Joshua Marinacci wrote: > So then it seems the answer is to turn computers into a more consumer > friendly buying market. ie: reduce the number of available models, > give them better names, maximize compatibility with the most common > hardware/software/network-infrastructure/devices, then focus on > advertising a few core features that are differentiators. This makes > the choice an easier one for consumers by effectively making the > computer a simpler choice (at least in terms of buying one). > > Clearly Apple has done this, so the question is why hasn't anyone > else. It doesn't seem like it would be that difficult. > I think others have tried and for some reason Apple has been more successful at it for now.... Sony had been successful in the past but for some reason they've seemed to have lost it.
In fact, the more I think about it, the more that the annoying part of Sony feels the same way as the annoying part of Apple. Both are fairly closed and stick on annoyingly proprietary bits (I hate Sony connectors) and company practices but yet, both have been able to produce and sell products that have some how have some compelling qualities to them. The walkman was cool... the iPhone is cool. From my perspective there are two killer features that make using my Mac a treat. The biggest is the touchpad. I've used IBM, HP, and a couple of other brands of laptops. The touchpads on all of those machines have been crap and as much as I knew they were crap, the mac touchpad really demonstrated just how bad all the others really were. On every other machine that I have I run screaming for a mouse. The second biggest feature is ease of software installs.. In most cases, its drag and drop and you're done. Other than that, I find it very hard to quantify the difference. I know that they are there because 1) I live in a part of the world where seeing an Apple anything is a rare event. Apple doesn't market in this area so I believe I can discount those forces from the next point. 2) I give free reign of a number of laptops to the kids (not yet teenagers) and they use them all running XP, Ubuntu, and MacOS. They gravitate to the Mac even though all are running Firefox/Thunderbird/open office. I asked them once why and basically they didn't really know why but ease of use seemed to be an underlying theme. As for quality, I talked to someone (that I'm sure you all know) that has quite a few consultants working for him. He will get Mac's for his consultants if they really want one. However, he is firmly in IBM's camp 'cos for the repair/defect rates. He says he sends back Macs (of which he has far fewer) at a much greater rate than he sends back IBMs. - K > - J > > On Sep 2, 2008, at 11:40 AM, Alexey Zinger wrote: > > >> Coke and Pepsi have spent untold amounts of money on advertising and >> continue to be at each other's throats, both with their flagship >> brands and new ones (Gatorade vs Powerade). But soft drinks are a >> lot simpler for the consumer to think about than computers. For >> one, computers encompass software, hardware, and surrounding >> infrastructure (network connections, devices they integrate with, >> etc.). And those things can change independently from model to >> model, from year to year, from place to place. It's tough to nail >> down what features you can push on the consumer as THE answer to why >> they should pay extra, when the consumer may not understand it, may >> not care, or may be using your product or some of your products in a >> totally unexpected way. Just think of iTunes running on Windows. >> Is it good for Apple because it brings iTunes Store revenue, or is >> it bad for them because it reduces the need for some people to >> switch brands. Is it good for Apple >> because it shows Windows users how different Apple software can be >> or does it detract people from Apple's products for the same >> reason? I think the fact that Apple has to some extent infiltrated >> the hipster generation and made it a bit of a status symbol is quite >> remarkable. >> >> Alexey >> 2001 Honda CBR600F4i (CCS) >> 1992 Kawasaki EX500 >> http://azinger.blogspot.com >> http://bsheet.sourceforge.net >> http://wcollage.sourceforge.net >> >> >> >> --- On Tue, 9/2/08, Joshua Marinacci <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> >> >>> From: Joshua Marinacci <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Subject: [The Java Posse] Re: Mac vs PC - $1075 premium for a >>> comparable Mac >>> To: [email protected] >>> Date: Tuesday, September 2, 2008, 1:37 PM >>> But why is this the case? There are plenty of essentially >>> 'commodity' >>> products that have monopolistic competition and don't >>> eventually >>> collapse to 0% margin. Coke and Pepsi sell for many many >>> times the >>> price that pure costs would suggest. Automobiles are >>> functionally >>> equivalent in that any given category has the same basic >>> features (all >>> 4 door sedans will carry 4 or 5 people, all pickup trucks >>> will carry >>> furniture and dirt, etc.). And yet BMW has clearly figured >>> out what >>> things to improve in their cars that will convince someone >>> to spend >>> twice as much or more for a 4 door sedan, even though it >>> doesn't cost >>> them twice as much to produce (thus raising their profit >>> margin). So >>> what have car and sugar water makers figured out that >>> computer makers >>> haven't? Is there something intrinsic to computers that >>> resist product >>> differentiation? Clearly Apple (and to some extent Sony) >>> have proven >>> that it's not completely impossible. >>> >>> - Josh >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> My take on this is that most people don't care >>>> >>> about those certain >>> >>>> ethereal features, such as "overall >>>> >>> experience". Maybe it makes >>> >>>> sense to care about that, or maybe it doesn't, but >>>> >>> just like >>> >>>> airlines are starting to feel a new hurt of competing >>>> >>> on price and >>> >>>> specific features alone because of the internet and >>>> >>> product search >>> >>>> engines like Google Products/Shopping, it's harder >>>> >>> and harder for >>> >>>> anyone to demand a higher price without an extra >>>> >>> number of checkmark >>> >>>> to justify it. The only other thing that people seem >>>> >>> to be willing >>> >>>> to pay for is brand name. Besides, no one is >>>> >>> impressed with a fancy >>> >>>> laptop anymore. Long live fancy phones! (for now) >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > > > > > > --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "The Java Posse" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected] To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/javaposse?hl=en -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
