Apple-mania arrives in Israel

September 24, 2008 - 11:32 AM by

Apple store yes, iphone no. Well, idigital launched the first Apple store of sorts in Israel this week and the country was a-buzzin. I didn’t really feel the need to go since I’ve been to Apple stores all over the world and what I am really going to see that’s new anyway? Next time I’m in Ramat Aviv (which will most likely be never) I’ll stop by…unless they start selling the iphone. Which I’m hearing rumblings in the street that it is happening sooner than later. It’s important to note that this is not an official Apple Store and while the store looks identical to Apple stores elsewhere in the world there are indeed differences. My favorite is that the Genius bar is called the Guru bar.

Globes reports:

The new 300 square meter store in the Ramat Aviv mall in Tel Aviv is exceptional for its design, which is radically different from that of other computer retail chains in Israel. The Apple flagship store in Israel is almost identical in design to the stores spread across the US and Europe, the only difference being in size, since the chain’s stores overseas are still much larger than the newly opened Israeli branch. iDigital has also taken the initiative, in view of the criticism leveled at it over prices of Apple products in Israel, which are far higher than those abroad, and has reduced prices on most products by 10% to 33.7%.

I’m glad to see that they’ve lowered their prices. I’ve complained about their markup in a previous post, and while the decrease is welcome, I fear it is not enough to make Apple a successful brand in Israel. Though other steps are being taken to make the Apple a contender. An official Hebrew translation of OS X is now available and is being offered as a free download for Hebrew speakers.

Check out this video of the countdown. Includes the patented Israeli rhythmic clapping.

Tags: , , , , • Category: Business, Technology 

Comments

5 Comments on Apple-mania arrives in Israel

  1. Dan on Wed, Sep 24th 2008 8:11 PM

    2. Looks entirely like the local apple store including the T-shirs that the employee’s are wearing
    BUT no free t=shirs for the customers

  2. Ilya on Thu, Sep 25th 2008 3:44 AM

    3. Why is is that many websites in Hebrew do not seem to work in Safari or Firefox on the Mac? You click on a nuttonand nothinghappens. That’s another reason not to use their computers. Is there a way around this? I know there’s a way to get Safari to pretend it’s another browser, but that doesn’t work either

  3. Suzanne Pomeranz on Thu, Sep 25th 2008 10:51 AM

    4. I brought my old Mac LC with me to Israel in 1993, bought a “clone” (don’t ever do that) in 1997, bought an old iMac from people leaving the country and when it died completely after many years of good work for me, bought a new iMac from a local JERUSALEM dealer (who, unfortunately, at the time had no choice but to get it from YEDA…). I’m glad to finally see what looks to be a decent Apple Store in Israel (unlike the awful Apple Center of years ago), but please, iDigital, open one in Jerusalem SOON!

  4. jessica on Thu, Sep 25th 2008 3:03 PM

    5. just got an ipod touch — so, minus cellphone abilities, and love it!

  5. shady on Sun, Nov 30th 2008 9:51 PM

    6. i allready bought my iPhone from a private store for 2800 NIS is it going to be cheaper???

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