Pundit claims he's lost his enthusiasm for Apple!
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Posted on 08/27/2011 1:05:29 PM PDT by TomServo
Earlier this month I sold my 11.6-inch MacBook Air (using Samsung Series 5 Chromebook now) and iPhone 4 (switched back to Google Nexus S). I don't miss either Apple product. Not the least bit. In reflecting, I realize that the spell is broken. Without Apple Chairman Steve Jobs driving innovation or inspiring passion -- the oft-called "reality distortion field" -- my Apple enthusiasm is gone. Perhaps it's return to sanity.
I should have connected the dots sooner, but often people don't easily apply even basic math to emotional matters, because the nuances move swiftly on the surface with many slower currents and fast-churning eddies below. The ocean is an excellent analogy. Yesterday, in viewing Nate Mook's slideshow of 20 products introduced by Jobs, and resurfacing emotions about the different launches, I had an epiphany. I could see how much Jobs' passion infected mine -- his ability to inspire about what Apple products offered. I used to joke about the Steve Jobs spell: During one of the product launch speeches, if he was having an off day, people left feeling like: If I buy this thing my life will be better for it. If Jobs was in the zone giving the preso, people left feeling if they didn't buy the new thing their lives would be worse.
Jobs' cast a big spell, but it was more than the pitch -- there are aspirational qualities built into Apple products. Jobs is the rarest of business leaders: He has good taste and the ability to inspire people working with him to put it into high-tech stuff. Related: Design priorities put features that are most useful at the top, packaged such that there is balance among them -- none takes away from overall functionality. Additionally: Simplicity is a defining Apple design characteristic, or was.
As I explained here at BetaNews in February 2005 post "iPod Shuffle: Apple understated": "The company has turned a knack for the understated into a marketing machine that touches virtually every Mac product, including iPod Shuffle...Understated often means uncomplicated. And sometimes that means cutting back consumer choices, as Apple did with iPod Shuffle. Less really can be more...Competitors really need to study what Apple is doing right and how to incorporate a similar approach into their product designs and marketing".
Complication Creep
But on reflection, I now see how much simplicity, one of Apple products' best attributes, is giving way to complication creep. Mac OS X 10.7 Lion and iTunes 9 and 10 are glaring examples of increased complexity, as are iOS 4 (and soon v5), Safari 5.1, iLife `11 and most other Apple software.
Even Apple Store. I wrote in 2005: "Apple retail stores are remarkably understated. The only bright colors are found on marketing material placed throughout the store. Otherwise, the tasteful stores are quite stark, so that the shoppers' eyes are drawn either to the colorful marketing posters and signs or to the products on sale". The stores are no longer as tasteful, and the new iPad product information displays create clutter and complexity.
Still, where Steve Jobs' influence still touched so did simplicity remain, which iPad 2, MacBook Air and Mac App Store imbue. But other recent attempts at simplicity have failed, with Final Cut Pro X example of increased complexity coming from an attempt to make video production simpler. Many of Apple's elite customers complained about the product, and there was even a petition to bring back the old version! Could such a thing really have happened with Steve Jobs hands-on at Apple?
When Passion Fades
Steve Jobs unexpectedly resigned as Apple CEO two days ago, and the Board of Directors immediately chose Tim Cook, then chief operating officer, as replacement. Much of the punditry about the transition is similar: Apple will remain the same Apple under Cook. This is misguided, wishful thinking.
Apple will change under Cook's leadership. Actually Apple already has changed. For about three years now, Jobs' influence on product development and marketing is less than it once was. The Apple faithful will slam me in comments or elsewhere for speaking such blasphemy. But, c`mon. The man is terribly ill -- clearly fighting for his life throughout much of 2009 and 2011.
As I more seriously review the 2.8 years since Jobs' January 2009 medical leave started, it's clear the aforementioned qualities are missing and other less-desirable ones present in Apple products. This reflects the limits of Jobs' involvement in the process -- at least the way he was able to be when in more robust health. There is a vitality gone from Apple's cofounder that many recent Apple products reflect, even as the company reaches its highest pinnacle of success ever. It's a cruel circumstance that a man who has had so much positive influence should be ravaged from the effects of cancer while still in his prime.
Kirk and Spock
Jobs and Cook couldn't be more different leaders. They're complimentary: The inspired visionary looking to bring good taste and understated design to otherwise complex products and the man responsible for getting them to market. Like James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock from "Star Trek". Kirk is the leader, the charismatic one. Spock is the empowering sidekick but not as effective leader. That's how I see Jobs and Cook.
Cook will competently lead Apple, as he has done for the better part of two years. He's honed Apple's supply chain to a science. Apple is a self-propelling machine now. But like Spock, Cook won't have the passion of Kirk. This will affect his ability to hold onto the team core to Jobs, such as product design genius Jony Ive.
Apple won't find feature compromises -- the kind good for keeping them in balance -- as easy in the post-Jobs-CEO world, either. Response to Final Cut Pro X is one example of that. Jobs had a knack for making people believe in his company's products, for clearly calling on real-world passion while making anyone and everyone willing to listen to feel good about Apple stuff. Apple products evoke emotional response, like few others in techdom. They are imbued by Jobs' passion and his ability to inspire others to design greatness or to give someone like Jony Ive freedom to bring true design genius to market.
Apple feels quite different to me now in 2011 than it did in 2008. It's all corporate now. Just dollars and cents on a ledger. What Jobs imbued already is gone, at least for me. I predict it will fade for many technophiles. But not anytime soon for the mass market of buyers, who are more influenced by what their friends and family use than by the aura of Steve Jobs.
His legendary "one more thing" was one last thing long ago.
>>>They are ALL made in China.
Or Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, even RIM assembles Blackberries in Mexico... Be careful with blanket assumptions.
My daughter, grandson, granddaughter and I all have Ipads. We are very, very happy with them. I have a fairly new desktop and laptop but I use the iPad more than the other 2 put together. My 2 great granddaughters have games on my daughter’s and they are learning so much on it. They are 3 and 2. I was with the 2 year old last week and I could not get over how very smart she is. The 3 year old is the same way. My daughter’s friends will not allow their kids to even touch theirs which is a huge mistake.
Something most apple don’t see or refuse to see is that they brought it on themselves..there really is a born again mentality to alot of nuvo-Apple users who look to proselytize their new found faith. That is irritating to read constantly...whats more they often spew FUD at others peoples taste in MS.
No, not at all.
That said, this article doesn't sound like a typical Hater, it brings up some interesting points about Jobs himself, and his ability to bring us along with his flights of fancy.
I think Jobs leaves us on a high note. In my opinion, the iPad will be the most influential product of them all. The iPhone, bleh, just another smartphone, if only Apple would make one with a much bigger screen.... and then boom, they made the iPad. This product really does change everything.
I know how you feel. I have tried to do what I though was simple DVD stuff and it drove me up the wall looking all over the web for a software program to do something.
Worst part is I never have found the simple software to make a DVD like I want.
I had a LISA system way back when and that thing was so easy to learn and use.
I may be with you and try a MAC again.
My employer uses both MAC an PC so I own both to keep up with the technology. I have no problem with either albeit I use the Macs more for graphics an media with PC used for CAD an other technical software.
Can either or do same jobs...yes. Does one do something better than the other yes. Is one built an warranted better than the other yes. I get what I want need an like to use an fits the task to be performed best.
Hope yer well....stay safe.
Or Malaysia or etc. Same thing... not made here.
Isn’t China the same in this time as Made in Japan was 30 years or more ago except just more of it? Made in Japan was to made in Asia as Coke is to cola, just another metaphor. Same for China but they are probably more dominant this time.
Let us be technically correct in public then... NOT MADE IN USA. Happy now?
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And who cares?
If it was made here, no one could afford these products, or the companies would have to cut their profits and/or quality, like GM/Chrysler/ford.
That’s a free market, welcome to America.
Well, first the labor market, then the remaining tax payers who pay their unemployment and support, then the tax payer after he realizes he is carrying not jut him but probably two others then... the people who took over the manufacturing because they now have the money the people who used to buy their stuff had and they aren’t buying anymore.
Everybody has to produce something to be useful on the ship or they can’t be on the ship. There is no room for passengers.
The free market isn’t free.
Consider the story told attributed to Dell, really doesn’t matter if it was Dell or not because any American company that once made stuff would do just as well... a Taiwan company came to them and offered to make chips for a good price... it improved Dell’s profit for the next quarters so they said OK.
Time went on and things went well, the Tai company came back and said things are working well, we can make your mother boards as well. It will improve your profit for the next quarters and making chips and mother boards are not your core business. Dell said OK.
Time went on and things went well, the Tai company came back and said things are working well, we can make your and package your computers as well. It will improve your profit for the next quarters and making chips and mother boards and assembling and packaging computers are not your core business. The labor market and business climate in the U.S. was getting harder and harder to manage what with all the mandated benefits, taxes, environmental regulation, constant OSHA inspections. Just a general pain in the neck to make things in the U.S. All they were doing now was packaging an shipping and it just wasn’t worth the trouble any more. Getting rid of this liability felt good. Dell said OK.
Later, when Dell went to the big box retailers for the next year’s contracts there was price pressure. Dell went to their supplier in Taiwan to see what could be done. No, the Tai company told Dell, there is no way we can reduce prices and they also told Dell that they had alternatives that were more profitable than making Dell computers. Dell wondered what to do since they no longer made computers and didn’t have a good handle on what the true cost structure was. They had also dismantled all their manufacturing capability.... something they were once good at and something that took a long time for them to build. It would cost a lot of money to recover the ability to make things
Meanwhile, a new computer started showing up on the shelves of the big box store Dell once sold to. It was well made and looked a lot like a Dell computer but it was less expensive.
Guess who is making the profit margin now? Guess what Dell share holders are thinking about now? The stock holders bought shares because the company made a profit and because they expected it to grow and continue to be a going concern... outsourcing gone to far is a going out of business model.
Who care? That’s a free market, welcome to America. Welcome to capitalism.
That is not a myth. That is an actual story. The company was Asustek and they started making boards from Dell.
I myself purchased multiple Asustek boards when I used to assemble my own PC’s
Dell was suprised the day Asus computers started selling at Best Buy
And now there are thousands of consumers and new businesses that benefit from the lower cost commodity product they can use to build their business. The Dells and HPs and Sonys of the world now compete to add more functionality and capability for a given price, allowing new business to grow and thrive.
A stagnant economy is a dead economy. Turmoil breeds growth.
I think this person was much more attached to Steve Jobs than he was to Apple tech.
In my opinion Apple the company has absorbed the lessons of how simplicity and elegance can lead to success and premier tech products.
Apple and its products will be a fine legacy for Steve Jobs for decades to come. In fact perhaps his letting go will be a good thing, and allow Apple to release products to fill obvious gaps in its lineup.
A prosumer mini-tower desktop, for instance. ;-)
I feel the exact same way. With Steve Jobs out the thrill is gone. Apple will be just like a Hewlett Packard or Dell clone. I don’t own any Apple products (rip off prices) but I’m in mourning and the thrill is definitely gone without Chairman Steve leading this Cupertino gang
I doubt it - Asus computers have been available in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and China for nearly a decade - well before they started selling in Best Buy. Asus is a household name in most of Asia, and has been for a long time.
Do some searching on Gorilla Glass - it's a 3M product. The iPhones and iPad have them - there are a plethora of YouTube video's on this stuff. 3M has a very amazing product with this glass. Unless you are intentionally banging on it with a sharp screwdriver, you aren't gonna hurt it. Watch a few videos - truly amazing!!
Unless you are around diamond dust, line your pockets with emery cloth, or have a habit of dragging your phone behind your car on the way to work - you don't need the screen protector. I got a nice snap on case to absorb any shock if I should drop it; but it lives in the front pocket of my jeans for the past couple years and not a single scratch on the screen. Impervious to mere spare change and car keys.
Do some searching on Gorilla Glass - it's a 3M product. The iPhones and iPad have them - there are a plethora of YouTube video's on this stuff. 3M has a very amazing product with this glass. Unless you are intentionally banging on it with a sharp screwdriver, you aren't gonna hurt it. Watch a few videos - truly amazing!!
Unless you are around diamond dust, line your pockets with emery cloth, or have a habit of dragging your phone behind your car on the way to work - you don't need the screen protector. I got a nice snap on case to absorb any shock if I should drop it; but it lives in the front pocket of my jeans for the past couple years and not a single scratch on the screen. Impervious to mere spare change and car keys.
Just the way Steve looks and the other dude looks....This looks like an AIDS poster, I’m sure others thought the same. Not that SJ has AIDS and I wish him well and hopefully a recovery. You can look awful just before you turn it (cancer) around. Michael Douglas looked awful while he was getting dosed on radiation or chemo and he beat it.
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