The 2TB Time Capsule is just a little evolutionary upgrade from their existing highest capacity of 1TB. So far I don’t think there are any other single-drive external hard disk storage that exceeds the 1TB mark. But then again, are there yet single hard disks that are 2TB in capacity? It sounds like the Time Capsule might have become a two disk system. If it has two disks, then perhaps they could also do RAID1 (mirroring). We shall know soon.

Another possibility is the Xserve, which was apparently leaked out by the Apple Hong Kong online store.

The other thing that happened recently (yesterday) was the iTunes software update. Perhaps there might be something related to the iTunes update. iTunes related things would have to be iPods or iPhones. Indeed updates to iPod Touch and iPhone product lines are expected soon.

What I’m hoping is for Apple to drop the prices of their MacBooks. They are getting too expensive, imho. The MacBooks from one year ago were actually quite competitively priced against their PC counterparts, but not anymore. Clearly, Microsoft is taking advantage with their recent two TV advertisements (as well as on other media) about how PC hardware costs are so much lower than Macs.

Update: Seems like the only thing that materialized when the Apple online store returned was the Xserve update, now available with Nehalem processors. An additional thing in the Apple Singapore online store is the new Apple Educational Pricing promotion in conjunction with the polytechnics new semester.

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The promotion savings for the hardware products are not significant. You save S$160 off the 2.0GHz and 2.4GHz versions of the new aluminum 13″ MacBooks, but only $80 off the lowest end white 13″ MacBook. In fact, considering the educational pricing, there is no price reduction at all for the white 13″ MacBook. The educational prices seem to be mostly very uninteresting.

But I guess if you are already looking for something to buy, well, you’d probably still save a few bucks. In this time of economic downturn, I’m sure any savings will make you happier with your purchase.

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One thing that Apple has got to look at is the disparity in the pricing between their US store and Singapore store. Recently, I’ve noted that the mainstream items like iPods and MacBooks are actually quite similar (you need to remember that US store prices does not include sales tax whereas Singapore store prices already include GST). But there is still a price gap in other accessories and support items.

For example, APP for MacBook is S$446 in Singapore, but US$267 (S$398) in US. Office 2008 for Mac is S$269 in Singapore, but US$160 (S$239) in US. The 13″ MacBook white rechargeable battery is S$232 in Singapore, US$138 (S$206) in US. A refurbished MacBook Air 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo is S$1998 in Singapore, US$1069 (S$1593) in US. Note that I’ve added 7% sales tax to all the US prices listed here so that there is a fairer comparison with the 7% GST in Singapore.

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The first MacBook was ordered last weekend. Apple Store said they would ship it out on Monday or Tuesday, and I can expect to receive delivery on Tuesday or Wednesday. The courier was ready to drop it off on Monday, but I wasn’t free, so the delivery was rescheduled to Tuesday. Interestingly, Apple apparently considered Monday as the day the MacBook came into my possession, even though I really only laid hands on it on Tuesday.

So I got the MacBook and excitedly opened it up. I was quite impressed with the “Welcome” that the MacBook greets its new owners with. Microsoft should probably learn a few things from Apple. The initial setup was done, and I was quickly down to business to get the MacBook to do real work.

Then, I noticed the trackpad was slightly warped. The top left corner was jutting out above the top of the surrounding casing’s surface, and the top centre was slightly depressed. The button end of the trackpad was clearly not evenly aligned with the trackpad’s buttons. There was practically no loss of functionality, although I thought the top left corner was slightly less sensitive. Should I just live with this deformity? It’s really not a big issue, but it is annoying when you know it is there, and it’s the kind of problem that will continue to come back to bug you.

Well, since I paid good money for the MacBook, and I have come to expect some quality out of Apple’s product, I decided to give them a call. Interesting that there are no numbers that I could easily find to call about this issue. Yes, I have the Apple Store’s number. But you see, the Apple Store’s interactive voice response gives only these options:

1. Follow-up status of an order. Well, I was trying to report a defective product. I’ve already received my MacBook, I wouldn’t quite consider this following up an order.
2. Buy an iPod and don’t know what else.
3. Buy other Apple products.
4. Dial an extension.

Okay, in the end I chose the option to follow-up status of my order. I explained the issue, and I was directed to visit an Apple service centre for them to verify the problem is real (yeah, in case the customer is lying), so that they can log the case, and then I could call them back to arrange a return.

So that’s what I did. I called back Apple Store and asked about the return. Since it was within 14 days of purchase, I could return for an exchange. It will take about 2 days for the courier to pick up the defective item, and then another 7 to 10 days (and that’s probably “business days”) for them to ship back a replacement. Huh?! But it takes only 1 to 2 days for me to purchase a new MacBook!

Alright, the call centre lady offered an alternative: Return the defective product for a full 100% refund of the purchase price. They will still get a courier to pick up the defective item. But in the meanwhile I could buy the same item again. Yes, even ordering online from the Apple Store.

How cute. If I return for a refund, and re-purchase it again, I “restart” the 1 year warranty. Clearly a better option than to return for a replacement eh?

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You might have read about my car accident last week. I sent in my car on 23 April, and Borneo Motors estimated my car would be ready by today (29 April). It seems like quite long to repair very little damage. But the staff explained there were quite a number of things to be done (including the administrative procedures with insurer). Ok fine, I have a courtesy car, isn’t too much of an inconvenience. So I planned my activities and schedules through the weekend on the assumption I would be driving the (admittedly not as nice) courtesy car. I had to update car park management people, so that the season pass would be transferred to the courtesy car. (Nowadays, with ERP-like gantries for car park, you can’t cheat by simply transferring the decal.)

Then, on 25 April, Borneo Motors called to inform me my car was ready for collection. Two days after sending in, 4 days ahead of expected completion. Under promise, over deliver. I should be elated. But, ahem, it upset my schedule, I had to pick up the car, transfer all the barang barang, update car park management people again, etc. Yes, I was still happy to get my car back earlier, but not so much for the hassle of having to swap cars at short notice. Perhaps it would have been better if Borneo Motors could have given advance notice that they were expecting the repair to be completed sooner than originally advised? Then, of course, it prompted me to wonder why, if the repair could be completed so quickly, was I given such a long time estimate?

Debbie Jenkins shares the same thoughts with me. The next time if I visit Borneo Motors (touch wood), and if they tell me a repair (touch more wood) will take 6 days, I’m probably going to complain about why it takes so long.

Then, I chanced upon another under promise, over deliver, experience again over the week end. I ordered a new MacBook from the Apple Store. That was a Saturday. I don’t expect them to work on Saturdays. So when I was presented an estimated schedule to ship the product on 28 or 29 April, with delivery by 30 April, I was sufficiently satisfied. Fast enough. Besides, I wasn’t free on 28 April to receive delivery.

Well guess what? Apple Store shipped the product on 28 April, and the courier was actually ready to deliver on 28 April. The problem is, I wasn’t in (at the delivery address). So I had to ask the delivery rescheduled. Not a big hassle, no doubt. I must say the Apple customer service staff are very pleasant, very pleasantly different in style from others I’ve experienced.

I’m not quite complaining of course, but just wanted to say that I would have been perfectly happy with delivery as promised.

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