Chris Seibold's Profile

"One of Jobs’s biggest mistakes was targeting IBM instead of Microsoft in the mid-80’s and not going after the enterprise market enough (also, Macs were too expensive). That strategic error has relegated the Mac to minority status in computing." This article was written with an eye towards stuff after Steve's return. I'd say you're right, the biggest mistake (so far) Steve made was thinking that he was competing against IBM (hardware) instead of competing against software. The price of Macs was more the fault of Sculley than Steve. The app store is a completely different issue. It is both the best and worst thing Apple has ever done. I don't see a mass exodus to Android coming though I don't see that as a bad thing if it happened.

Hi Greg, Half the point of the list was to point out that the failures of Apple since the return of Steve weren't all that big. The other half was to point out that Steve Jobs is not magic. Everyone thinks that Steve creates hits with force of personality but that just isn't true. The products actually have to be pretty damn good. It isn't enough that Apple loves them. Why the hell wasn't the apple tv on the list? What am I thinking?

"So why do they keep insisting that it’s a computer platform instead of the best phone to ever hit the market?" Well if you look at the Apple marketing you'll note that they pitch it as a phone that does a whole lot more so you are more in tune with the official Apple pitch than Chris Howard. On the other hand Chris is right, it is a pretty great computer. For most people a computer anymore is the internet. I know you make movies and run FCP and Chris Howard does Photoshop and programs stuff. But you guys are exceptions, not the average user. The average user writes emails, browses the web, does some social media stuff and plays games. For my Dad or sister the iPhone is a great computer, it can do it all and live in their pocket. I'd opine that the iPhone is almost enough computer for most people. As for the price, well, if you asked everyone for the total cost of the contract and phone up front people would run scared. But it is like a frog in boiling water, if you get it 80 bucks at a time it doesn't seem so bad, you might be willing to get boiled alive. Someday people won't be gouged for data on their phone and cable on their tv and data on their network they'll just pay for data... Well, I hope so anyway

"Chris, that’s one model of computer from one brand, and I fail to understand why these PC vs Mac comparison always turn out to be Dell vs Mac comparisons, as if no one else makes a PC. Yes, there are some PCs that cost as much as Macs. That’s not really the point." Actually, that was the point. The point I was trying to make was that since Dell was selling a 1300 compy that was equivalent to a MacBook on specs that there was a 1300 dollar price point that people were comfortable with. The reason people always choose Dell is because they are a big player. All that said, we're talking about consumer stuff, Apple doesn't really do the business thing. And here I'm wrong. The latitude isn't easily accessible if you go to Dell's website (which is a mess) and every other similiarly specced computer is substantially cheaper than the lat or the MacBook. (not the adamo) I surely get what you're saying Beeb abut the problem is that we're confusing specs with demand. We both know the only reason Apple charges 1300 for a MacBook is because people will pay that price. We also both understand the profit motive, there's no reason for Apple to sell a $500 computer if the company can make more money selling a $1200 computer. Finally, we both agree that it would be fantastic if we could get Macs for a lot cheaper than we can now. But there is a huge gulf between what is good for you or I and what Apple is willing to do. We love the "apple community" was a great strategy for Apple when the community was fifteen people

I'm not sure about that Beeb, the whole point of the comparison was to say that there is a Dell Latitude out there with roughly the same specs as both a Macbook and the Insprion. Now the latitude is nice it's metal and black and all that. And if I had a ton of dough I'd get the latitude over the inspiron but, just looking at the specs, you'd have to wonder who would buy the inspiron. It doesn't turn into a tablet or anything compelling. It matches up really well specwise to the MacBook and costs the same (or a little more). For the record the latitude does have a nice design. Gotta say if I was buying a Windows machine I would seriously consider a latitude. But you don't really get anything more with the latitude than you do over the inspiron or Macbook. For the record, if anyone is thinking of buying a Latitude, it is a nice machine but if they try to upsell you to the docking station just say no. The docking station is craptacular

Chris, I did see the news about apple selling fewer Macs but the market share went up according to this article: http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/163251/apple_market_share_rises_slightly_as_pc_shipments_fall.html

Well Steve you have a good point. I used a poor choice of words when I used "Abandon". That set up a completely unnecessary comparison of the two. You are right, it isn't an either or kind of deal. The point I was after (and missing) is that the go to platform for mobile development is no longer Windows Mobile.

quite right bob-bob. Thanks for the correction