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Posted on 01/17/2007 7:50:58 PM PST by Swordmaker
Commentary: How does Steve Jobs escape the media's scrutiny?
BERKELEY, Calif. (MarketWatch) -- So I'm working on a column about Netflix's streaming video and how nobody seems to understand the entire IPTV scene when the network calls me in a panic about Steve Ballmer going ballistic over the Apple iPhone.
I've already chatted about the device, saying I can't see it being that successful. Apparently Ballmer feels the same way.
Right now the trend with these phones is to look more like a BlackBerry with little keyboards rather than to be minimalist, with not even a numeric dial keypad -- the way the Apple iPhone is designed.
In Europe there is an unusual phone called the Neonode that employs a touch screen in much the same way as the Apple iPhone, and it's more of a fashion accessory and conversation piece than anything else. I'm thinking the iPhone will go that same way and just become an iPod with benefits.
Heck, we're not even sure that Apple can use the name iPhone, since it's owned by Cisco Anyway, I'm asking myself: Why is Ballmer so upset? What's he got to do with it?
(Excerpt) Read more at marketwatch.com ...
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Dvorak's columns are nice in that, if you take what he says and just imagine the exact opposite, you'll be on top of everything.
If someone pays him to write this stuff I think he is projecting his own secret onto Jobs.
So the iPhone isn't going to be successful because it bucks the current trend with smartphones? Right, because no one wants to use improved technology.
That's pretty lame, even for Dvorak. I've always thought of him as being kind of like Andy Rooney, but less technically savvy and grumpier.
Ten years later and Dvorak is still predicting the demise of Apple. Will someone forward him Apples first quarter results and ping me when he starts frothing at the mouth and the guys in the white coats come back to lock him up...
But this company has had one heck of a turnaround and they are now starting to mint money. As a longtime Windows devotee, even I have to admit that Apple's OS X is superior to anything Microsoft ever put out (including VISTA) and their iPods were simply the greatest consumer product ever invented since maybe the television set. It is my opinion that within 5 years, Apple will be in position to knock Microsoft off their perch. I think Steve Jobs is one strange dude but he has done an awesome job turning around Apple.
CBS MarketWatch + John C. Dvorak = FAKE, but INACCURATE.
Sorry I didn't read the whole article which may be trash, but this statement outlines what I see as the one obvious possible design issue with the iPhone. I remember the original Palm Pilots, and didn't really care for them, although I still supported them and WinCE devices at work. They were both eventually supplanted by the Blackberry, in great part because of the provided "thumbpad" that provided an easily accessible physical interface that significantly exceeded the virtual keypads on both the Pilots and CE devices.
I now have both a Blackberry for work and a Treo for personal use, both of which have thumbpads, and often post to this site from my Treo, which unfortunately would appear to be more difficult from the proposed Apple design but otherwise appears exceptional with regard to both hardware and software technology. Apple should investigate providing an externally pluggable thumbpad, as the Sony Palm devices previously had, to provide that feature to those who are interested, and still not sacrifice screen size, although this would leave you with a larger overall device. Plug it in when wanted, disconnect when not, of course assuming near size foldout bluetooth or pluggable keyboards would be available for longer typing sessions as well.
What a pointless article... If you want to bash the iPhone as ripping off windows ce / mobile/ whatever they call it now go ahead and post the side by side comparison..
I watch live streaming FOX News on my Treo wherever I go, run software applications like Excel and Quicken, even remote control distant computers. The iPhone may match that feature set, but despite the hot sales the iPod it doesn't currently seem to place the same level of capability into one's Palm, pardon the pun.
Please don't argue as I have my boss (and wife) convinced that it was a "business expense".
LOL, I do recall waiting for Sprint to release it for normal PCS customers, but they did and I've had mine for almost 2 years now. Great device, if this one is even better, I might pick one up, although the Cingular carrier is a sticking point, I also have a Moto Razor with Cingular for family business (yes, three phones LOL) but I'm not happy with their coverage, cost, or customer service.
Pluggable keyboards go against Apple's design.
I hope we can take our old bluetooth keyboards, sync and start typing.
Reusing existing technology so we don't have to buy more. Now that would be revolutionary.
Please don't argue as I have my boss (and wife) convinced that it was a "business expense".You realize of course that we all *own* you now. ;')
Heh... Dvorak is right on, particularly about the reality distortion field. It reminds me of that episode of the X-Files where Mulder and Scully moved into that gated community to try to figure out why people kept disappearing...
1. Write article poking a stick at Apple to provoke readers.
2. Readers respond.
3. Write article professing amazement at reaction to previous article.
Repeat.
Ballmer's upset because Apple is selling a phone that will be a failure? I don't get this at all. And neither, apparently, does Dvorak because he dropped the topic to talk about meditation (or something) for the second half of the article.
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