The Onion says Apple backlash set for March 21st, 2008

With all of the hype and excitement surrounding Apple products, it's clear that the company has created a climate for a massive and sustained backlash. Well, according to a new report in The Onion, Wall Street forecasters have set a date for the tide to turn: March 21st, 2008. According to Goldman Sachs analyst Steven Shore, a shift in attitude will occur which will cause users of the Cupertino juggernaut's products to, "Look down at their glossy white or black devices and feel a sense of embarrassment and gullibility." Shore went on the say, "They will realize that, despite all the sleek design, they got caught up in a wave of hype that made them shell out additional hundreds of dollars for options and features they didn't need." The report claims that Apple will respond to the news with the release of a mint-green iPod in late October, though we have our doubts that the company is considering anything lighter than emerald.

[Ian @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:11PM]

iFlop: http://www.forbes.com/fdc/welcome_mjx.shtml

[Satish @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:12PM]

Hmmm wat will apple do now?
Release a better iphone

[andy @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:13PM]

meaningless entry...

[aaron @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:19PM]

Do you have this feeling already? Realizing you made a foolish purchase aye? fanboy...

[andy @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:24PM]

aaron, this entry is sourced from the onion. what purpose does it serve for the gadget community? my comment has nothing to do with being a apple fan or not.

[MacGuru @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:43PM]

Amen to that. Apple went out of business 30 years ago if you believe these "experts"

[Konstantinos Flamiatos @ Oct 4th 2007 3:19AM]

Apple only offers products with features that we need and not meaningless buttons and softwares that other companies do all these years. So there is nothing to worry about! It's a proven fact! My 3 years iPod my 3 years PowerBook G4 and my 8 Years Power Macs. All up and running. It's a PC world outside that's why the worry exists. "6-months thinking for replacements"

[Harbinger @ Oct 4th 2007 9:58AM]

I think he means this would simply be par for the fickle-media course as far as Apple is concerned. Suddenly I feel like I'm in 1997, or is it 1987.

[steve @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:46PM]

is it something like the feeling of "sense of embarrassment and gullibility" that engadget writers feel when quoting stuff written by the onion?

[nih @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:01PM]

The Onion is satire. Sit back and enjoy it, alarmist believe-everythingers.

[McGinley @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:14PM]

Was this entry a (weak) attempt to prove a point to all the people complaining about the amount of apple news?

[James Ollier @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:16PM]

Agreed. What a load of shit

[Dias @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:16PM]

Actually, it's already started:

http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/customers-ask-is-apple-going-rotten/

[tigs @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:11PM]

And...uh, they've already released a mint green ipod -

http://www.apple.com/ipodnano/gallery/index4.html

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:16PM]

I dunno about this meaningless little report, but some of this backlash seems to be happening now with alot of people acctually considering and cheering the zune.

heck, even I would prefer a zune over a classic or nano.

apple got full of itself and treated consumers bad, there will always be a group of it's customers that defends that or doesn't care as they weren't affected anyways, but there's also the other group that does care, and gets really angry about it.

[Quix @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:24PM]

"seems to be happening now with alot of people acctually considering and cheering the zune"

The inexplicable Zune euphoria I saw in all the comments on various websites yesterday smelled like a lot of Microsoft employees. Seriously, I've never once seen a Zune in the hand of an owner, yet with all the commentary about the Zune yesterday you'd think it was a big player in the DAP market.

And for all those singing the praises of Microsoft yesterday for providing new software features for previous buyers and lambasting Apple for not doing the same, does anyone honestly believe Microsoft would have done the same had they owned the dominant market position? Please. Maybe next they'll add some of that yummy (/sarcasm) Vista goodness to the next XP update? Yeah, let's wait and see if *that* happens.

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:31PM]

well, I assume a few might be ms employees, but I can tell you alot aren't, becuase I'm NOT, and unless I'm the ONLY whack job out there....

would they do it if they were dominant? no. but they're not dominant.

I could care less about brand loyalty. I just had this argument 5 minutes ago with my gf. whoever has the best product in the time I'm looking to buy, wins my money.
ms is making some smart moves and they're getting some praise for it, as they should.

vista is crap, xbox has it's hardware issues that stop me from buying it, that division of the compnay does not impact my desicion for a mobile player though. simple as that.

apple screwing over customers left right and centre DOES impact my desciion.

[andi @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:34PM]

Quix : you've not seen the zune too often because zune users generally keep it safe in the pocket and don't flaunt it around ;)

I have neither of them, played with both of them (up to 5g iPoops and first gen brown brick), and the Zune was better. Still, I chose Sony... and don't regret it a bit (I hate Sony for their crapware policy, but their goods are of serious quality and that's most important)

[33scottie33 @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:22PM]

If I had a Zune, I'd keep it safely "hidden" in my pocket too. Could not stand the embarrassment!

[HineyWipe @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:30PM]

How is Apple screwing its customers? Perhaps the customers have "expectations" that no one can possibly meet?

Show me examples and compare to the numerous "monopoly-centrics" of Microsoft, IBM, SUN, AOL, Verizon, Motorola...

Apple is the underdog and is liked just so. Yes, they are growing, and it shows (do a historical on Apple stock growth vs number of lawsuits) but its all cyclical-history.

Apple has stores. They never did before. And they are doing well (not too many, not too over-stocked, always a line for something...). Besides, whining about tampering and voiding your warranty (sic iPhone) is your problem. Not Apple. You want cool. Buy it. Do you deserve it. Nope.

Hey, Apple has its problems. G5 failures with coolant-leaks. ibook stains. iMac LCD issues. Noises. Cooling. Ever-so straying from the simple GUI. More fluff. Deskstar (deathstar) HD failures. Poor Wifi reception on MBP. Bad hinges. Hot laptops. Battery issues. ... on and on.

But hey, is everyone supposed to own a Mercedes, just because it is marketed well, upscale and a better ride than the rest of the cars out there (an example but most German cars are fun to drive and a pleasure to ride. But not own).

You want cool, hip, form-over-function in a computer or personal device, you look at Apple. I don't see people getting mugged over the Zune. Do you?

[Pathetic @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:39PM]

@HineyWipe

Like Apple's innocent? Last I checked I could install Windows on a variety of machines, even a Mac. Yet Apple specificly includes a chip in its hardware that forces you to install OSX on Apple hardware. You can't get more proprietary than that. Now that OS X uses the Intel architecture there is no reason for that. All a ploy to sell more overpriced Macs. Not even Microsoft is that greedy.

I wipe my hiney with that comment

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:39PM]

I have to agree with Quix. What happened to all the moans and groans about the previous Zune? When there were price breaks, people yawned. Whenever there was any mention of the Zune in an article, it was often overlooked or criticized.

I'm hoping people are happy to see a Zune update because it is simply something new and cool to try out. If not, then there are a lot of fanboys seeping in through the cracks now. Of course, Apple's bad publicity as of late could be a reason to start cheering for the Zune to succeed instead of the iPod line-up.

[Nate @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:37PM]

@Pathetic:
Microsoft doesn't even sell it's own computer hardware, so you really can't compare. And sure, maybe Apple is being a little bit proprietary, but hey, see it from this way: if they give OSX over
to other computer manufacturers they will (besides then be Apple's competetor) put all of the trial software and stuff and junk up the OS. I would understand that Apple doesn't want it's own OS to be touched, because then they know it won't be ruined.

In terms of this article, I love my mac and my iPod, but I can see what they are saying. If Apple doesn't get it's act together and start offering more features with its iPod, they might have a turn of loyalty. I won't be turning though, I'll be staying right here. Even if the Zune becomes better than the iPod (which is a whole other debate, not gonna get into that right now), OSX is still there.

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 3rd 2007 4:37PM]

@hineywipe, for:
1. the new ipod games must be repurchased
2. the video out no longer works with 'certified' apple accesories rendering a slew useless with the new generation.
3. the iphone tangle, displaying apple doesn't give a dman about what it's customers 'want', but only what apple wants them to do with the device. this is arguable from many points, and it depends what your view is. mine is that telling customers to shut up and do what they're told is rude.

the list goes on, but I'm sure you don't care.

[John M @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:19PM]

Kenpo--- 2 things

1.You STILL the best person to post on this blog
2.If I ever start some trendy hipster tech blog you will be my first choice
3.Didnt that blade stabbing the apple look gr8?

[Josef F @ Oct 3rd 2007 6:23PM]

Quix: "Seriously, I've never once seen a Zune in the hand of an owner"

Here you go.

http://cupajo.home.insightbb.com/zune.jpg

Now you can mark that one off your list. I'm a Zune owner and I've been very happy with it since the day I bought it. Is it as "cool" looking as the iPod? No. But then again, appearance is waaay down on the list of things I'm looking for in an MP3 player.
The Zune has a built in FM tuner, which I use quite a bit. It has a nice big screen for a device that small. It has built in WiFi, and they're increasing the functionality of that very soon. It *doesn't* have that useless 'click-wheel' that I put up with on my iPod for 2 years. And most importantly, the sound quality on my Zune is far and away better than any iPod I've ever listened to, and in the end, isn't that the most important feature of an MP3 player? All in all, I'd call the Zune v1 a huge success. It may not have the market share that the iPod has, but they're not doing too bad for being less than a year in.

[BROMANCE @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:18PM]

Ohhh! looks like John M has a man crush!
how cute!

[person @ Oct 3rd 2007 8:04PM]

dj-kenpo - "apple screwing over customers left right and centre DOES impact my desciion"

Can someone please give me a consise list of what Apple are doing to screw over customers?

Thanks.

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 3rd 2007 10:48PM]

@person, I asmwered this above. many websites linked to in this thread also have lists of complaints

[Quix @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:19PM]

The Microsoft backlash started long ago and Microsoft has arguably begun its long death spiral.

So if Microsoft is a has-been and Apple is the new Microsoft, who is the next Apple?

As a long-time Apple customer, I'm dismayed at recent policies (iPhone), hardware decisions (lame video processing in iMacs), absurd pricing (cinema displays) and a general disregard for the loyal user base (iPhone price cuts too deep and too early despite healthy sales).

Is Apple's recent success bringing back that infamous Apple arrogance? The same arrogance that is now bringing Microsoft down? I hope not.

Apple is best when it's on its heels. If they keep up with this new "screw the user" mentality, perhaps it's time for a new hardware company, focused on cutting-edge industrial/hardware design and using Linux?

[dj-kenpo @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:36PM]

seems to me, and I might be wrong and or low ranked for even muttering this, but the new apple might be ms.. a bit. not in ingenuity, I can't ever see that. but that old classic apple after they almost tanked and had a very apologetic eager to please approach. ms seems to be in this situation now.

xbox360 hardware issues galore
vista= windows mellenium and a joke
people laughing at zune1
surface overpriced

ms has had alot of failures and I think they might genuinely be 'considering' actually putting effort into things again...

ms will not die, don't fool yourself they have billions, they could sell nothing for the next 8 years and still pay all their employees. what they might do though is rethink how they do things.

[timatl @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:07PM]

ONE WORD, GOOGLE! Google is the modern day Microsoft/Apple. They are changing the industry. They have redefined the search engine, now Internet email and soon to change the office app and telecommunications.

[Elliot @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:11PM]

ms have got some clever stuff going on though.
look at office 2007. it's heaven on earth (if heaven was a bunch of office applications that is)
Microsoft recently made some huge policy changes to stop throwing away innovation and look at successful concepts from the open source community and other OS's
granted though, vista/WM are still shite

[L @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:16PM]

Nope, Google is definitely not the one...

A company so set on gathering and processing personal data is NOT the new nice giant for sure.

[ekwmin @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:36PM]

I have to disagree with you on the obscene pricing of Apple cinema displays. You should compare them to other professional grade displays not the consumer LCDs. If you're not a creative pro doing color critical work, you can simply use other displays rather than wasting money on an Apple cinema display, you can even find ones with similar metallic finish from HP, Dell, Samsung, and Acer. If you do color critical work, don't go cheap on your monitor (and calibration/correction system). Everything else you said, I do agree.

[Sean O @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:05PM]

@ekwmin

Sorry, but you don't know what you're talking about. The Cinema Display is a consumer LCD, not a professional one. This is evident by the fact you can find them in shopping malls. And CDs are not even one of the better ones. I'm in the post production buisiness. Nobody worth a damn would color correct on an LCD. And even if they did, every single FCP editor (read: Mac fans) who's tried one of the 24" Dell monitors agrees they are much better than the Cinema Display.

I have a 23" Cinema Display made in 2005. It's not complete garbage, but it's close. The color is off no matter how much it's calibrated. Whites and bright greytones have a pinkish tint. Another editor here has the Dell 24", and it's vastly better. My secondary monitor is a $249 Sceptre 20", made in 2006. It too blows away the Apple monitor in every single aspect.

The newest Apple monitors are better than the one I have. But are they better than the competitors'? No. Not at all. Apple doesn't make LCD panels. They buy them from the same places everyone else buys them (Toshiba, LG, Sharp, etc.). The Cinema Display is an average quality monitor with a massively bloated price-tage. To be fair, Apple isn't alone. Sony monitors are equally overpriced.

[mushrooshi @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:18PM]

Could Dell be the next Apple?

[emmzee @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:20PM]

In case anyone missed it, the original "report" is on TheOnion, therefore it's intended as satire. Note also the "humor, jokes, parody" tags in the Engadget post before you get your panties in a knot.

[David Blezard @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:38PM]

Yes, and did anyone else note the target date? It's 7 years from the release of Mac OS X 10.0. Seven-year itch anyone?

(Actually, the real release date was the 24th. The March 21, 2001 is the date of Apple's press release: http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2001/mar/21osxstore.html

It is rather well researched satire.

[John M @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:23PM]

Im already ashamed..i dont need to wait till March 21st...iphone,30gb video ipod,imac and macbook..I am a sucker. PERIOD.

[Gary J. Rhine @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:26PM]

You consider this a newsworthy item?

[bazza @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:29PM]

Considering that the onion is a satirical news site, it's hardly to be taken seriously, don't really think it should be news on here to be honest

[curiousj @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:30PM]

Uh, guys...this article is from THE ONION, the same site that has in its front page, 'New Heart Device Allows Cheney To Experience Love'!!

[Noah Ramon @ Oct 4th 2007 1:15PM]

Okay, THAT'S pretty awesome.

[GoR @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:32PM]

Judgment Day will be when Apple releases an update that bricks a shit load of iPhones and ITouches in the name of IP protection.. its only a matter of time.

The quality control has already gone to the shits with this latest gen of iPods.

[anonymouspimp @ Oct 3rd 2007 2:33PM]

It was only a matter of time before everyone woke up and realized what Apple was doing to the consumer with the iPod.

All fashion trends come to an end. There are so many better devices out there... (and i'm not talking about the Zune, so back off, Apple zealots)

[cody @ Oct 3rd 2007 3:45PM]

oh really....like what? tell me another music player thats as user friendly than the ipod. that's where other mp3 players go wrong.

[Chebwa @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:25PM]

@ "cody"
"oh really....like what? tell me another music player thats as user friendly than the ipod. that's where other mp3 players go wrong."

iRiver's Clix.

[anonymouspimp @ Oct 3rd 2007 5:07PM]

As far as players that are at LEAST as "user friendly" as the iPod...

Players I own:
iRiver Clix 2
Creative Zen V Plus
Sansa e260R

Players I have reviewed:
iRiver Clix (original)
Achos 605
Philips GoGear

Although I said I would leave the Zune out of it... I will say that the Zune is "at least" as user firendly as the iPod... I think the Zune is in the same boat as iPod tho... closed systems are stupid... I don't want to be locked into a music store.

Per your request, i listed a few players I think are "at least" as user friendly as the ipod, some I think are better. And there is a whole slew of budget mp3 players I would buy before a shuffle. It's not that I can't afford an iPod, i don't waste money out of principle. There are a ton of quality mp3 players available for a fraction of the price.

[TonyB @ Oct 3rd 2007 7:45PM]

Creative Zen V Plus - Small, now up to 16 gig, great user interface, use as a drive to move files, sounds great, priced well... I could go on, but you would be happy with one for sure. I've had many players starting with the arcos, and the zen v plus is by far my favorite.