11-26-2008, 01:04 AM

Hey all,

This is my first post on the Mac Forums, so I apologize in advance if I do anything foolish. In addition, I'm not certain that this thread is in the right spot, so if I could get some clarification, I'd be grateful.

Anyway, I've recently found myself in an odd situation with my new MacBook Pro.

My father purchased me a new high-end unibody MacBook Pro (my first Mac =D) on October 16th, two days after their launch, to use as my primary computer for a long while. I'm incredibly pleased with it, and have looked back at Windows only for sake of argumentation against my PC-owning friends. I've only been an Apple evangelist for a few months, (since the release of certain film on June 27th, 2008) and I've already convinced three people to switch to Mac. I have decided that I want Apple to be my main source of income and my future career. As such, I'm pouring an incredible amounts of effort into making my resume look amazing (By 'amazing,' I mean it includes detailed photos and testimonials from the people I've switched to Mac.) I'd apply now, but alas, young age does have several drawbacks; being a freshman in high school and only fourteen years of age is proving to be a bit cumbersome when attempting to pursue the career of my dreams.

However, despite my happiness with my new Macintosh, I've found myself in a strange predicament.

I've only had my MBP for one month and nine days, which means its resale value would be high. I had an interesting thought, though, and I'm wondering if it would be a good decision to make. I came up with the idea of selling my higher-end MBP to get a higher-end aluminum MacBook. If I did this, I would have comparable technical stats, and I'd be able to use the extra funds to get up to three more people to switch. My father, the same one who bought me the MBP, would be able to get a used first gen MacBook Air, and I'd have six hundred US dollars to incentivize switchers.

I know what you must be thinking; "That's madness! Why in the name of Woz would you sell your awesome MacBook Pro to help Apple make more profit!?!"

As I've said before, I want to work at the company for the rest of my life; I've really found what I love with Apple, and I think that this decision would REALLY help me get my foot in the door by expanding my resume and portfolio by a substantial amount. In addition, I'd have experience with more models, increasing my knowledge of their products. Two of the switchers I have lined up would be getting two products I have precariously little experience with (the Air and the last gen White MacBook). The only hits I'd take would be in the fields of display size, FireWire, Express Port, and bragging rights, not to mention losing my uber-sentimental first Mac. However, to contest those losses, I don't yet own any FireWire or Express/34 Card-based peripherals, and from what I understand, sentimentality is a bad thing to have in the iWorld.

What do believe I should do, and why? Even if you choose not to post a reply or your thoughts, thanks for taking the time to read this.

Have a nice day,
Admiral Alpha

11-26-2008, 01:11 AM

don't do it.

11-26-2008, 01:25 AM

Are you saying you would pay these people to switch? I would say the best way to get this job is to research the company as much as possible, and get a retail job. If you get a retail job you will have some of the experience they are looking for. Its very tough to get a job at apple but if you start by taking small steps at your young age by the time your are 16 or 18 you would have a better chance at a job.

11-26-2008, 01:52 AM

Originally Posted by dabears34

Are you saying you would pay these people to switch?

To an certain extent. I'm going to give two to three of my close friends roughly a hundred to two hundred dollars towards a Mac of their choosing, to soften the blow. I've found that the two main challenges Apple has to overcome when switching users to Mac are cost and gaming needs, and if you can alleviate one (cost) and dissuade them of the other (gaming) you can make serious inroads on the PC marketshare. At my school, out of the roughly fifty people I know and have asked about Macs, forty of them said they would definitely consider switching if the aforementioned negative aspects could be lightened. This is a great way to prove

Originally Posted by dabears34

I would say the best way to get this job is to research the company as much as possible, and get a retail job.

I've got this covered. I'm looking into Best Buy first for retail experience, in their Mac division. While the age requirement at the Apple Store I'm applying for isn't set in stone, I'm positive that Best Buy's standards are lower than Apple's. Although I wish I had more definitive numbers, the numbers given to me by employees of both stores have varied greatly. I know more about Apple than anyone I know, excluding the Apple Store employees whom I frequently converse with, and it seems my knowledge of the products is just as good as theirs. I plan to get a retail job at the Apple Store while training for a management position, which is one of my higher goals.

Originally Posted by dabears34

If you get a retail job you will have some of the experience they are looking for. Its very tough to get a job at apple but if you start by taking small steps at your young age by the time your are 16 or 18 you would have a better chance at a job.

Exactly what I figure. I know the competition is tough, which is why I'm doing so much to be the best candidate. Thanks for taking the time to reply, dabears. 'Preciate it. =)

11-26-2008, 07:09 AM

don't do it

11-26-2008, 07:17 AM

I can see trading down to get your dad a MacBook Air, however, I do not think you will save THAT much money. Plus I just upgraded from a maxxed out 17" Penryn Aluminum MBP to a 15" Unibody MBP. There is no way I would switch back. Not in a million years.

I loved my 17", but compaired to this unit, it just felt flimsy. The Unibodies are much more robust and solid feeling. Not too mention the 9600 GT kicks the 8600's tail end. And if you game any, you will want that 9600.

11-26-2008, 11:40 AM

You don't get people to switch by bribing them. You get them to switch by SHOWING them how mac is better. Keep the computer you've got and get a retail job, work your way through college with a degree in marketing or sales, then work your way up the ladder at Apple if that's your calling. Telling Apple that you paid people to switch is not going to help your resume.

11-26-2008, 01:54 PM

I agree with the few people who siad, you don't get people to switch by "bribing them" but by showing them the pros and (there are some) cons of OS X and how you can get around them (gaming - purchase XP or use an old one on the intel macs/show them they are some Mac Games and probably more to come becusae i think a few companies are going to mac pc/mac games for awhile) and price wise, refurbished mac's are just as good as real ones and at a lower price. As well, switching down to the MB compared to the MBP is a personal preference. Depends on what you need and if you want to help your dad.

11-26-2008, 09:27 PM

I'm sorry, but thats just crazy! Nobody at Apple is going to care that you got a few people to switch. Like others said, if you really want to work there, you are going to need experience and education.

11-27-2008, 02:53 PM

Originally Posted by ADKhikerVW

I'm sorry, but thats just crazy! Nobody at Apple is going to care that you got a few people to switch.

Being able to convince people to switch is a big part of the job; convincing multiple people to spend thousands of dollars on luxury computing is what I would call impressive salesmanship. The rough number would be ten so far, if I could get the extra cash. It's not like I'm bribing them, as they already desperately want to switch, the two in question simply don't have the funds. Apple gives it's employees the power to do something similar for close family and friends; each employee can give up to three people a year a fifteen percent discount on major sales.

Originally Posted by ADKhikerVW

Like others said, if you really want to work there, you are going to need experience and education.

I've got both of the aforementioned, I simply believe that a larger number of switchers would be supplementary to the resume and make it a great deal more impressive.

11-27-2008, 04:16 PM

I've got both of the aforementioned, I simply believe that a larger number of switchers would be supplementary to the resume and make it a great deal more impressive.

At fourteen? You have neither, at least from the perspective of a potential employer. What stands out on a resume is education, as in where you went to college and what you studied, and ON THE JOB experience and achievements. Saying that you helped a few people to switch might be an interesting footnote, but it is certainly not going to get you a job over experience and specialized education from a university.

11-27-2008, 04:39 PM

don't do it.

11-27-2008, 08:47 PM

are you Crazy?

11-28-2008, 04:07 AM

Lovely idea (very generous of you) but in reality I doubt it will reward you in any way other than a couple of mates who owe you.