Full FeedWho’s on Crack in Tech: 10.30.09
This week stands out for me and my mobile phone addiction. Big announcements in the tech world get us all excited until we stop to ask some questions. Then we get kind of pissed off and start turning on the hype. Behold the gems I turned up this week:
- Sears says deals won’t wait for Black Friday
- Microsoft has trust issues
- Barnes and Noble doesn’t want to start fist fights
- HTC brags about being smart
Sears says screw the calendar
Just the mention of Black Friday and shoppers pupils dilate just a bit, showing their arousal. Sears has decided the calendar is for suckers and has started their sale this weekend. Why not? Our Sue Walsh explains:
Sears has announced it will be kicking off the holiday shopping season this weekend by offering special Black Friday deals. It plans to offer those special “Black Friday Now” deals every Saturday from 7am until Christmas.
The Saturday after Christmas Sears shoppers will be welcomed by 1,000s of Abe Lincoln impersonators as the store kicks off “President’s Day Now” sale. Feel free to move holidays around at home kids, it is the new marketing paradigm. Somewhere, Sears marketing team is giggling at duping the American public.
Microsoft says manufacturers can’t be trusted
Our Heather Wood posted about Microsoft’s Signature PCs: “When you usually buy a PC, you have to spend time removing all of the pre-installed applications on the computer. These can include 30 day music trials, limited anti-virus protection software and photo editing tools you probably will never use. On these signature PCs, no crapware or trials will be included. “
Instead, Microsoft Signature PCs that they are selling direct to consumers will have only the basics installed. The take-away from this is Microsoft is attempting to control the experience consumers have with their products. Clearly, MS feels the crapware festival that greets most new owners is less than stellar.
It is a good move for MS but you’ve got to wonder, if companies pay to get crapware there in the first place, will prices go up? Could this start a price war between MS and manufacturers at other retailers? This could mean the net result of MS adventures in retailing will be to lower prices in an ever-dropping market. Sweet.
Barnes and Nobles averts reader wars
What is likely to happen when folks who love hard covers and the smell of a new book mix with internet-loving einkers? Book fight! Imagine volume upon volume being flung about as screams of “tree killer” and “experience killer” get flung just as hard. It is a nightmarish scene typically reserved for winning an NBA championship.
Our Robert Nelson commented on the plan: “Personally, it seems only logical that Barnes & Noble would have at least some Nooks in stock and ready for those that want instant gratification. But that is not the case, instead it looks like only select locations will have them available to purchase and take home.”
Only a crackhead could come up with a crazy retail plan, right? Do they really fear book fights? Are they worried the Nook would convert masses away from physical books and drive them to their online bookstore? Sounds like some paranoid addict is afraid of losing retail locations over this. That’s embarrassing.
HTC brags
It’s been my experience that folks that are actually smart don’t need to say it, much less make it their new advertising campaign. So it goes with HTC’s new “quietly brilliant” as our Robert Nelson explains:
HTC has just recently begun a new ad campaign which deems them as “Quietly Brilliant” and is simply going by the name of “You.” While some may say that the quietly brilliant part is a bit self centered, the You campaign in general appears to be offering a welcomed push at showing consumers just how nice it can be to have a smartphone.
I am quietly brilliant too. Something along the lines of “keep your mouth shut and let everyone assume your’re an idiot vs. opening your mouth and proving it,” springs to mind. Wait, wasn’t this the plot to “Good Will Hunting”? Will HTC singlehandedly relaunch the career of Ben Affleck, (who was the bomb in Phantoms)? Doubt it.
Robert focuses on the “You” side of the campaign and the “you don’t need to get a phone, you need a phone that gets you” but that troubles me. I don’t get me. How can I expect some engineers in Taiwan to get me? Should I be flattered if they do? Can I get a phone number if they do to talk about being penpals?
Either way, I find the concept disturbing. How about you? Do you think they get you?
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Regarding Microsoft’s “Signature” PCs, I suspect that much like fat-free food, its going to cost more to leave the crap out. I guess with the new Marketing campaigns they are trying and the opening of “Microsoft Stores” this is just another attempt by Redmond to be more like Apple. Control the hardware and the software and you can charge a premium.
Unfortunately I think their track record shows they don’t understand their role in delivering on the value of that particular formula.
(Nice Jay & Silent Bob shout out, btw…)
on November 3, 2009 at 12:29 PM - LINKand here I thought no one would get my Jay and Silent Bob reference. Nice pick up.
on November 3, 2009 at 01:33 PM - LINK