Apple is moving to implement several of the programs mentioned by Sr. V-P for Retail Ron Johnson last November, including a focus on small business, more in-store repairs, and a revived Switcher campaign. First, Apple will reportedly roll out "Pro Care" for $99 a year, designed for businesses, but available to anyone. The service will allow Mac Genius appointments up to 7 days ahead, next-day repairs on desktops, and 2-day repairs on laptops. Those two plasma screens at the Genius Bar will manage and display Genius appointments and queues for the Bar. Second, the current Mac Pac service package will morph into "Standard Care," and adding RAM and an Airport card to any computer you purchase at the store will now be "no charge." I also hear that current Genius Bar support fees will disappear almost completely (!). Lastly, the "Switchers" campaign is not dead, and will be the focus of weekday "Switch at Six" events (at 6 p.m., naturally!) aimed at Windows users. There will be workshops and presentations, and Windows users will be encouraged to bring in their digital still and video cameras to see how they seamlessly work with Macintosh hardware. Perhaps the strangest aspect of upcoming training– Apple store employees will learn certain aspects of the Windows operating system, its terminology and how it works, so they can be conversant with PC users who come into the store to browse.
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- iPods - Pluck and Buy at 7-Eleven/Japan
