🚀 go-pugleaf

Fiona <s...@calva.net> wrote:

>What do you think of Apple?

>Hello, 

>My name is Fiona. I'm doing a survey on Apple's image in Europe and will
>be reporting the results to the directors of Apple Europe on Thursday,
>25th September 1997.
>Please would you be so kind as to help me by briefly answering 10
>questions concerning your views on Apple? http://fiona.ackia.com
>Your opinion is of tremendous value to me. Thank you in advance for
>answering this questionnaire. And if you would like to receive a copy of
>the results, please don't forget to leave me your e-mail address. 

IMHO...

Apple is one of the few computer companies to ever show true vision.
It is true to say that Xerox invented almost every aspect of the
modern computer/information age; however, if Steve Jobs had not taken
it and driven it home, we would still be running 80 columns and 25
lines of monochrome text with file-system-only local area networks.
Unfortunately, pioneers get killed more often than the get ahead (Q:
know how to identify pioneers?  A: they're the ones with arrows in
their backs), and Apple's luck ran out when Microsoft came online full
force with their cheap MacOS imitation that I know use everyday.
Microsoft consistantly misjudges market trends and consistantly makes
money anyway.

Apple is now in *serious* trouble for one simple reason: the
technology they ushered into the mainstream is now a commodity item.
The have won and lost.  Microsoft is now in a position where they can
leverage it with very little risk, incrementally ratcheting up their
OS leverage with no vision whatsoever.  IBM exited the PC business for
much the same reason, but they used their sheer power to re-enter the
business later with marketing/manufacturing/branding might.  Apple is
not in a position to enjoin a similar battle, because their strength
is (and always has been) in their software and brand position and not
their hardware or manufacturing saavy.  Their software is now only
incrementally better that Windows and their brand position is eroded.
So unless Jobs is about to pull the next paradigm shift out of his
shirtsleeve, you can kiss Apple goodbye.

jim