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When I buy mine, I'll probably go to the Apple Store. The purchasing experience is much better. Still, if you buy from Best Buy, you are encouraging them to sell, right?

I think the only important thing about Best Buy (and CompUSA) is that they have stores where Apple doesn't. So Apple can get a little mindshare without having to establish it's own store.

This should be interesting…

How quickly things change.
Just last week a clerk at the local Best Buy retailer (about 15 miles away from me)told me they didn't carry Apple products other than iPods, and didn't seem to know much about them.
It should be interesting to see Best Buy's newspaper flier this Sunday.
The nearest Apple Stores are about an hour and a half away from where I live, so Best Buy is the closest place to actually go see the computers, although I'm sure it doesn't offer the same experience.
I notice all flavors of Macbooks/Macbook Pros also are on the Best Buy Web site now, too.

Delivering product to channels like CompUSA, Best, etc. is only part of the battle.

Unfortunately, the vast majority of the "sales" people at these windblows centric big box stores don't have a fsking clue about why someone should consider a Mac vs. say a Hell. I mean, they are totally clueless.

Apple will have to rely on their own marketing effort to get people only use these Best Buy sales reps as "order takers" and certainly not as "sales consultants".

Rock on Steve!

Yikes. I bought a digital piano in Atlanta from "Best" Buy only because of the sale price. The service was abominable. This may not be good. I would rather buy online next time.

As successful as the Apple Stores are, there are still far more Best Buys around North America than there will ever be Apple Stores.

Sales channels are only one part of the issue. I've heard crappy sales guys know nothing, but hold sway because they where a blue polo shirt. Distribution is good, but people are still too unsure of what Apple's computers are. I know many who think M$ started computing.

Ugh, just typing that made me want to throttle someone.

wonder if you'll be able to get a decent warranty from Best Buy, Apple's is relatively conditional. An Apple Army needs to make sure Best Buy employee's are schooled properly in all things Mac.

Ok ALL!! Remember when you take a trip to Best Buy. Help Apple out by cleaning up the messy desktops and add programs to the Dock so the average PC buyer or new to Apple buyer sees there are a TON of programs on the Mac. A fresh reboot wouldn't hurt too.

CompUSA has Mac sales guys daily so their Apples are cleaned up and working on a regular basis.

Supposedly, the Geek Squad experts who are headquartered in Best Buy stores also work on and are familiar with Macs (at least that's what a clerk told me), but the sales staff members definitely are geared toward PCs.
In fact, unless you go in the store with an idea of exactly what you want in a PC, I've observed they often tend to steer you toward certain brands.

"As successful as the Apple Stores are, there are still far more Best Buys around North America than there will ever be Apple Stores."

Flashback to Performas (as crappy as they were) in Sears stores. Non-functioning demo models and enormously dense salespeople.

I would LOVE to be optimistic.

I just convinced one of our sales guys to buy a new Intel iMac who was die-hard Window just today. He went to an Apple Store in Michigan and was "blown away" (his words) by the new Macs. He thought it was cool that he could run Windows if he needed to. Like I said, it's a gateway drug.

Maybe the incredibly bright Best Buy employees could tell people that the MacBook is an "iPod Laptop"? Thanks to MacMania for that.

A companion concern relating to Apple computer product sales in Best Buy stories is that they don't stock any Mac software/programs. Not even Microsoft Office for Mac, according to the Best Buy clerk last week.
One would think that should change, considering the "Get a Mac" advertising running now specifically mentions that Macs run MS Office.

What's this, round ten of the BestBuy/Apple on again, off again game.
But, ya never know, with BootCamp, maybe the BBY sales weenies will feel right at home.

I've been spreading the Mac word to many PC friends and with some success and the Best Buy thing helps because some people don't want to drive 40 minutes just to check out a Macbook or iMac.

Me myself, I would drive hours if I have to. My house started with one iPod mini, then iBook and now we have a Powerbook G4 and several iPods.

Keep climbing Apple...

http://www.djkirklive.com

CompUSA has Mac sales guys daily so their Apples are cleaned up and working on a regular basis.

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Not the CompUSA in Anaheim, Ca. I was there last week to pick up a new keyboard (spilled coffee and lost the space bar,) No Macbooks yet, and the dual G5 Powermac had 512 RAM and was running 10.4.2 and still had iLife 05 installed..

People, I believe the article said "SEVERAL" stores, not all stores.

I'm very curious as to how this will end up. I've worked at Best Buy for a few years, and Mac's we're not the sales staff's favorite computers (neither were the customers though). I will only purchase Mac's myself. Anyways, about a year ago, we carried the Mac Mini (original 256mb RAM) and sold a good 2 or 3 the entire time. Although Mac's have got all new great things going with them, I fear they will once again end up ditched from Best Buy's shelves. If we don't carry Mac software (and prep our staff), I don't think they will last.

Not sure if this is a spoof or not, but they claim these are actual requested laser engravings for iPods that were formally rejected by Apple. They also show some pics and have a list of some that were accepted (The one about George Bush looks PS'ed to me, but I could be wrong) have a look for yourself:

http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/articles/rejectedengraving/

^^^ didn't realize how old that was when I came across it.....Oh well. If you havent seen it, I suppose it's a chuckle.

MDN can censor this at their discretion. A little tutorial on how to capture those YouTube streams:

http://www.methodshop.com/mp3/tutorials/youtuberip/

All they have to do is make sure the displays are rolling all the Mac TV ads...

They'll do a better job than any PC salesman.

Nobody in computer retail knows their arse from their elbow. Otherwise they'd have a real tech job.

You can bet most computer sales people in Best Buy, Comp USA or an Apple store have trouble spelling PC letalone understanding too much about the differences between any particular PC models.

I was just at the Best Buy here in Philly on Chemical Road (yeah, I know, great name for a road - real appealing) just last week. Not a single Mac to be found, nor has there ever been. Maybe there will be some soon.

Worst Buy can kiss my a$$...

Doesn't look good even on the website - the MacBook photo is of the MacBook Pro...

Buy a COMPUTER at Best Buy? I don't think so! Maybe a Mac sooner than a PC, but not likely.

CompUSA is a couple steps above Best Buy when it comes to selling computers (as opposed to trying to convince you to buy 'product') and I wouldn't buy a Mac there, either. They have local volunteers come in semi-regularly to answer questions - or correct staff comments.

MicroCenter, at least in Cambridge, has people who know Macs maning the 5% of the store devoted to Macs. Not that the folk in the rest of the store don't "know their stuff", but the ones in the Mac section know their Macs. Closer to a real Apple Store than to either of the others. With two Apple Stores less than a half hour's drive away, I'm likely to shop for my next computer at the real thing. I get magazines, extra hardware, and software at MicroCenter, but not the computer itself. My NAS (a 250GB HD with Ethernet connection) came from there, and my thumb drives.

If sales of Macs at Best Buy don't attain desired numbers Best Buy will likely get the boot. There's no point is using Best Buy as open warehouse if Macs don't move into the hands of consumers.

BestBuy in Canada does carry the iBook, iMac and Mac mini. (notice I said iBook, not Macbook (pro))

They carry them, I would not come close to saying that they sell them.

I hope that this venture is combined with resources that will a) support the sales and b) train the BestBuy staff. Even if they are not selling the computers, they need to know about the Macs. This way, they won't bad mouth the Macs just because they don't know anything about them.

What will be interesting is the Quarter End sales results of sold Apple computers compared to Windows-based machines. People who may never have considered a Mac to now be able to make a side-by-side comparison to the lesser Windows OS.

My concern is the the sales staff: they will have to be extremely educated in the differences between Macs and all of the other junk.

I wouldn't be surpised if Apples sales through Best Buy at the end of the 3rd Q next year are better, or equal, to the combined sales of whatever Windows PCs they carry.

Jimmy Jam -

How do you figure a "fresh reboot" will help the Macs?

I welcome this Best Buy channel so there will be more Mac software available at a shorter drive.

It all boils down to this: How much commission do the salespeople make selling a Dell? An HP? And how much will they make now selling Macs? Hopefully more than they did the last time, and the time before that....

The 17" MacBook Pro is 99 cents more at Best Buy ($2799.99) than from Apple ($2799.00).

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=7837184&type=product&id=1142299957200

Best Buy has never put a whole lot of effort into selling Macs, everytime they start they end up stopping within a month or two. I would really be happy if they put some real effort into not only selling Macs but software for Macs as well. And I'm talking lots of software like you see at the Apple stores. A real selection and not just a sample shelf like they usually do at other stores. This would really sell more Macs as it would impress some of these PC users who think that know one still sells any software so what good is buying a Mac type of thinking.

The sales will know nothing and not care... seen it over and over and over... unless it's a cheap PC. it won't get any support.

And because the workers go home and play on their pc until it's time to go to work the next day - the cycle will continue.

I hope they EDUCATE the Best Buy staff. That is the biggest detractor of sales there! They are all PC heads, and clueless about Apple features.

Apple shoud give each Best Buy Tech salesperson a Mini to use while employed so they can educate themselves.

Nothin' better than a knowledgeable switcher to encourage a sale.

I think this will help if for no other reason than it will help exposure. We don't have an Apple Store here in Birmingham and our CompUSA has gone way downhill in the last year or two (the Mac section is back in one corner away from all the iPod stuff). Our local Mac shops are great, but only people who already have Macs know about them. So the only way for a non-Mac person to see a new MacBook in person is to drive to Atlanta (2 and a half hours away) or Nashville (3 hours away). Now if they would just send some Macs to the Best Buys here.

Hey "me"

Still won't make a difference in Mac software quantities. The margins aren't enough to care.

I've NEVER had a good experience purchasing ANYTHING at Best Buy. The sales staff are incompetent and lazy. They stand around and talk to each other and act like they don't even see you. I've even had a Best Buy employee criticize my purchase as I was walking out the door! If Apple wants to put hardware in markets where they don't have Apple Stores they should go back to small retailers who actually know their products and care about their customers. Instead they put huge purchasing demands on anyone wanting to be an Apple Authorized Reseller and unless you're moving (or just purchasing) huge amounts of product your margins are so small from Apple pricing that you can hardly make a profit. This is one of only a few subjects where I don't understand Apple's position.

the level of training the BB staff has on macs does worry me.

i should apply for a sales job over there - i can be known as "the mac guy", and if anyone has any questions, they refer the customer to me - and seeing as BB computer guys make comission (if i recall hearing correctly), well... =)

anyone else who currently finds themselves with a lousy job or unemployed might consider doing the same. make a difference!

I can only imagine the scenario now.

Me: Hello, I'd like to buy a MacBook.
Best Buy Guy: Macs are just toys. There's no Intel chip in them...
Me: Yes they do! This one has an Intel Core Duo!
BBG: ... you can't run Microsoft Office...
Me: See that box over there?
BBG: Oh, but that's for Windows.
Me: Look on the box... it says "Office:Mac 2004".
BBG: OK... but Macs are now more vulnerable than this HP Pavilion dv2000. With Geek Squad services, the HP is far more secure than the macBook.
Me: There were 114,000 Windows viruses last year and NONE for Mac OS X!
BBG: Either way, you'll need our 3-year service plan.

Ugh.

MDN MW: "knew"; as in I knew that this wouldn't be a good idea

Oh man, I hate Best Buy! They are even lower than CompUSA. Apple should not do this. These "children" working at Best Buy are not what Apple needs to sell it's quality products. I would not buy a Mercedes or BMW from some car reseller that carries Saturn or Hyundai. This will have a negative impact on Apple in a number of ways, image and knowledge of product just to name a couple. NO NO NO Apple!!!!

F best buy and their horrible hireing and training practices.

They are there to make money, but they are also evil.

It was a big deal when Best Buy started carrying gumdrop iMacs in the late '90s.

Then they stopped selling Apple computers.

It was a big deal when Best Buy started selling desklamp iMacs and Powerbooks.

Then they stopped selling Apple computers.

Now it's supposed to be a big deal that they're going to be selling flat iMacs, MacBooks and MacBook Pros? Spare me. They'll stop selling them in about a year citing low sales, just like the last few times they tried selling Apple computers.

I was in Best Buy once during the era where they were selling desklamp iMacs. One old couple was really interested in buying one, but the sales girl actively dissuaded them from making the purchase. She told them, "It's not compatible with other computers, so if someone emails you a picture, you won't be able to open it."

That was the dealbreaker for those "yahoo and email" grandparents, and it was the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life. I regret not saying anything at the time, I didn't want to point out how dumb the girl was or get her fired, but now I regret that. I should have tried to get her fired.

I'm sure gramdma and grandpa enjoyed fighting with popups, viruses, porn hijacks, and spyware on their shiny new HP running Windows.

Best Buy has never effectively sold Macs. Period. How many times over the past few years have you seen Macs pop up in their stores only to see them disappear a few months later? Then all you could do was buy them on their website. A few months later, THAT disappeared too!

So what makes anyone think that this will be any different? I go to Best Buy for CDs and DVDs now, and I wouldn't buy anyhing else there. They Suck @SS.

It says in several Best Buy stores ----as in there is not Apple store within 20-50 miles.

The mere fact that people say they worry whether the wonders of Mac ownership can be explained by a barely computer literater salesperson to an equally illiterate consumer miss the point.

If a Mac needs a sophisticated sales process with a lot of customer education, then that's a problem Apple needs to fix.

Bottom line is, in an outfit like Best Buy or Comp USA, if you as a vendor rely on the ability of the salesperson to explain in any technical detail why your customer should buy box X or Box Y, you're in trouble.

I actually love Best Buy, but I always go in with eyes wide open.

RULE #1 -- NEVER RELY ON THE STAFF FOR ANYTHING! If you know what you want before you walk in the door, Best Buy is a great place to get a good price. Just don't expect their underpaid teenage idiot staff to help.

Best Buy is my #1 place for DVDs and video games. Their credit card charges no interest for 90 days to 6 months, depending on the size of the purchase, so I've purchased a dishwasher, an iPod, and a Mac mini among other major things.

But I've always been 95% sure what I wanted before setting foot in the place. I'll ask questions of the staff to plumb whatever meager knowledge they have, but I never listen to their purchase suggestions.

If a Mac needs a sophisticated sales process with a lot of customer education, then that's a problem Apple needs to fix.

If the employees lie to the customers and say that if someone emails you a picture from Windows you won't be able to open it on your Mac, how is that Apple's fault? The problem isn't with idiot salespeople who are dumbfounded when asked why someone should buy a Mac, it's with idiot salespeople who come up with ignorant lies to actively convince customers to NOT buy a Mac.