“Apple this past week detailed plans to introduce an interesting new program that gives its retail employees a chance to ‘check out’ iPads like they would a library book,” Josh Lowensohn reports for CNET.
“The future program, which one source described as a ‘pilot,’ is designed to let employees borrow from a stock of loaner devices,” Lowensohn reports. “Employees can then use the device freely for one week before having to return it to the store, allowing for others to use it.”
Lowensohn reports, “At the moment, the loaner program is only set for Apple’s flagship store in San Francisco, and it’s unclear whether it will it will go on to make its way to other stores, or include other products.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Attribution: GigaOM via AppleInsider. Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Edward Weber” for the heads up.]
Wow apple so generous of you to let your employees “check” out a iPad that is nice for all the hard work they do for you. Hey Jim you’ve done good today borrow a iPad for a week. Wtf
Is this a joke? Why can’t Apple give the retail employees a 20% discount instead? This is weirder than Ben & Jerry’s giving ice cream to their staff to taste.
They do get a discount, but this program allows them to use the iPad for a week without paying anything.
Also, what’s so strange about Ben & Jerry giving ice cream to employees?
It would more weird of they didn’t…
Apple’s employee discount is already higher than 20%. I guess this a an opportunity to familiarize them with using an iPad if they have not bought one yet.
Why not pay the staff a salary that would allow them to afford to purchase their own iPad.
Then we wouldn’t be able to afford iPads.
Come on. That’s saying that iPads are extremely expensive or that Apple employees get paid so little it would require a massive increase in pay. It wouldn’t need a large salary increase and it would barely affect the mass wads of cash Apple is stockpiling.
That was Henry Fords approach. Pay your workers enough to afford your products. What an interesting concept.
Since this is a story about iPads, it gives me an excuse to ask a related question :- D
Could somebody tell me how to FaceTime with somebody on an iPad? I’ve FaceTimed with people who have iPhones by connecting to their number. How do you connect to somebody’s iPad? What would the ID be?
I’m sure the answer is simple, but I don’t have it. I want to FaceTime with a friend in another country. Thanks in advance.
You FaceTime with them using their Apple ID.
e-mail address from contacts app.
Thanks, guys. Appreciate that.
Personally I think most employers get too much crap from employees when they try to do something to help their workers. But I have to agree, this is silly. Plus it seems to me that it’s not good PR for AAPL. Just because AAPL is filthy rich making great profits with huge margins doesnt mean that AAPL owes it’s employees anything. But boy, it sure looks cheap. Plus who the hell wants to “borrow” an iPad? What? But anyone who knows someone who works at Cupertino, and I do, will tell you that AAPL is cheap. Especially compared to GOOG or MSFT. But again I don’t believe that AAPL necessarily owes it’s workers anything. But boy, it sure looks cheap!
I think this is a great idea. If I was going away for a couple days and didnt want to lug around a laptop. Just borrow an iPad. Plus the battery life is perfect for those long car/plane rides
I sell Apple products, but I do not work for Apple. I think this is a wonderful idea. We can borrow product, but there is no official program in place.
Even if you didn’t read the full article, the blurb above clearly states that this is a pilot program, that will allow employees an opportunity to borrow from a stock of loaner devices. This may give them access to ALL Apple products.
To me that sounds like a lot of fun. It’s a great fringe benefit.
BTW nobody said employees will not be allowed to borrow a device for another week if it’s not needed.
A loan program like this seems like it would definitely have its problems. First off, the iPads are bound to get damaged at some point or even broken. Also, it seems as though instead of providing workers with a loan, they would just discount iPads for their workers. This way everyone wins….