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Posted by Stimpy on 06/11/06 17:47
On 11/6/06 15:55, "Mister Bartlett" wrote:
>
>>> All because they decided to be ultra-anal with their format.
>>
>> But that's *exactly* why the general public like Apple/iPod/ITMS... It's
>> closed and 'predictable'. They spend 3 minutes plugging in their iMac,
>> connect their iPod and 'it just works'.
>>
>> The reason 'it just works' is because Apple provide an environment that
>> can't be fucked with or polluted by non-compliant suppliers.
>>
>> This is a good thing
>
> That's one of the big advantages of Apple in general, IMO - the hardware
> is standardised so there's less scope for messing up, and if something
> bad happens it's easier to get help - you don't get the question of
> "what motherboard are you using, what driver for your oojimaflip".
> Perhaps from some points of view that represents "control", and "locking
> in", but in my view it's an advantage, which I'm willing to pay for in
> terms of having less choice in software and peripherals.
To he honest, I think of lot of the anti-iPod/Apple moaning we're seeing
here is simply one or two IT geeks not liking the idea of 'the uneducated
masses' having access to products which, by their ease of use, threaten the
'IT priesthood'.
I don't know anything about the technology of computers and music players in
the same way that I don't know anything about my fridge or my washing
machine other than they do what they're supposed to do when they're supposed
to do it. I don't need a 'washing machine guru' to come and install a new
driver before I can use the hand wash programme on my new Miele. I plugged
it in knowing that it will do what it's supposed to straight out of the box.
The same is true of Apple. When I buy a new piece of hardware, I *know* it
will 'just work' when I plug it in, without any nerdy geek stuff being
required.
Apple know that the number of nerds 'n' geeks who give a toss about what
goes on under the bonnet is trivial compared to the number of people who
want an elegant, well-designed consumer item that 'just works'. THAT'S why
the iPod/iTunes/ITMS combination has done so well, and will continue to do
so.
Those users don't care whether or not their iPod will play music from (say)
Napster as it's totally irrelevant - to them the ITMS is part of the iPod
and, when they want to buy music online, they'll go to the ITMS and nowhere
else.
Some might call this 'locking in', others call it a vertically-integrated
product set.
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