I Came This Close...

The past weekend was declared a tax-free holiday on purchases under $2,500. I thought I would be a shrewd player and go grab one of the new Apple MacBooks to avoid paying the roughly $50 in sales tax. Bundled the little one into a snugli and went to the North Shore Mall, ZDnet MacBook review in hand, hoping to score.

When I saw the security guards posted outside the Apple Store, I knew I would be in for it. The moment I set foot in the store, I was swept away in a whirl of teenagers, "helicopter parents", and POD people in the Apple issued uniform of black t-shirt with computer+ iPod logo. I was approached by a man wielding a clipboard and he was very nice, showing me the laptop that was the focus of my desire, flirting with Chloe, and telling me about the "free" (rebated) HP printer, copier, scanner. Great, I just wanted to get a laptop bag and I would be on my way.

As I looked at bags, knapsacks and attache cases, the little voices kept popping up in my head, "it's easy, too easy, something will go horribly wrong, it will explode when you try to boot up Photoshop" The word Photoshop swirled around in my head like that scene in the Simpsons where Homer's waiting for his free company beer and he keeps hearing "Dental Plan (lisa needs braces). Then I remembered a line I had read. "Check to make sure your current software is compatible with the new Intel processor before buying."

I went back to the front of the store and flagged down a salesperson. He said the new MacBook would NOT run Photoshop CS but it would run Photoshop CS2. I had a brainfreeze and called Chris to make sure what we had at home. Left a voicemail and waited, fed Chloe a bottle on a bench in the back of the store. (its a very kid-friendly store BTW) And finally he called. Photoshop CS.

I trudged back to the front again and ran into a different salesperson. He rushed to pimp the MacBook but this time I said no, it won't run PhotoShop CS. "Yes it will, sure it will." But then I asked the first salesperson again, "No, it won't run that, only CS2." "Okay," I said, "Can't get it then." and walked out of the store.

This whole scenario kind of blows my mind. Here's the world's second biggest computer company, aggressively promoting a new laptop for a decent price for once, BUT it only runs the Adobe software that came out last Tuesday. Anything earlier, nope, uh uh, useless. With the price, it seems that Apple is making a play for the consumer who might be wooed by the $1,099 pricetag, but spooked by prices like $1,299 and higher. I argue that it's a reasonable assumption that someone like that is not likely to be running out to upgrade their PhotoShop software every 5 minutes.

It's a mystery, rapped in a riddle, but I think the answer might be here. You can read more about the Apple conundrum here. And here.

I Came This Close...