Goodbye Apple Computer
Leander Kahney of the "Cult of Mac" asks : "What's Happening to Our Lovely Cult?"
Apple is no longer the Apple of old.
Leander says:
> I'm sure the decision to delay a major update to OS X
> and shift engineering staff to the iPhone instead
> makes lots of business sense, but it signals
> loud and clear Apple’s shift from computers
> to consumer electronics.
Lynn and I predicted this over a year ago. It's a natural shift, and the only one that can bring Apple's CEO Steve Jobs the true success we think he's looking for.
Let's face it, there will never be another Microsoft. So there's no use agonizing over ruling the world's computer industry. Give it up. But as Jobs got a sniff of the blood of success with iTunes, he must have been thinking --"Hey, I can rule the digital music world and screw Microsoft." Which appears to be what he's going after.
Leander continues:
> I found myself behind a line of peabrains asking
> if they needed a computer to use an iPod, and
> asking how to plug the thing in. ...
> The Apple Store used to be a place to escape
> the mall, now it is the mall ...
You'll remember my comment with the iPhone -- that this is the beginning of the real push to go up against the big names like Sony. It's only a matter of time. And, if Jobs has the sense to make a SIM chip iPhone -- that can change providers at will -- then he will truly rule. The concept is good, the software and interface is good -- if they can just keep from screwing up the hardware like they usually do, it will be a global home run. So, why shouldn't Apple go after the consumer electronics market?
But what about us Mac users? Is there a Vista machine in that crystal ball for us?
Leander laments:
> There was nary a mention of computers at Macworld
> in January, where Steve Jobs dropped the word
> "Computer" from Apple's name.
Don't look now, but Apple is in the approach -- positioning itself with the products and the market position to be bought out. Jobs knows this. He's been posturing the company for years. It's his big retirement buy out. Who will get it? Sony? Phillips? Verizon? Google?
Time will tell.
You'll want to read all of Leander's story at: www.wired.com
Coeditor, UGNN InfoManager
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