High end eReader saves Apple - well almost.

[WillAdams]

I've never heard that Steve Jobs was only involved w/ the Macintosh for 6 months --- certainly the stories at www.folklore.org don't support that.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by WillAdams

I've never heard that Steve Jobs was only involved w/ the Macintosh for 6 months --- certainly the stories at www.folklore.org don't support that.

That was what was written up in BYTE in the issue released in 1983. There was an issue released at the time of the first Mac release, containing nothing but stories about the Mac. Over 150 pages of coverage, if memory served. Nothing in the issue but Mac (other than ongoing columns). Hardware articles, on things like the first USB (which was the only I/O available for the original Mac), the Integrated Woz Machine, handling the disk I/O, articles on the software, and articles on the making of the machine - who, how, and when.

Those articles may have been inaccurate, but that's what I am quoting from. I didn't keep a copy of the magazine, I didn't think I would be needing to quote verbatim from after 30 years. Maybe a library, or some used copy somewhere for sale? <Shrug>

[WillAdams]

I have that issue somewhere in a box, and I don't recall that it said that the project was secret from Steve Jobs for all-but 6 months --- there was the Sony floppy drive which was kept secret --- perhaps you're conflating that?

http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py..._This_Desk.txt

If you check the dates at Folklore.org, you'll see Steve Jobs involved for much longer than six months on the project if nothing else.

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by WillAdams

I have that issue somewhere in a box, and I don't recall that it said that the project was secret from Steve Jobs for all-but 6 months --- there was the Sony floppy drive which was kept secret --- perhaps you're conflating that?

http://www.folklore.org/StoryView.py..._This_Desk.txt

If you check the dates at Folklore.org, you'll see Steve Jobs involved for much longer than six months on the project if nothing else.

I sit corrected.

http://retromaccast.ning.com/forum/t...-byte-feb-1984

is a copy of the Feb 84 article. 30 years is a long time...

[hidari]

Apple =Rolex

Android=McDonald's


Who sells the most?

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

Sony, 1975-1985? Took parts and created more new categories than Jobs did. And kept trying to keep a tight rein on the technology and charging a premium price. Look where they ended up.

...

Sony actually has continued to have a run of quality products, but they had trouble with the follow through. For a while, Sony TV's and monitors had quite a reputation for quality (I had a sony tv/monitor that I bought with my Apple IIe, back in 83 that was still working and in use as late as 2 years ago) and they dominated with the Sony walkman. Heck, I have a playstation 3 that I use as a blu-ray player and it's still working like a champ. I bought the sony PRS-500, 505 and T2 because I considered it a much cleaner design than the Amazon Kindle (I've got a kindle and kindle fire as well). I still use the PRS-T2 for backpacking trips since I can use it for a good two weeks without recharging it.

Their problem is the follow through. The Sony eReader software came across as something that was written by some summer intern and they didn't allow buying from the web until almost the very end. With most of their electronic devices, they could simply put it out there and not worry about things like software or content.

Content is king when it comes to music, ebooks and movies/TV. I suspect that the hold up with Apple TV isn't the device or vision, but rather providing the content that people want for the price they are willing to pay. Until Apple gets their content ducks in a row, the AppleTV will remain a hobby device, IMPO.

Eventually, I'm sure that Apple will lose their way and forget what made them all that money (customer focus, for one thing), much like Microsoft has.

[frahse]

Originally Posted by hidari

Apple =Rolex

Android=McDonald's

Who sells the most?

I could quibble on the details, but I get your primary meaning.

There is room for both in this world.

[HansTWN]

Originally Posted by hidari

Apple =Rolex

Android=McDonald's


Who sells the most?

Apple would be Wendy's, not Rolex.

[hidari]

Originally Posted by frahse

I could quibble on the details, but I get your primary meaning.

There is room for both in this world.

Fairdinkum, room for both and hopefully better for all consumers in the near and far future. Viva la Guerre de Technologie

[Greg Anos]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Sony actually has continued to have a run of quality products, but they had trouble with the follow through. For a while, Sony TV's and monitors had quite a reputation for quality (I had a sony tv/monitor that I bought with my Apple IIe, back in 83 that was still working and in use as late as 2 years ago) and they dominated with the Sony walkman. Heck, I have a playstation 3 that I use as a blu-ray player and it's still working like a champ. I bought the sony PRS-500, 505 and T2 because I considered it a much cleaner design than the Amazon Kindle (I've got a kindle and kindle fire as well). I still use the PRS-T2 for backpacking trips since I can use it for a good two weeks without recharging it.

Their problem is the follow through. The Sony eReader software came across as something that was written by some summer intern and they didn't allow buying from the web until almost the very end. With most of their electronic devices, they could simply put it out there and not worry about things like software or content.

Content is king when it comes to music, ebooks and movies/TV. I suspect that the hold up with Apple TV isn't the device or vision, but rather providing the content that people want for the price they are willing to pay. Until Apple gets their content ducks in a row, the AppleTV will remain a hobby device, IMPO.

Eventually, I'm sure that Apple will lose their way and forget what made them all that money (customer focus, for one thing), much like Microsoft has.

You seem to be missing my point. In that time period Sony produced those things but also -

The consumer VCR. (from which then entire concept of personal video libraries derive from - everything from over-the-air recording and timeshifting (think DVR) to things like Video disks and streaming (think media libraries and Netflix).

The Walkman (from which all portable media players afterwards derived their reason for existence.)

These were as seminal as the personal computer. Both created entire categories of consumer level devices. Both of which were later displaced by cheaper variants of the same technology, because Sony tried to keep a hammerlock on the I.P. involved. Sound familiar? (The Beta/VHS wars, anyone?)

And to my viewpoint, Apple is having the same "follow through" problems. Content is king, but the king is no longer willing to pay Apple's toll. And Apple's latest attempt to force the King to pay the toll, has been (at least so far) shut down by the court system. No toll, and Apple will, over time, go back to being a niche player. Just like it always has...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

And to my viewpoint, Apple is having the same "follow through" problems. Content is king, but the king is no longer willing to pay Apple's toll. And Apple's latest attempt to force the King to pay the toll, has been (at least so far) shut down by the court system. No toll, and Apple will, over time, go back to being a niche player. Just like it always has...

Are you suggesting that Apple's business strategy is a failure? If so, I must respectfully disagree. They still have the lion's share of the premium smartphone and tablet markets, and that's where the real profit is, not the bottom end of the market. How many zillions do they have as cash in the bank?

[pl001]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Are you suggesting that Apple's business strategy is a failure? If so, I must respectfully disagree. They still have the lion's share of the premium smartphone and tablet markets, and that's where the real profit is, not the bottom end of the market. How many zillions do they have as cash in the bank?

I wouldn't call it a failure, but I don't believe their profit margins are sustainable.

[pl001]

Originally Posted by hidari

Apple =Rolex

Android=McDonald's


Who sells the most?

That's ridiculous on several levels.

Apple does not make over the top premium products. They make devices of similar quality as their competition in their price range, using essentially the same technology and they even assemble them in the same factories.

Apple does not make entry-level devices either. But that doesn't automatically make their higher end stuff overtly superior to everybody else. They are good, but so are the premium Android phones.

[Prestidigitweeze]

Originally Posted by pl001

Apple does not make over the top premium products. They make devices of similar quality as their competition in their price range, using essentially the same technology and they even assemble them in the same factories.

The original analogy seemed to be exaggerated in order to make a point.

Literally shrieking, a really well-designed smartphone is far from being liver-destroying fast food, but neither is it a world-class jewel-inset watch.

On the nether hind, Rolex began in London and only later moved to Switzerland, nor are the watches themselves handmade. There's a bit of hype in that brand; its quality is partly symbolic (which might have been one of the points of the analogy).

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by Ralph Sir Edward

You seem to be missing my point. In that time period Sony produced those things but also -

The consumer VCR. (from which then entire concept of personal video libraries derive from - everything from over-the-air recording and timeshifting (think DVR) to things like Video disks and streaming (think media libraries and Netflix).

The Walkman (from which all portable media players afterwards derived their reason for existence.)

These were as seminal as the personal computer. Both created entire categories of consumer level devices. Both of which were later displaced by cheaper variants of the same technology, because Sony tried to keep a hammerlock on the I.P. involved. Sound familiar? (The Beta/VHS wars, anyone?)

And to my viewpoint, Apple is having the same "follow through" problems. Content is king, but the king is no longer willing to pay Apple's toll. And Apple's latest attempt to force the King to pay the toll, has been (at least so far) shut down by the court system. No toll, and Apple will, over time, go back to being a niche player. Just like it always has...

Possibly, but I don't think that I've missed it. I was pointing out that Sony has continued to produce quality hardware, that the product development didn't suddenly stop after the VCR and Walkman.

As much as we don't want to admit it, the ebook industry is a very minor player in the entertainment field. The ebook is just one piece of the content puzzle for the iPad. The iPad still totally dominates the tablet market. I'm don't think that Apple is having a follow through issue. To a great extent, they are the antithesis of Sony, in that they wait until they have enough of the pieces in place before moving. The exceptions to that were products like the iPod and AppleTV, products that were basically an interesting niche product when they were introduced. The iPod eventually took off when the iTunes store came into being. We will see if Apple can make the content deals that might make the AppleTV a hit or if they use the AppleTV as a spring board to something totally different.

I get that people predict that Apple is going to fall. It probably will eventually, most companies do. However, it's way to soon to say that it will fall soon. I simply don't see the ossification yet.