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Middle East likely to get chain of ‘Apple Centres’

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 · 10:53 am · 48 Comments

“Having made recent inroads into the IT retail sector, Arab Business Machines (ABM) – regional distributor for Apple – is looking to set up the first chain of ‘Apple Centres’ in the Middle East. The proposed outlets will form the base for ABM to diversify its revenue stream and reduce its dependence on sales to corporates and organisations. The UAE and Lebanon are being mentioned as possible launch markets,” Gulf News Online reports.

“‘We have not reached a final decision on our strategy vis-

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Comment Feed

48 Comments

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m$-is-wack

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:25 pm · Reply

maybe we can trade macs for oil
Newmanstein

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:28 pm · Reply

What a perfect market for their products. People there seem to see quality before price.
1sty posty.
Newmanstein

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:29 pm · Reply

Uh oh…2ndy posty.
BigmacX

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 12:34 pm · Reply

WTF? You should write 1rst RETARDY!
Some people never learn about who gives a fsck about first posts.
It is so childish.
theloniusMac

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 1:03 pm · Reply

Oh crap
iPods for iRaqis.
Let’s see… how much C4 can you get into an iPod mini?
roguish smurf

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 1:56 pm · Reply

probably as much as the US can sell them …
treadlightly

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 2:04 pm · Reply

Hey, here we go again! Shall we end it now? LAST POST! Yeah, here I go trying again
Boeing777

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 2:04 pm · Reply

theloniusMac

Iraq is not the only country in the Middle East and that comment of your reflects your wide geographical knowledge.

Maybe you shouldn’t use sarcasm on people who can�t envoy the same standards you do.

Peace
G-Spank

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 2:38 pm · Reply

iRaq, isn’t that the new Apple mounting system for the Xserve?
Jay Rice

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 2:56 pm · Reply

how long until on of those stores gets homicide bombed?
readonly

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 3:00 pm · Reply

Boeing777,

First learn to spell, and then maybe you’ll have a leg to stand on when criticizing the knowledge of others.

And while you’re learning how to spell, be sure to take the time to look up the word “proofread” in a dictionary.
Boeing777

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 3:22 pm · Reply

readonly, why do you change nicknames?

You should know the difference between bad spelling and a typo don’t you?

Yet, I don’t seem to see the relevance of your comment? You show hatred for a suggestion I made to another nickname.

If you enjoy (not envoy) making fun of deprived people; then suit yourself. But don�t try to blame spelling. It�s just pathetic.

peace
readonly

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 4:03 pm · Reply

shut up jerk
BigSMan

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 4:14 pm · Reply

man why do u displike the middle east? what has it done to u? iRaq? ha ha yeah nice joke…some of u’s are so full of urself – bush is a numstick, and the middle east is not just iraq
readonly

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 4:16 pm · Reply

Boeing777,

Why do you assume there was a nickname change? More than six billion people in the world, and yet I can’t be someone other than theloniusMac?

And yes, I know that a mispelled word can be a typo. Hence my suggestion you find the word “proofread” in a dictionary. Then you would know that proofreading is used to catch typos. Then you can correct the typos, so you don’t look sad when trying to slap others on the wrist.

I show no hatred here, only annoyance.

I don’t enjoy making fun of those who aren’t as well off as me, and I happen to find the “iPods for iRaqis” statement rather amusing. You see, what makes it fun is the spelling. And I don’t believe any “iRaqis” were hurt in the making of the statement.

I can’t help but feel that what is truly pathetic here is your sense of humor.

“Peace” to you.

And concerning Apple’s plans for expanding their market in the Middle East–I’m glad to hear it. (Just trying to keep on-topic.)
Yousuf Omar

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 7:10 pm · Reply

Hi all,

This is my first comment here on MDN.

Since I’m a Saudi and live in the region that ABM controls i say that one of the worst decisions Apple made was keeping ABM as their IMC for the Middle East.

ABM didn’t do any thing to ease the lives of Mac users in the region, all they do is sell you your mac + a free one way ticket to hell. Don’t wait for or expect a professional support from them unless you’re willing to wait for at-least 6 months for your problem to be solved.

Believe it or NOT in all of the ME region thy only have one guy for hardware support, one guy for software support and none of them knows how to troubleshoot a problem.

If any of you can read arabic visit mac4arabs.com and check for your self’s how and what do we suffer from (BTW some posts are written in english if you need any help getting there just drop me a line).

I think we as Arabic natives are the only Mac users who invent solutions for their selves, plus we are the only Mac users worldwide who beg for support from our local IMC.

All Elias Abou-Rustom can do is give you false dreams, don’t let him s**t you.

This is a for Mr. Steve Jobs if he would read it: Please let Apple represent it’s self in the middle east or find a new IMC for the Middle East.
G-Spank

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 8:19 pm · Reply

thanks Yousuf, great to get a post from someone who is there!
Average Mac Zealot

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 8:47 pm · Reply

Yousuf Omar:

Why do you continue to live in Saudi?
Flamebait

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 10:29 pm · Reply

Hmmmmm…so does this mean Apple will be offering a special belt of exploding iPods?

Maybe they’ll only sell 5300c’s?

Personally, I think this a great idea and I would love to see Apple offer a higher degree of service and support, particularly in Saudi Arabia. After all, every dollar well-heeled Saudi’s spend on Apple is a dollar less they can send to al-Queda.
Flamebait

Wednesday, May 19, 2004 - 10:32 pm · Reply

By the way, I should acknowledge the stray “‘” included in Saudis above. I feel I should point out the error before a well meaning and offended Arab feels the need to come chop my head off.