Quote:
Originally Posted by
hatunike 
I think it's important to understand the context that any of Steve's comments are made. This was all said during annual financial reportings, and these are answers to peoples questions. What makes each one of Steve's responses brillaint, isn't that he's comforting every consumer on the market. He is in fact, reassuring investors that Apple understands the market, and has a very tangible plan and philosophy in dominating this market. Investors can see this confidence, and feel good about it. To that end, Steve nailed this interview.
As far as satsifying customers and the general public alike, we'll have to wait for wednesday's event for that.
I first, "saw" the earnings call via ARS live blog. I was a little surprised and disappointed when I read what was posted-- it
did "sound" a little whiney and the blogger called it Steve's rant.
Later I listened to the earnings call. Here are my impressions.
I have seen/heard Steve give presentations to audiences from 30 people to thousands of people -- including the 1984 Mac introduction at Flint Center.
Steve's keynotes/presentations are usually given before a group of highly-technical and [mostly] adoring fans.
This was different!
What I heard in Steve's voice was not whining or bitching. What I heard was Steve making a presentation to audience he was unsure of -- an audience he could not even see.
Steve has made
brief comments before
similar audiences -- but usually it was "announce a few successes" and let the "numbers" speak for themselves.
In this particular presentation (and the Q&A is a planned part of the presentation), Steve wanted to educate and convince an audience that he could neither see, nor identify with.
Since this is is an Earnings Call and he is a CEO, Steve had to be careful of what he said and how he said it.
It appeared that Steve was reading his presentation -- significantly different from his normal mode of presentation -- from memory, cued by notes.
Steve was trying to demo the difference between a 10" tablet and a 7" tablet over the phone -- to an audience that couldn't see him. He had to verbally paint the "picture" for the audience who couldn't look at the "big screen".
His comment about using sandpaper to sand down your fingers to be able touch the smaller controls (on a screen 45% as large as the iPad screen)-- was an illustration, a joke that fell flat (at a keynote, this would have brought screams from the audience).
I think that Steve was frustrated that he had to do it at all -- that he had to explain what should be obvius to all but the casual observer.
With all of these disadvantages, it appeared that Steve wanted to convince the investment community that:
-- Apple has done their homework
-- Apple understands the Marketplace
-- Apple understands the Device's (iDevices) technical capabilities
-- Apple understands the Competition
-- Apple understands their Customers
-- Apple knows what they are doing
-- Apple has taken the best approach - For Apple, For Apple Investors, For their Customers - for the short and long term
I think that Steve did a very good job -- maybe the best that could be done, under the circumstances.
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