Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, iPod Family, iTS, iTunes, Apple
Welcome, Microsoft. Seriously.
Let's hope that Apple responds to Microsoft's entrance into the digital audio player field with a little more restraint than they did when IBM launched their personal PC. You see, back in 1981 Apple had a commanding lead in the personal computer industry (sound familiar?) and no one thought (including Apple) that would ever change. When they heard that IBM, that old stodgy company that everyone thought was over the hill, was going to start selling PC's they took out a full page ad welcoming IBM (link to the full size version, thanks to MacMotherShip).We all know how that turned out.
If Apple takes out a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal welcoming the Zune to the market sell all of your Apple stock. I don't think that'll happen though because Apple is a much more pragmatic company now. They did the unthinkable by switched to Intel chips (and sold a boatload of portable machines). They aren't afraid to take a risk and replace a fast selling product (iPod mini anyone?). Heck, they even ported iTunes to the PC (and hell did freeze over). All good signs that Apple is aware that in order to keep the market they need to work at it.
This is why I am not overly worried about Microsoft's entry into the DAP world. I think that ultimately this will force Apple to revisit the iPod and improve it, perhaps adding some things that David wants, and then the consumers (that's you and me, bub) win.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zwille said 7:17PM on 7-24-2006
"no one thought (including Apple) that would every change. "
that'd be "ever".
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Barkin said 7:46PM on 7-24-2006
I don't think the old "Welcome" ad is irreverent or cocky.
I think it's a heartfelt statement from a company that believed in something. Remember when the computer business was actually ideological, and not just petty "my machine is better" crap? Would any company actually say something like "...enhancing social capitol by increasing individual productivity..." or "we appreciate the magnitude of your commitment" anymore?
Those were the days.
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George said 7:48PM on 7-24-2006
And how exactly we won after Microsoft joined the OS market? I'm afraid they will hurt the industry a lot.
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Jeff Wilson said 8:38PM on 7-24-2006
Anyone who thinks Microsoft entering the DAP industry is a mistake, just take a look at when Japanese cars began selling in America. This is good competition and it is needed. I want the Zune to take off and succeded so that Apple will make the iPod better. Without competition, Apple has no need to update its iPod line-up. Everyone in the Apple community should want the Zune to do well.
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CascadeHush said 9:19PM on 7-24-2006
'we all know how that turned out...'
Yes, Apple still make desktop computers and IBM don't.
Whilst the PC may have won the majority of desktop seats, the fact is that Apple are still in business selling computer for individuals and IBM are not.
IBM created a platform based on standard OEM parts that was easy for other manufacturers to copy, and by an accident of history was the first manufacturer of this now ubiquitous platform. That hardly makes them a lasting success in the field.
It will be good to see some proper competition to the iPod which is a much overhyped device and could do with a shake-up. (And before any iPod worshippers complain, I have 2 myself, and the only reason I have them is not because they are so great, but because the competition isn't)
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Wheels said 1:56AM on 7-25-2006
The dominance of the [what was then] X86 PC had very little to do with IBM. In fact, if IBM had their way, the X86 PC would have been as proprietary as the Macintosh would later turn out to be. What did IBM in was they tried to secure the rights to the (I think) BIOS code and allowed Microsoft to do the operating system for their computers. This screwed them twice because the courts said that you couldn't copyright the BIOS, and Microsoft seized that opportunity and talked every Tom, Dick, and Harry to make PC clones and to buy that lovely piece of software known as MS. Dos.
So, the PC dominance and Microsoft were due to an IBM misstep, and not anything calculated or deliberate.
And as for the Zune (rhymes with goon), what was that piece of hardware they introduced a couple months ago that was going to be a mondo success. No, really, what was it? Microsoft needs to get the show on the road with Vista if they want to be taken seriously with anything computer related.
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Lee Cripps said 3:52AM on 7-25-2006
I seem to remember a similar ad campaign on launch of windows 95?
Something along the lines of "C:ongratulations" etc :) hehe!
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Se[BBB]e said 6:49AM on 7-25-2006
^^ LOL That's funny :D God, I love when Apple pokes fun at Microsoft... Thoes mid 90s ads rocked too.
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DrWho said 8:26AM on 7-25-2006
Apple already has competition in the DAP market.
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Cris said 11:27AM on 7-25-2006
Good.
Maybe some competition will force Apple to add REAL features to the iPod that everyone has been asking for
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