CF Apple Computer

certainly, they are amongst the naysayers, but also in that number are those who just don’t get good interface. those who think nothing of a dozen or so extra clicks of the mouse to do something. and those who’ve last laid a hand on the mac 10 years ago. Penenberg’s article may go into the museum along with the rationalization of why bees can’t fly, but it is already well dissected and refuted by MDN and the commenters who have posted. I will only add one thought.

The key to understanding the Apple Hate in this article is the idea that collaboration and “partners” is the key to marketing: “The question isn’t whether Apple will survive but how it will evolve… In an age increasingly defined by interoperability and technical collaboration, Jobs still refuses to license Apple’s operating system.” Apple is already in meaningful collaboration with the (growing) customer base.

When traditional companies and analysts speak of collaboration they mean a collation of predators to wring additional money from the customers. I have felt for sometime that Apple’s real challenge is quality. This is not to dump on their quality but simply to recognize that their business and business model is firing on all cylinders and that as long as their customers old and new are having a good experience Apple will continue to grow.

And quality isn’t easy because Apple’s designs push the technological envelope. And engineering is hard; hiring engineers and building well functioning teams out fo them is equally hard. The point here is that the problem isn’t the barbarians. The ipod market is Apple’s to lose not MS’ to win. It is great that ipods are technologically ahead of Zunes but not that important. What’s important is that ipod owners be happy and not feel a desire to switch.