Apple's absence nibbles core at Macworld

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Steve Jobs does have a vision

You mentioned ease of use, and let's not forget design. He also has expanded Apple outside pc's, which is where I think Apple will end up.
High end versions of basic goods and gadgets, kind of a one company Sharper Image.

I'll make a guess about him from nothing more than magazine articles. He, like Bill Gates, cares about the feel of using a product. He, unlike Gates, thought and still thinks that a good feeling about a product requires complete control. He also enjoys the idea that participation comes at a premium; keeps out the riff raff. An experience for the elite, those who know and care and are willing to invest money because they want something different, better.

In short, ego, yes, but one tied to an aesthetic and a sense of purpose.
There's room for Mercedes Benz among cars. There should be room for Apple among computers. The difference is, pc hardware has become so cheap that if Apple is not to be absurdly overpriced, it has to scrimp and nickel-and-dime customers on everything possible. That's just too much for most customers who aren't really devoted to Jobs' vision.

Apple did run a campaign recently to get people who might care off Windows. I suspect it failed to gain much market share or even a proportional influx of new buyers as the overall market expanded. For most people, a car's aesthetic differences count. For computers, I guess they don't.
And for the trendy, the regimented nonconformists, there's always Linux.

So, I salute Steve Jobs for his vision. Just hope it doesn't break his company.

Posted by: Anton Philidor   Posted on: 07/13/04 You are currently: a Guest | Members login | Terms of Use

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