Slashdot Mirror
Apple Gets the Importance of Packaging; Why Doesn't Google?
Hugh Pickens writes "Rebecca Greenfield writes that Google's Nexus tablet with its taped sides and fussy plastic takes effort to open, eliciting what some would call 'wrap rage,' the linguist-approved word for the anger associated with opening a factory sealed product, and as a montage of frustrated Google Nexus 7 owners struggling to open their new tablets' packaging proves there is at least one thing Apple gets that Google does not: boxes. In comparison to the minutes-long process that it takes to get to Google's well-reviewed tablet, opening an iPad takes a simple slide of a cover — a lid that 'comes off easily, but not too easily,' as Random Tech's Anthony Kay puts it. Apple boxes aren't beloved by accident. The company thinks about the way a box informs a product and takes boxing seriously for a reason. 'Not only does the box give people warm and fuzzy associations with the product from the get-go, but also, people form emotional attachments to the actual pieces of cardboard. Instead of tossing them like the trash that they are, people have been known to keep their iBoxes,' writes Greenfield. 'Instead of forgotten in a dump or recycling facility, the boxes sit on shelves serving as a constant reminder of the beauty within.'"
Ummmmm, because Google's not a toy company?
god is just pretend.
My Nexus 7 arrived on Tuesday, and I opened it just fine. The tape used to keep the box closed was a little interesting, looked almost like it had been melted on, but nothing anyone with a pair of scissors or box cutters should have trouble with.
I, too, keep the boxes from my iThings, but for another reason. I've found that resale goes WAY up when you sell an Apple product on CL with the original boxing material. I have no idea why, but people really do put a value on Apple's packaging. You are correct, from a design standpoint, they do a really good job; but that's where my love of iBoxes ends. It's a nice tradeoff for me, though, so I'm not really complaining about iBox fever.
People keep the packaging for returns and because selling your mint condition iDevice with mint condition packaging means you get higher resell value on eBay.
Ah, the joys of owning an iDevice. You have to constantly plan ahead financially for when the next version comes out.
No sig today...
I have the Nexus 7.
First of all, the unboxing wasn't that bad. The box was taped, yes, but once I sliced it the box slid apart with no issues. The wrap around the Nexus 7 was not that hard to remove. The only way you can bugger that up is to not notice the directions. There's arrows, move this, then that, and it slides out. When I unpacked some iPads for work they were basically similar in their unpacking.
However, the part that got me about the packing is the sleeve. The box itself was fine. The box slid into a sleeve that had the artwork.
I was about ready to throw the goddamned thing against the wall. The sleeve was pressure fit so tightly that Hercu-Thumbs couldn't even slide it out. After fussing with it for a few minutes I went into a rage and tore that sonovabitch up. If I had to do it again I wouldn't even bother with sliding it off, I'd get a letter opener or something like it to take apart the sleeve at its seam.
Whoever thought of that packing design should be dragged out to the street and SHOT.
Relax, we are just having some fun goofing on the iHive mind. Thank you for helping that along.
I was going to point out Amazon's Kindle packaging, yes. It's understated in a different way to Apple's, and feels more utilitarian, but it has its own distinctive style, is extremely easy to open, and uses little plastic.
To not be a dick quite so openly?
APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
Well, the first, second and third people I showed the Nexus 7 box to, and what is inside it, headed over to Staples to get one. That was before connecting it to the net, all you got at that point was the Google logo. A beautiful hi res Google logo. And really snappy response. That's all it took: lovely tiny device plus the Google logo. Apple stakeholders should fear.
The box... I like it. It looks like a hardcover book slipcase. I was careful to cut the seals, not rip them off and the box still looks great. Obviously, I'm keeping the box. On the bookshelf. It looks like it belongs there.
So far the Nexus 7 has been a real joy. You could say "twice the computer at half the price" compared to the iPad. That's not completely accurate, really it's twice the cores, but it's close enough.
When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.