He was only using the iPod as a successful example of the business model (control the whole chain). Probably THE most successful example to date by a computer company.
Game consoles have followed this model forever. The difference between Microsoft's current business model and what (I believe) will be successful in the future is centralized support. If I buy a Dell, and need to upgrade the OS, I need to go to Microsoft to do so. If I need to fix the cd player, I need to go to Dell. The Virus software to Symantec. If I buy an iPod, and need to upgrade the OS, I go to Apple. A broken screen? Apple. Much simpler as a consumer. And apple makes OS upgrades available constantly. They contact me and let me know to upgrade. And I don't mind. And the application I use to manage the external hardware is also by Apple. Tivo contacts me about my Tivo. But the software I use on my PC to control it didn't come from them. I wish it did. As these types of devices become available at Walmart, where my mother is expecting to buy it and figure it out, the point of contacts, the integration, and the upgrade paths need to become clearer and simpler ever day. If someone can do the same thing with PCs (make them a true "toaster"-like commodity that you can manage on your kitchen counter), and make that improved version similar in price to the confusing versions, we will see a revolution. On 5/11/06, Nick McClure <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > MS's traditional approach has been to make software that run's on somebody > else's stuff. > > This guy makes it sound like the iPod came before the xBox, and that MS is > doing something new. The iPod came nearly a year after the xBox came out. > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: Jerry Johnson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2006 2:36 PM > > To: CF-Community > > Subject: Re: Mossberg: Apple Winning So Far > > > > It seems as though you did not actually read past the first paragraph of > > the > > article. > > > > The article pointed out that in the PC market, Microsoft whomped all > > comers. > > But that in the new market, more and more consumer-level devices are > > peeking > > out, and in that market, Apple's traditional approach (control the whole > > system) beats Microsoft's traditional model (build components, and let > > others assemble them. > > > > You can see the proof in the article when you see the how Microsoft is > > handling the XBox, and when you picture how a settop box, multimedia > > control > > system, PDAs, etc are being developed today. > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Message: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=i:5:206583 Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/threads.cfm/5 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/lists.cfm/link=s:5 Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.5 Donations & Support: http://www.houseoffusion.com/tiny.cfm/54
