Steve Jobs: iPhone 'no comment' / Tablet 'Unsure'
Interesting Comments:
Clipped from a new story: <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/70264.html"; target="_blank">http://www.iht.com/articles/70264.html</a>;
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Jobs also spoke with journalists after his speech. Here are some excerpts:
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Q: Have you had second thoughts about your view of the personal computer as the "digital hub" of the home?
Steve: "Our vision on this is absolutely right. You can't use a digital music player without a computer. You can't use a digital camera without a computer. In three or four years, you won't even think about using a cell phone without a computer. We think this is the next great age of personal computing."
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Q: Will there be an iPhone?
Steve: "One never knows. We don't usually discuss products we haven't announced."
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Q: When will you be opening Apple retail stores in Europe?
Steve: "There are no plans for stores outside the United States at this time."
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Q: How do you see the current economic environment?
Steve: "The two companies making money are Dell and Apple. The [industry's] goal right now is to survive this downturn. Maybe we're at the bottom, maybe not. Our strategy to get through this very serious downturn is to innovate, to come out of this stronger than we went into it. We're in very, very strong shape financially."
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Q: Is it easier to hire innovative employees in the current downturn?
Steve: "Absolutely. It's been the best recruiting environment I've ever seen. They're dropping like leaves out of a tree."
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Q: When will QuarkXPress, a key desktop publishing application, be available for Mac OS X?
Steve: "We expect some news from Quark in the not too distant future and that will take care of that problem. Jaguar [the latest Mac OS X version] is the best thing we've ever done. With OS X, Apple has become the biggest Unix supplier in the world, bigger than Linux, bigger than Solaris."
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Q: What do you think of the tablet PC?
Steve: "We're not sure the tablet PC will be successful. It's turned into a notebook that you can write on. Do you want to handwrite all your e-mail? We have all the technology ourselves to do that - we just don't know whether it will be successful."
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Interesting comments about iPhone and the world of tablets...
Dave
[ 09-11-2002: Message edited by: DaveGee ]</p>
Clipped from a new story: <a href="http://www.iht.com/articles/70264.html"; target="_blank">http://www.iht.com/articles/70264.html</a>;
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jobs also spoke with journalists after his speech. Here are some excerpts:
=======================
Q: Have you had second thoughts about your view of the personal computer as the "digital hub" of the home?
Steve: "Our vision on this is absolutely right. You can't use a digital music player without a computer. You can't use a digital camera without a computer. In three or four years, you won't even think about using a cell phone without a computer. We think this is the next great age of personal computing."
=======================
Q: Will there be an iPhone?
Steve: "One never knows. We don't usually discuss products we haven't announced."
=======================
Q: When will you be opening Apple retail stores in Europe?
Steve: "There are no plans for stores outside the United States at this time."
=======================
Q: How do you see the current economic environment?
Steve: "The two companies making money are Dell and Apple. The [industry's] goal right now is to survive this downturn. Maybe we're at the bottom, maybe not. Our strategy to get through this very serious downturn is to innovate, to come out of this stronger than we went into it. We're in very, very strong shape financially."
=======================
Q: Is it easier to hire innovative employees in the current downturn?
Steve: "Absolutely. It's been the best recruiting environment I've ever seen. They're dropping like leaves out of a tree."
=======================
Q: When will QuarkXPress, a key desktop publishing application, be available for Mac OS X?
Steve: "We expect some news from Quark in the not too distant future and that will take care of that problem. Jaguar [the latest Mac OS X version] is the best thing we've ever done. With OS X, Apple has become the biggest Unix supplier in the world, bigger than Linux, bigger than Solaris."
=======================
Q: What do you think of the tablet PC?
Steve: "We're not sure the tablet PC will be successful. It's turned into a notebook that you can write on. Do you want to handwrite all your e-mail? We have all the technology ourselves to do that - we just don't know whether it will be successful."
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Interesting comments about iPhone and the world of tablets...
Dave
[ 09-11-2002: Message edited by: DaveGee ]</p>
Comments
that's where it would be nice to get an indication of tone of voice, facial expressions etc.
he could have either been joking about being asked about something that's a vaporous rumor, or matter of factly stating that they don't talk about products that haven't been announced yet, implying there's one that does exist.
nice find.
Just imagine
- 10" LCD
- 500Mhz G4
- GeForce4MX
- 256MB RAM
- 10GB HD
- Slot loading DVD
- 1 USB, 1 Firewire, Airport
It doesn't need upgrade options, or docks because you sync it with your other Mac. In the office it's a notepad direct to Word, in the car it's a mini DVD player or route finder, in the kitchen it's a recipe book, on the sofa it's a games system.Sure it does nothing an iBook can't but it's got a different role and market. It's more immediate, less technical. Even laptop owners would find it useful, and ideally it would sync to PCs too (if far less elegantly).
I think Apple should lead on this - the tablet done right.
[edit: messy list]
[ 09-11-2002: Message edited by: Blackcat ]</p>
anyone know the cost to me (att penalties) if i buy one from att wireless then want to switch to a iphone in a few months?
<strong>god. i am about to buy a t68i. ahhhhh!!!
anyone know the cost to me (att penalties) if i buy one from att wireless then want to switch to a iphone in a few months?</strong><hr></blockquote>
If it's a T68i it has a SIM card to join it to the network, so you pull the SIM and put it in the iPhone, ATT need never know.
At least that's how all GSM mobiles work here.
And Amazon.com had an amazing deal on the T68, and someone said they have another pretty darn good one on the T68i going on now.
(The most amazing thing about the Jaguar kick-off even I went was the sheer number of people with T68's
<strong>thanks blackcat!</strong><hr></blockquote>
I went from a Nokia 5110 to a 7110 this way, but it was cheaper for me to get my T68i on contract from T-Mobile.
After my year is up, I'll put my SIM from my 7110 back in for cheaper calls.
Tablets are at best a niche product, and at worst a Bill Gates ego-stroking trip down if-I-make-it-they-will-come-la-la-lane.
Apple doesn't need a niche product. Apple IS a niche product.
<strong>Apple doesn't need a niche product. Apple IS a niche product.</strong><hr></blockquote>
OUCH.
<strong>
Tablets are at best a niche product, and at worst a Bill Gates ego-stroking trip down if-I-make-it-they-will-come-la-la-lane.
.</strong><hr></blockquote>
... the other thing to keep in mind is to Microsoft, tablet technology is a penny-ante game, they can afford to fail the first or even the second time out, and at 95% market share, nobody will even bat an eye.
But for Apple to enter the fray and not get seriously burned, they'd have to hit a home run the first time at bat - this would NOT be a mere penny ante game to them - and as we all know, getting technology right the first time out, let alone hitting a home run, is a rare thing in tech.
Whenever anybody steps up to the techno roulette wheel, they'd do well to consider both the potential winnings as well as the cost per spin, especially considering it normally takes three spins to get something right.
If you can't afford the necessary number of spins, and the pay-off is quite uncertain, it's best to wait and see ... this applies as much to life in general as it does to Apple and tablet tech.
</philosophizing>
<strong>
Tablets are at best a niche product, and at worst a Bill Gates ego-stroking trip down if-I-make-it-they-will-come-la-la-lane.
Apple doesn't need a niche product. Apple IS a niche product.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Apple turned MP3 players from niche geek toy to mass market music device.
They did the same with the personal computer too...
Oh and DTP... Mice... DV... Unix...
<strong>
... the other thing to keep in mind is to Microsoft, tablet technology is a penny-ante game, they can afford to fail the first or even the second time out, and at 95% market share, nobody will even bat an eye.
But for Apple to enter the fray and not get seriously burned, they'd have to hit a home run the first time at bat - this would NOT be a mere penny ante game to them - and as we all know, getting technology right the first time out, let alone hitting a home run, is a rare thing in tech.
Whenever anybody steps up to the techno roulette wheel, they'd do well to consider both the potential winnings as well as the cost per spin, especially considering it normally takes three spins to get something right.
If you can't afford the necessary number of spins, and the pay-off is quite uncertain, it's best to wait and see ... this applies as much to life in general as it does to Apple and tablet tech.
</philosophizing></strong><hr></blockquote>
Ok, but didn't Steve state that Apple wanted to "innovate" its way out of the recession? And IMO innovating is a little more than sitting and waiting and eventually come out with a "me-too" thingy.
The iPhone comment is VERY interesting. I"ve been skeptical until now, but with that comment I'd say that the iPhone is a done deal. Jobs has also said that he sees the PDA and cell phone as converging....and wouldn't it be just like Apple to make it converge? A PDA/Cell Phone is an answer to a problem many people have: why carry two gadgets when one will do? It's actually a useful idea compared to a tablet, which is nothing but a sharper image product that tools and dorks would buy to show off to their friends, "Look! I can write on the display!" "Oh golly gee, that's soooo cooool!!!! I could write my grocery list on their by HAND!" "Yeah, and I could take notes in class on that tablet! It would be so much COOLER than a pad of paper! I'd BE so much cooler than everyone else with pens and paper!"
He has said comments like this before, hasn't he? And also, it sounds like, i am not going to discuss the product we have not announced. Like, it is like he says it is there, but he is not going to discuss it because it is not announced yet... does this make sense?> <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" /> <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
As a Newton owner, I'd just like to say: Yo mamma.
[quote]Like Jobs said, who wants to hand-write all their emails?<hr></blockquote>
Because it's illegal for a computer to have both hand writing recognition AND a keyboard, isn't it?
[quote]And why spend $900 on a tablet when for $1200 you can get a tablet w/keyboard (hint: laptop!)? <hr></blockquote>
Ever tried to hold a laptop and type on it while standing up? That'll reduce even the fastest touch typist to hunting & pecking with one hand.
[quote]Really people, think these things through before you start clamoring for one. A tablet is a gadget that solves nobody's problem, it's an answer to a question that was never asked.<hr></blockquote>
Oh, please. Use your imagination. Anyone who works on thier feet all day long and has to do some form of data entry/data access could use a decent tablet computer. Ever heard of nurses, for example? Anybody who has to take notes, either in meetings or in class, could benefit from a good tablet computer as well.
The truely sad thing is that the Newton was a hairs width away from filling that role... that is, until it got Steved.
<strong>
Ok, but didn't Steve state that Apple wanted to "innovate" its way out of the recession? And IMO innovating is a little more than sitting and waiting and eventually come out with a "me-too" thingy.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Here's my argument in a nutshell.
..."innovating" practically by definition means "doing something new", but doing something new almost aways brings with it a higher level of risk than the tried and true - this is as much the case whether you're baking Christmas dinner or tying your shoe.
Nobody's saying Apple shouldn't take risks, what I'm saying is Apple should be intelligent about the level of risk they accept, or in short:
There's plenty of ways of innovating without betting the farm, or in this case, even just the tractor ...
... and iChat and iCal etc are certainly well within the acceptable risk levels for Apple.
I wonder if the tablet stuff wasn't just Mr. Bill tring to get Uncle Steve to blink?