CNET reports that Apple is piloting a new program at its San Francisco flagship retail store, allowing store employees to check out loaner iPads for up to a week. The program is an additional perk to satisfy its employees and provides them with more hands-on time with the device to help them better assist customers.
The program, which one source described as a "pilot," lets employees borrow from a stock of loaner devices. Employees can then use the device freely for one week before having to return it to the store, allowing for others to use it.
At the moment, the loaner program is only in use at Apple's flagship store in San Francisco, and it's unclear whether it will it will make its way to other stores, or include other products.
Meanwhile, Fortune reports that Apple has wrapped up a drive to allow users to donate their used iPads to the Teach for America program. Launched earlier this year with the debut of the iPad 2, the program allowed Apple to provide each of the over 9,000 members of the Teach for America program with a free first-generation iPad.
The report notes that Steve Jobs' wife, Laurene Powell, is on the board of directors of Teach for America, offering a personal connection to the initiative. Apple has also promoted the iPad and Teach for America in its retail stores with large window displays.
Top Rated Comments
If you’re assuming this is the ONLY charitable thing Apple does, you’re mistaken.
P.S. Finding homes for unwanted iPads, when users upgrade to a new model, is a secondary benefit that helps prevent them from going to waste or collecting dust. Most people have a family member or friend to give it to, or they can sell it on their own if they want to bother—but giving it to a good cause is also a great option; an option I’d love to have when it comes time to retire my iPad! If Apple helps give me that option, I won’t complain.
Seems a fairly cheap attempt at charity from Apple here, I mean asking people to donate their iPads? Apple are in a better position than anyone to be donating iPads, and its not like they can't afford it either.
No good deed goes unpunished...