Posted on 12/02/2009 12:04:56 AM PST by Swordmaker
What critics were saying about Steve Jobs' smartphone in the months before it launched
Three years ago, when it became clear that Apple (AAPL) was about to unveil some kind of mobile phone, critics began to weigh in on its chances of success. AAPLinvestors' Terry Gregory, building on a list of skeptical quotes begun by MacDailyNews, has put together what may be the definitive collection.
A sample:
“We’ve learned and struggled for a few years here figuring out how to make a decent phone. PC guys are not going to just figure this out. They’re not going to just walk in.” — Palm CEO Ed Colligan, commenting on then-rumored Apple iPhone, 16 Nov 2006
“Apple is slated to come out with a new phone… And it will largely fail." — Michael Kanellos, CNET, 7 December 2006
"The only question remaining is if, when the iPod phone fails, it will take the iPod with it.” — Bill Ray, The Register, 26 December 2006
"Apple will likely have a tough time convincing application vendors to build specialized clients for the iPhone until the volumes are there, and the volumes could be limited by the lack of third-party applications – a Catch 22.” — Jack Gold, J. Gold Associates, 10 January 2007
“The iPhone is nothing more than a luxury bauble that will appeal to a few gadget freaks." — Matthew Lynn, Bloomberg, 15 January 2007
"Five hundred dollars? Fully subsidized, with a plan? It is the most expensive phone in the world and it doesn’t appeal to business customers because it doesn’t have a keyboard which makes it not a very good email machine… So, I, I kinda look at that and I say, well, I like our strategy. I like it a lot.” — Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, 17 January 2007
(Excerpt) Read more at brainstormtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com ...
AAPLinvestors' Terry Gregory, building on a list of skeptical quotes begun by MacDailyNews, has put together what may be the definitive collection.It's more like that hypnotic headset thing in "The Game" episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. ;')
Most humorous.
That was was really funny. Dvorak has made so many stupid remarks over the years. He has been completely wrong so many times with his predictions. And he still has his job. I guess computer journalists provide entertainment, not accuracy.
You have a wireless account in in YOUR name with ATT and they wanted a deposit plus SS number, something is fishy.
The SS number is standard procedure for new accounts with every carrier I have ever dealt with. A security deposit is the norm when either a customer has credit issues, or when they won’t give their SS number. Anything beyond that would indicate that something very strange was going on - either in the type/form of account you were trying to open, or someone screwed up.
And I am by no means an ATT fanboy - in fact, if it were not for the fact that ATT has vastly superior service here where I live, then I would drop them. I have ATT DSL and home phone service - and if Comcast were reliable (and not a bunch of crooks - worse than ATT), then I would jump that ship too.
I know teen students who have no established credit, but do have a job after school that have opened ATT accounts to get an iPhone - and didn’t have to pay a deposit.
I get it. I can't do my job with a Mac. I built my PC from scratch from mail order parts - can't do that with a mac either. Probably at 1/4 the price to boot.
O/T, but you should consider locating a different host site for your big Apple. All I see is a substitute graphic with a message about “imageCave Bandwidth Exceeded.” You’ve become too popular?
Yeah, that’s the first time that’s happened. Suddenly the draw has jumped from about 100mb a day to over 500mb per day. I think somebody is piggy backing on some of my graphics.
Yeah, that’s the first time that’s happened. Suddenly the draw has jumped from about 100mb a day to over 500mb per day. I think somebody is piggy backing on some of my graphics.
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