Jason Norris’ Blog

Underestimating Demand

July 7, 2008 · 4 Comments

I’m an Apple Fan… I bought my first Mac around two years ago when my Windows based Dell decided that actually writing my dissertation was not where its fate dictated it would end up, and it was at this point after an afternoon in the Bullring Apple shop I bought the bullet and switched.  To say I was amazed was an understatement, and I never understood all those people that say its too difficult to swap operating systems.  I bought the Mac version of Word as I still had some of my dissertation notes left, and that was it. 

As soon as the iPhone came out, it was pretty much a sure bet that I would get one… I left it a little while, the finances didn’t quite allow for me to queue on the first day, but it was close.  However, there were of course problems with the first version, and like any decent company, of course Apple were holding back features to release as a second version, and cash in twice.  So when I heard about the 3G iPhone, I signed up, as it seems did thousands of other people!

Surely O2 would have released that it was going to be popular… they would have known how many people signed up so surely order at least that many! But today, at 8am after a text message to say its here… I attempted to sign up to get one on Friday.  I was greeted however, with countess error messages.  ”sorry you request has failed” “please re-enter your information”… and there was not even an Odadeo pleasant looking error message… just boring text! So tried again this evening… and was greeted with the below:

The truth is that I’m a little disappointed with O2.  I was really hoping to have the new iPhone on Friday, I’m like a little kid when it comes to gadgets and I can’t stand waiting… but I’m going to have to now, and it annoys me.  They surely must have expected such demand, and either ignored it, or just simply thought they have an PR opportunity here… we are selling more than ever expected…. we are the only place you can get it, so we know you will come back! Either way, I’m going to have to wait for 3G iPhone… not the anniversary I wanted really!

Categories: Personal
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Making Wishes Come True

July 7, 2008 · Leave a Comment

Making Wishes… for me its always something that has involved a lamp, a genie or a well, but this week, the process of making a wish has been at the forefront of my thinking.  For example, if you were asked to wish for one thing, absolutely anything in the world, money no object… what would it be? I’m not going to give you my answer, you have to think of your own! However, this week, Stef and Andrew Dubber have been working on the I So Wish Website, an idea which is still only a few days old, but is already up and running.  Its been fantastic to be involved, and through a curious twist of fate, it could be something that I could continue to be involved with after my time as the Apprentice is up.

On Saturday night, Laura and I were privilaged to be guests at the Midlands Corporate Finance Charity Ball, which was in aid of the Make A Wish Foundation.  The foundation basically grant wishes to terminally ill children, helping them and their families.  A child can wish for anything, from Playstations to holidays in Florida, and the Charity do all that they can to make their wish come true.  A fantastic cause as you will agree.

Well, mentioning this to Stef this morning, it turns out that he and Dubber have already been talking about a potential tie up with the charity, so I am spending my morning trying to link up with my contacts and see if we can get this moving! If you have not seen the site as yet, do take a look… its quite an experience looking at what other people wish for, and Dubber has even written an E-Book about how you can make your wishes come true.

So I hope to be writing more about the Foundation in the future, and the fantastic work that they do.  Perhaps I may have even found the charity I will be completing Lands End to John O’Groats for next year.

Categories: Graduate Apprentice · LEJOG · Personal
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