You Keep Telling Yourself That
So Apple announced its plans for iPhone development, and to me its clear that they are about to storm the market with almost no resistance from its competitors. No one else controls both the hardware and software, so no one else can offer as seamless an experience. There's a reason Microsoft's Zune isn't generic hardware with Microsoft software - in this new world, you need to control the software if you want your hardware to compete.
I've been reading reaction to what I consider to be unequivocally good news for Apple and its customers, and most people agree: this is big. But the beauty of the internet is that I can easily find people who don't just disagree, they disagree in hilarious and stupid ways.
"Apple fans like to be reemed [sic] over and over again"
Ok, so Apple has expanded its user base dramatically over the last decade, not only with Macs but with iPods and now the iPhone, and it's because they're finding people that love being taken for a ride. So if this theory is right, they'll stop growing once they find people that love to be abused.
"It's their incessant advertising"
Apple has always loved advertising, and is only recently starting to regain marketshare. In fact, the "switcher" ads from a few years back didn't seem to do much to stop Apple's slumping market share, and those ads were on constantly. So if this theory is right, Apple could stop advertising now and they'd disappear, since they're all sizzle and no steak.
"Apple is worse than Microsoft"
I'm hearing this a lot from Microsoft people over the last few years. And I see where they're coming from. They think Microsoft did well and got punished, and now Apple is doing well and should be punished too. And taken through such a simple lens, I guess that makes sense. But I've read up on Microsoft's DOJ case quite a bit. There are some details about Microsoft's actions in the 90's that go beyond the common sob story of "we were punished for innovating!"
And while those details take a while to explain, here's one that doesn't: Microsoft was found guilty of being a predatory monopoly. When you are a monopoly in a vital sector, you are held to different standards. Period. Apple, with its 70% iPod marketshare, and 28% US smartphone marketshare, isn't even close. I don't think they ever will wield the kind of overwhelming dominance over computing the Microsoft once did.
But will they make lots of money? Yes. And are they going to crush Microsoft in the next wave of computing? I think they will. But don't expect a DOJ case about it.
"People only like Apple because of their design"
Yep, that's a lot of it. When Windows was "good enough", people went to Windows instead of the Mac. But Apple is once again much better at software design, and it shows in their rising marketshare.
But would people buy iPhones and iPods in these numbers if they ran Windows Mobile? Don't count on it.
"Wah wah wah wah wah."
Get used to it.
