Steve@apple.com really works

I’m amazed… impressed… and using Leopard in spite of the fact that the copy I ordered is still in Purolator limbo.

This week has been very cool on a geek level. To start with, Sean from The Lab called to ask if I could prepare 2 more segments for the show (which I should be writing show notes for instead of posting this). I pitched ideas and they were accepted; one of them being a look at Leopard, Apple’s new operating system.

I have had access to the ADC seeds through my work with an Apple Developer, so I’m pretty familiar with the OS. But the latest seed that was released to developers was not the gold master so I thought I’d better order the full blown OS for the show. I did and it was guaranteed delivery on release date: Friday, October 26th.

Soon after, I checked the status of the order and it was prepared for shipment via Purolator… uhg… I have dealt with them before and, even on expedited deliveries, they have always come late. Not good. But I decided to wait and see.

I waited and saw.

I saw my copy of Leopard still sitting in Ontario late Thursday night while others were reporting deliveries. I resigned myself to the idea that, since local retailers would likely not get their shipments either, I had better plan of driving down to Bellingham, WA to buy a copy in the US.

Disappointed at how shipment to western Canada had not been properly planned, I wrote an email to steve@apple.com. I basically just explained the situation and let Mr. Jobs know the mess I was in.

Friday morning, I get a call from Steve Jobs’ office—it’s not Steve, but one of his staff…but I’m just floored that I got any call from Apple at all. The voice on the phone tells me that he got the email and that he is working to make sure I get a copy of Leopard. Throughout the day he keeps me up to date and when it becomes clear that Purolator isn’t going to make it, he arranges for a copy of the OS to be hand delivered to my desk before I leave work.

Awesome!!

I come home so impressed with Steve Jobs and Apple that I postpone installing Leopard to pen a thank you letter and send it to the same email address that brought about the events that saved my bacon.

Thanks Steve!!