook
To curnel_D; How many computer-related retail stores have you been in that don't have people who try to sell you something and their knowledge is usually less than a typical computer user? I've been to all kinds of tech-related retail stores and Apple stores and audiophile/videophile stores tend to be among the best. So what if Apple blocks web-sites they could make it so that you could only access www.apple.com.
Wow, Tom's Hardware references 2girls1cup. Hot.
I was in an Apple store a few weeks ago and one guy came in and started looking up these (albeit non-nude) border-line explicit looking pictures of scantily clad women while playing Wu-Tang Clan and other stuff as loudly as the integrated speakers would allow it. I rofl'd, and nobody really tried to stop him. I would think they'd like to avoid having to stop a customer, which is why rather than setting a limit on the machine, they can instead stop an activity altogether. Smarter that way. Otherwise, the stores would get a bad reputation for being even more pushy than they are.
I've been to all kinds of tech-related retail stores and Apple stores and audiophile/videophile stores tend to be among the best.
Certainly not in my experience. I have two friends working at an Apple store, and they're the exception, but everybody else in the ones I've been in has absolutely no clue what they're talking about. I appreciate the Mac for what it is, but I get tired of misinformation and pseudo-fact and having the Mac myth spewed at me by someone who doesn't even understand what a chipset or processor is. The Mac is not for people who are particularly computer literate, nor is it for system builders. At best, it's for GUI freaks who specialize in areas that require a lot of computer use but not much of any knowledge of the computer itself. I know a lot of graphic designers that know nothing about computers and use the Mac because they're told that's what is "cool". As a video editor, computer builder, web designer, and music producer, and one who has used Macs and PCs throughout the years, I find that my performance isn't increased one bit by using a Mac over a PC, and with my PC, I can fix and diagnose any error within seconds, though there hardly ever is one, because I have complete control over both hardware and software and run a tight ship in that sense.