iPad UK Launch Day 28 May – Availability Update / Social Networking

Let me tell you a story ….

In addition to Apple’s own stores, rumour had it this week that DSGI's PCWorld and Currys stores were going to be selling iPads today, Friday. My localish stores both opened at 9am. Which to go to?

8am this morning. Still nothing on either website. So I tried ringing the customer service lines. Both were closed until 9am. Was it going to be a wasted journey?

I’d been meaning to visit about something else, so at 8.30 jumped in the car. But still which to go to?

I know one of the staff at Currys. Very knowledgeable, pleasure to do business with. Perhaps he could do me a good deal on accessories, if not the iPad itself.

Bad traffic. Arrive Currys 0855. No queue, doors already open. No other customers. “Sorry sir, but PCWorld has them round the corner!”

Arrive PCWorld 0858. Queue had already been let in. Get to iPad desk 0902. Had every model, except had sold out of the model I wanted! Also none of the main accessory I wanted. Try another store? More stock expected soon at this one. So looks like I've got to wait.

Get back to the office 0930. Both websites now have a list of stores that stock the product. Not convinced I want to advertise these companies, both of which are part of the DSGI group. But if you want to get your hands on an iPad, I suggest you quickly check the iPad section of the two websites. Unfortunately it doesn't look as if the iPad is covered by the Reserve and Collect service on either website. So it's first come, first served:

• Currys

• PCWorld

Apple's own UK stores and on-line ordering is here.

If you can get hold of an iPad, or already have one from the USA, do tell me how you get on with it!

Here is an earlier article about using the iPad in business:
"Apple iPad – fashion fad or business workhorse?"


Part 2: Social Networking for Business

As Friday is supposed to be “Social Networking for Business” day, I thought I’d look to see if I had missed anything announced by DSGI on Twitter, Facebook or the like.

Going to DSGI’s corporate site, no obvious mention of any social networking. Looking in the investor section, the first page didn’t look as if it had been updated for nearly a year. They certainly aren’t using any social networking tools to keep in touch with investors.

Turning to the two trading brands:

• Currys site: Zilch

• PCWorld site: Zippo, nowt, diddly squat!

Checking Twitter and Facenook there’s nothing except perhaps a couple of unused placeholders, and the unrelated PCWorld magazine

What about new products? Special offers? News announcements whilst the web site is being updated?

It’s now 3 hours since I posted the initial sorry story above. No contact yet from any part of DSGI . Other businesses pick up on mentions straight away - see the green Sage logo in the "followers" of Camwells on Twitter.

Does DSGI know something about social networking that I don’t, which keeps them away from it? (I've highlighted some of the risks in previous articles). Or is their apparent lack of usage one of the reasons why their share price has gone south in the last couple of months?


Part 3: And now for another little story before the bank holiday – David vs Goliath?

Any similarity to persons or businesses alive or dead is entirely coincidental! (Please advise anything that needs adjustment!)

Once upon a time, around 1970/71, Apple Computer, Inc. was founded in California. One of the founders was a certain Steve Jobs.

In a bloody coup in 1985, Jobs left Apple and became involved in a software company called NeXT.

Also in 1985 Microsoft re-launched their Multiplan spreadsheet onto Apple’s Macintosh (Mac) computer as “Excel”. It was only moved to Microsoft Windows in 1987. Come 2010, Excel (as part of the Office suite) is still available for the Mac.

The launch of Windows alongside IBM put enormous pressure on all the other companies in the PC market. Apple fared better than most, but a decline in market share and a series of blunders with other products brought Apple to its knees

Problems with producing a new operating system in-house led to Apple purchasing NeXT with their software that now underlies Apple OS X. So Steve Jobs came back to Apple.

Come 1997, Apple had to go around the industry with a begging bowl. Microsoft made a $150 million investment in non-voting Apple stock. With Apple the only credible competitor to Microsoft in the desktop market, cynics might say this was to avoid monopolies problems.

As the years rolled by, Apple produced a string of beautifully designed and highly regarded products – the iMac, iPod, iPhone to name but three.

In 2007 the company became Apple Inc, reflecting their multi-media presence with other services, notably iTunes.

Now in May 2010 Apple has just overtaken Microsoft in terms of market capitalisation, which earlier this week were $222bn and $219bn respectively. This makes Apple the most valuable technology firm in the world. Yet without Microsoft’s capital injection, Apple would likely not have survived!

So why has Apple overtaken Microsoft? Very different business models for a start. There are also key differences strategically. Microsoft has always tried to appeal to the IT guys at corporates, by making their tools generate and protect jobs. (sorry, I’ve let the cynic out again!). The rest of the world follows. Apple has focused on users, making their products not only functional but lovable. When was the last time you heard of someone in love with Windows?

As to the future, bets please?