I had been sitting on this because we thought I had it exclusively for a major publication but then the Fontainebleau folks prematurely and accidentally posted a new brochure online and it got out on other blogs, so here goes:The new $3 billion Fontainebleau in Vegas opening fall 2009 and the one renovated for $500 million in Miami opening this September will offer a groundbreaking amenity: A full-fledged iMac in every room. There are a number of thoughts behind that and I'll have a lot more really soon.
But my question is: Is that cool? Would it persuade you to stay there? Does it add a coolness factor?
9 comments:
Yes to all three questions.
That would depend on whether or not they charge for Internet use. It pisses me off that to check my e-mail in a hotel costs between $10-15/day.
For me, no. I'm a PC person. I would have to push the Mac aside so I could use my PC laptop with my browser and my applications.
I know Macs are supposed to be friendlier and more intuitive, but not for me. I don't like change. Most people don't. Windows has about 90% of the market share. Macs are pretty, but most people don't know how to use them. I predict lots of frustrated people who don't know (or want to learn) how to use the pretty Macs. I tried to look at the Fontainebleau web site to get more information, but it, too, is more interested in being pretty than being useful.
Harrumph.
They better have a fully-staffed support department ready to help all the PC users who are utterly confused by a Mac.
It might be nice for non-computer addicted travelers to have that in their room, but as a computer-addicted person, I need to have my OWN computer with all my own bookmarks and shortcuts.
And I wonder how bad the ads on those Macs will be. If not now, eventually....
If you can use a PC you can use a Mac, since Windows is nothing more than a bastardization of Mac's OS.
I think it will be interesting to see if there is any impact on Mac sales. I wonder if they will have an Apple store in their retail mix, although with Fashion Show being so close they may not.
Indeed, I can use a Mac. I just don't want to. Been there, done that. Want my PC.
Macs rule. You have to be an idiot not to be able to use one. And yes, it would help to make my choice about where to stay. But a valid point, how much will internet access be? I get so pissed off when I pay $200 a night for a room and then they try to tack on another $20 for internet access. I can stay at La Quinta, get a clean comfortable room and free internet access....
The new Intel iMacs can be set up to run Windows using a program called Parallels ( you can also restart the entire iMac into Windows - depending on how the hotel management configures it ).
One point about WIFI -- if a networked iMac is already IN the room you can share the network connection that the iMac has with another laptop - the laptop can be Windows, Mac or Linux ( again - the management COULD disable this but that would be kind of douchy - in my mind ). If the Fountainebleau wants to be one upping other properties it would suck to disable the "share network connection" option.
Just for the record I go both ways.... that is I use Mac and Windows - get your Mind out the Gutter!!!!
I meant to comment on this at the time, then forgot, then I saw Your Article in USA Today this weekend which Reminded me, a Computer in Every Room is not a Brand new Concept to the Strip, the New Aladdin had a similar thing when it re-opened in 200, without getting too tech, it wasn't an actual PC in every room, but it was a Monitor (flat panel if I remember correctly), keyboard and mouse with fully fledged Windows...
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