Comments for The Professor's Notes http://theprofessornotes.com Where my thoughts and your eyes (and now ears!) collide Thu, 24 Jul 2008 16:08:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 Comment on Apple at Fault, not AT&T by Steve Brady http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/353#comment-9780 Steve Brady Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:33:12 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=353#comment-9780 Chris, it's not just an issue of undersupplying (and if they conciously chose this approach it remains a wrong-headed one). It's really an issue of Apple choosing to short-change their most ubiquitous retail point to instead sell through there (rather limited number of) retail stores. And I have no problem imagining Apple having problems with their supply chain. I can't think of any company that hasn't experienced supply chain problems at one time or another. Even the firms with the best supply chain reputations falter. And adding another partner to the supply chain is just the sort of complication that can derail a logistics channel. By the way--it's not even a really complicated addition. And they aren't "new" since the original iPhone also followed this distribution channel approach. I have to ask, could the Apple-love blinders perhaps get in the way of Apple recognizing, and fixing, real *internal* problems? Chris, it’s not just an issue of undersupplying (and if they conciously chose this approach it remains a wrong-headed one). It’s really an issue of Apple choosing to short-change their most ubiquitous retail point to instead sell through there (rather limited number of) retail stores.

And I have no problem imagining Apple having problems with their supply chain. I can’t think of any company that hasn’t experienced supply chain problems at one time or another. Even the firms with the best supply chain reputations falter. And adding another partner to the supply chain is just the sort of complication that can derail a logistics channel.

By the way–it’s not even a really complicated addition. And they aren’t “new” since the original iPhone also followed this distribution channel approach.

I have to ask, could the Apple-love blinders perhaps get in the way of Apple recognizing, and fixing, real *internal* problems?

]]> Comment on Apple at Fault, not AT&T by Chris http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/353#comment-9779 Chris Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:12:29 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=353#comment-9779 Of course Apple is notorious for undersupplying in the early days of a product. Bad logistics? Hard to imagine for such a strong company. Marketing and PR to build the hype? Yes, that would make sense. When you add another company to the chain, well that just makes it all the more complicated. Of course Apple is notorious for undersupplying in the early days of a product. Bad logistics? Hard to imagine for such a strong company. Marketing and PR to build the hype? Yes, that would make sense. When you add another company to the chain, well that just makes it all the more complicated.

]]> Comment on Apple at Fault, not AT&T by hltr http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/353#comment-9778 hltr Fri, 18 Jul 2008 16:09:00 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=353#comment-9778 "Accurate forecasting, and planning for replenishment, is crucial for any manufacturing operation." I don't think anyone saw this level of demand coming. Apple is good, but no one is that good. So, I still blame the demand. Now we'll see how fast they can ramp. “Accurate forecasting, and planning for replenishment, is crucial for any manufacturing operation.”

I don’t think anyone saw this level of demand coming. Apple is good, but no one is that good. So, I still blame the demand. Now we’ll see how fast they can ramp.

]]> Comment on So what is it? a smartphone with MP3 player? Or the most popular line of MP3 players, with a smartphone inside? by iPhone Pricier? Not Really http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/156#comment-9777 iPhone Pricier? Not Really Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:58:05 +0000 http://sctoday.net/ProfessorNotes/wordpress/archives/156#comment-9777 [...] had to chuckle.  Really.  Remember way back when, when I wrote that the iPhone was a bit over-priced, in my opinion?  It was funny at the time, really, considering that Scott Bourne, over at The [...] [...] had to chuckle.  Really.  Remember way back when, when I wrote that the iPhone was a bit over-priced, in my opinion?  It was funny at the time, really, considering that Scott Bourne, over at The [...]

]]> Comment on Apple at Fault, not AT&T by Steve Brady http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/353#comment-9776 Steve Brady Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:16:58 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=353#comment-9776 I would agree, except now we have to have a discussion about whether Apple adequately planned to meet that demand. Accurate forecasting, and planning for replenishment, is crucial for any manufacturing operation. One would think, given that Apple had removed the original iPhone from their online store several months ago, and had AT&T return any unsold units weeks ago, that they would have been planning for "pent up demand" with an adequate supply--and an adequate plan for their distribution channel. Again, I am not trying to play the "blame game" but rather point out that it is not appropriate to blame AT&T, as some at places like the Apple Phone Show (http://theapplephoneshow.com) are wont to do. I would agree, except now we have to have a discussion about whether Apple adequately planned to meet that demand. Accurate forecasting, and planning for replenishment, is crucial for any manufacturing operation.

One would think, given that Apple had removed the original iPhone from their online store several months ago, and had AT&T return any unsold units weeks ago, that they would have been planning for “pent up demand” with an adequate supply–and an adequate plan for their distribution channel.

Again, I am not trying to play the “blame game” but rather point out that it is not appropriate to blame AT&T, as some at places like the Apple Phone Show (http://theapplephoneshow.com) are wont to do.

]]> Comment on Apple at Fault, not AT&T by hltr http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/353#comment-9775 hltr Fri, 18 Jul 2008 15:09:35 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=353#comment-9775 I fault the demand. ;-) I fault the demand. ;-)

]]> Comment on Added a “Lowest Gas Price” Feature by Steve Swartz http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/352#comment-9774 Steve Swartz Wed, 16 Jul 2008 00:51:39 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=352#comment-9774 Since you took "Drive Less" off the table; and we assume everyone is driving the same amount/to the same places, then we must CHANGE OUR DRIVING HABITS. 1) Drive at a constant speed 2) Did I mention "Drive at a constant speed?" 3) Don't change your speed when driving 4) When driving, avoid changing speeds 5) Don't use the brake or gas pedal when driving, except to maintain a constant speed 6) While performing 1-5 above, don't drive too slow 7) While performing 1-5 above, don;t drive too fast 8) DRIVE THE FREAKIN SPEED LIMIT a) no slower for G**s sake b) a little faster is fine; see rules 1-5 above Since you took “Drive Less” off the table; and we assume everyone is driving the same amount/to the same places, then we must CHANGE OUR DRIVING HABITS.

1) Drive at a constant speed
2) Did I mention “Drive at a constant speed?”
3) Don’t change your speed when driving
4) When driving, avoid changing speeds
5) Don’t use the brake or gas pedal when driving, except to maintain a constant speed

6) While performing 1-5 above, don’t drive too slow
7) While performing 1-5 above, don;t drive too fast

8) DRIVE THE FREAKIN SPEED LIMIT
a) no slower for G**s sake
b) a little faster is fine; see rules 1-5 above

]]> Comment on Lowest Gas Prices near Mechanicsburg by Added a “Lowest Gas Price” Feature http://theprofessornotes.com/lowest-gas-prices-near-mechanicsburg#comment-9773 Added a “Lowest Gas Price” Feature Tue, 15 Jul 2008 12:30:53 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?page_id=351#comment-9773 [...] Lowest Gas Prices near Mechanicsburg [...] [...] Lowest Gas Prices near Mechanicsburg [...]

]]> Comment on Deceptive News Photos–Iran meets Star Trek by Steve Swartz http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/341#comment-9772 Steve Swartz Sun, 13 Jul 2008 19:50:53 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=341#comment-9772 " . . . by a state controlled news agency . . . " Well, or any news source, for that matter. Many examples of "main stream media" spinning, misrepresenting, or flat out fabricating "facts" to tell a story . . . ” . . . by a state controlled news agency . . . ”

Well, or any news source, for that matter.

Many examples of “main stream media” spinning, misrepresenting, or flat out fabricating “facts” to tell a story . . .

]]> Comment on iPhone 3G not Compatible with Accessories by Mark Black http://theprofessornotes.com/archives/343#comment-9771 Mark Black Sun, 13 Jul 2008 13:54:46 +0000 http://theprofessornotes.com/?p=343#comment-9771 I am not sure I am feeling 'the love' anymore. I think that Apple has taken their customer loyalty to new heights. I cannot believe that my entire investment in chargers, cradles, USB cables, car chargers, Griffen this/that... do not work with the 3G. I am afraid I am 'out'. No more following the bleeding edge... just too damn wasteful. I am not sure I am feeling ‘the love’ anymore. I think that Apple has taken their customer loyalty to new heights. I cannot believe that my entire investment in chargers, cradles, USB cables, car chargers, Griffen this/that… do not work with the 3G. I am afraid I am ‘out’. No more following the bleeding edge… just too damn wasteful.

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