Headline FeedsTechNewsWorld Talkback
|
|
See Full Story
I'm writing this from the Microsoft Management Summit at Interop with 5,000 of my closest friends in Las Vegas, and I'm still thinking about the book I brought up recently, titled Inside Steve's Brain. The result is, I think I've had an epiphany -- and no, I didn't call a doctor. I realized that for all Apple's impressive success, I was watching Microsoft demonstrate capabilities that are as far from what Apple is capable of doing as I am from writing the Great American Novel. Yet currently, Apple overshadows Microsoft in many critical areas.
How can it be claimed that Apple has marketing problems when the iPod has sewn up the music-player market, iTube dominates the digital-delivery market, and the iPhone has, essentialliny instantly, captured much of the fast-expanding smartphone market? Plus, mac market share, while still a sliver, continues to expand, as does Safari, and begins to make inroads into businesses.
Ballmer is a master salesman? Did you see the "I love this company" video? Have you watched a MacWorld keynote lately?
Apple needs to partner? Why? How would partnering have improved iTunes? The iPod? Apple partners out the things it doesn't do as well, like manufacturing. But it would allow others to meddle with what it does do well at its own peril.
Even products that are criticized, such as the iPod in the past and the MacBook Air in present times (and with the significant exception of the Cube), hit big. Although the Mac TV hasn't hit yet, the groundwork Apple is laying for the product is obvious.
I agree with your criticisms of Ballmer. Apple, though, doesn't need Microsoft's size, expertise, or market share today. Apple seems content to crank out excellent products, knowing full well that the market will find it rather than the other way around. This method has succeeded for the past five years (arguably for the past ten, and also succeeded for Pixar). Unless management blows the product line or build quality dips, this kind of growth can continue indefinitely.
If you end up on top of the world, who cares whether you take one year or ten years to get there?
Ballmer is a master salesman? Did you see the "I love this company" video? Have you watched a MacWorld keynote lately?
Apple needs to partner? Why? How would partnering have improved iTunes? The iPod? Apple partners out the things it doesn't do as well, like manufacturing. But it would allow others to meddle with what it does do well at its own peril.
Even products that are criticized, such as the iPod in the past and the MacBook Air in present times (and with the significant exception of the Cube), hit big. Although the Mac TV hasn't hit yet, the groundwork Apple is laying for the product is obvious.
I agree with your criticisms of Ballmer. Apple, though, doesn't need Microsoft's size, expertise, or market share today. Apple seems content to crank out excellent products, knowing full well that the market will find it rather than the other way around. This method has succeeded for the past five years (arguably for the past ten, and also succeeded for Pixar). Unless management blows the product line or build quality dips, this kind of growth can continue indefinitely.
If you end up on top of the world, who cares whether you take one year or ten years to get there?
I would say Steve J. has made a "dent on the Universe" or "changed the world" as I think his quote to Sculley went. He has been at the forefront of bringing the personal computer into the lives of everyday people, dramatically changing how we use and interact with computers, revolutionized how we BUY and listen to music, and now with the iPhone, completely changed what we think a phone should do. I think the dent is so big, you don't even see it.
Ballmer on the other hand does seem to be selling sugared water... and making billions at it.
Ballmer on the other hand does seem to be selling sugared water... and making billions at it.
