to steve jobs

i heard yesterday about the rebate you're offering to those of us who bought the iphone when it first came out now that you're dropping its price. i have some observations and conclusions of my own.

first, i think it's swell that you're dropping the price. i totally love my iphone and tell everyone who notices it all about it with great joy. i hope lots more people can enjoy this terrific product now. i also think it's great that you're introducing an ipod with this fab new interface--it's a marvel.

second, having been an early adopter of technology for 20+ years, i agree with you: the technology road is bumpy. it always changes and improves, and i often buy a product before a particular product and miss a new price or os or whatever. that's life indeed in the tech lane. one of the reasons i've become a total mac convert just in the past two years (now a happy owner of one mac and work user of another and owner of two ipods and one iphone--w00t!) is that, as you note, i know i'll receive years of useful, satisfying service from you even as newer models are introduced.

third--and here's where we part ways--i paid for my iphone just what it was worth to me when i bought it. and i haven't regretted a moment, and i tell anyone who asks me just that. i would pay that much all over again. and anyone who wants anything in the marketplace pays exactly what the market will bear.

i will spend hundreds (maybe more) in apple stores, in person and online, in the foreseeable future. but right now, i have a dear and wonderful friend joe, who is fighting a painful and losing battle with acute myelodysplastic syndrome, a cancer similar to leukemia. diagnosed just 14 months into his marriage with his precious wife karen and a week before his 32nd birthday, joe has been fighting valiantly, cheerfully, and prayerfully for just under 16 months, but right now the cancer seems to have won, barring some kind of miracle.

i would therefore like to humbly and respectfully request that, instead of sending me a $100 apple credit, you send my $100 to the cammie lee leukemia foundation, which has done so much to help joe, including running many drives across the nation to find him a donor; asians and pacific islanders make up only 8 percent of the national marrow donor registry, and finding a match of his own ethnicity was his best shot at success. sadly, his transplant still did not work, but cllf efforts have saved countless other lives, and i had the pleasure of working with cammie lee at a drive for joe and would love the opportunity to donate in karen and joe's honor.

i guess what i'm trying to say is that i appreciate your trying to placate your customers, but i, for one, would love to see this money go to something truly important. i haven't been able to save joe, but maybe i can help someone else.

thank you for your time and consideration,
lisa
happy appler

Comments

[XavierItzmann]

Wow Lisa! Agree with you in all points.

Joe will be in our prayers today.

[Britt Blaser]

Count me in. Can someone set up a way for us to explicitly point our refund to these charities?

[Tim]

Bravo, Lisa, and all the best to Joe and Karen.

[Sarah]

It would be nice if he gave those qualifying for a rebate the option of getting the credit or donating it to charity. I think he could stand to follow Bill Gates' example in this case!

[Beth]

Wow - what a great post. I'm praying with you sweetie!