Apple innovates, PC's wait, then copy
Is there anything Apple can do without having all the PC manufacturers copy them?
A few examples:
The digital hub touted by Steve Jobs is now part of Microsoft's new digital media centre XP upgrade.
iApps knock offs are popping up on all the PC's with the success of iMovie and iTunes.
The Apple Store concept has now been copied by Gateway. They're also launching an all in one new iMac killer .
How much longer can Apple continue to be a trailblazer? Apple becomes the guinea pig with the PC manufacturers waiting to see if Apple's strategy works or not. If it does, they jump on the bandwagon and copy it for the PC side. Can't they think of anything on their own?
A few examples:
The digital hub touted by Steve Jobs is now part of Microsoft's new digital media centre XP upgrade.
iApps knock offs are popping up on all the PC's with the success of iMovie and iTunes.
The Apple Store concept has now been copied by Gateway. They're also launching an all in one new iMac killer .
How much longer can Apple continue to be a trailblazer? Apple becomes the guinea pig with the PC manufacturers waiting to see if Apple's strategy works or not. If it does, they jump on the bandwagon and copy it for the PC side. Can't they think of anything on their own?
Comments
Compaq iPaq (ouch)
XP (OS X)
Titanium EVERYTHING
Transparent/colored plastics
Windows "startup chime" when the desktop loads.
The iPod knockoffs
E-Machines iMac ripoff
The Sony Seamless mouse (have you seen this?) OK OK, I'm gonna BUY one of these! :0)
The Windows "Recyle bin"
Bootable CDs?
XP's "Luna" GUI (Aqua)
Still, what Apple has done is taken general ideas that MS used first and they've just implemented them in their own way. They haven't just copied MS. However, PC makers and MS have just copied Apple on many counts. The FuturePower ePower was designed to resemble the iMac closely. The GUI for Windows itself was a copy of the Mac OS. I believe Windows XP's new "Luna" eye-candy is a bit of a knockoff of Aqua, but it's more like MS wanting to make their OS not as ugly as before.
I do think PC companies innovate as well, but not nearly as much as Apple. I think even the tower case was originally a PC concept, and it wasn't on Apple computers until 1991, with the Quadra 700/900. USB was another non-Apple innovation, but Apple did give it a shove along to make it popular.
<strong>The Sony Seamless mouse (have you seen this?) OK OK, I'm gonna BUY one of these! :0)</strong><hr></blockquote>
Could you post a link to information about this? I did a google search but I didn't find anything.
Is there anything Apple can do without having all the PC manufacturers copy them?
A few examples:
The digital hub touted by Steve Jobs is now part of Microsoft's new digital media centre XP upgrade.<hr></blockquote>
Steve didn't invent the digital hub; he got on the bandwagon. The configuration of our so-called e-lives has been an ongoing debate for most of the late 90's. Steve picked a version of it (one that makes Mac's relevant, of course) and dove in.
[quote]iApps knock offs are popping up on all the PC's with the success of iMovie and iTunes.<hr></blockquote>
These types of apps are nothing new....mp3 players are as old as mp3's, and basic movie editors have existed for as long as there have been DV cams. Apple's genious was to make 'em clean and nice, not in inenting them.
[quote]The Apple Store concept has now been copied by Gateway.<hr></blockquote>
Gateway has had stores for years.
[quote]They're also launching an all in one new iMac killer .<hr></blockquote>
Apple didn't invent the all-in-one, either.
Jet
I mean, the new Macs started to use DDR or nVidia - you don't see a PC users go all mad saying oh-no Apple is copying us! Also, Gateway is first to produce a commercially viable all-in-one machine with LCD (excluding the $10k 20th anniversary edition). But in any case, who cares?!?
Rather then beating a dead horse (over and over - I might add) I would rather see people move forward. <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
<strong>Steve didn't invent the digital hub; he got on the bandwagon. The configuration of our so-called e-lives has been an ongoing debate for most of the late 90's. Steve picked a version of it (one that makes Mac's relevant, of course) and dove in.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
No he didn't. But I recall people back then saying how the desktop computer was dead and snickered when Jobs' said it wasn't. That it was part of a bigger picture as the centre of a digital hub.
It takes guts to come out and take a stand. You could come out looking like a million bucks or look like a fool. Speaking of fools, tell me when was the last time Micheal Dell ever made a bold or visionary statement.
"You could come out looking like a million bucks or look like a fool." Satchmo - you certainly did not come out looking like a million bucks either.
<strong>
The Dock is directly from NeXT, which Micro$quish copied from NeXT, who was playing with their stuff as early as '90 (before Windows 3 even!). Who ran NeXT? Who bought NeXT?
Do I need to answer those?
Didn't think so.
So much for anyone copying from M$.
[ 08-23-2002: Message edited by: AirSluf ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
You beat me to it
in the end, i'd rather be the former with out a doubt. the latter may always be richer but can't nearly be fufilled IMO as say, the guy _THAT_ invented the personal computing industry. as opposed to a guy that found a way to sell widgets better than the next guy, made billions and now fights local tax boards as to the how much propery tax he should pay (much of which goes to schools BTW) on his super mansion.
yep. Hey! I've found a way to combine cheap ass pc clone parts in a box and sell them directly, real visionary <img src="graemlins/oyvey.gif" border="0" alt="[No]" />
KF12: It is your own perogative to decide whom you want to be when you grow out. I am down with that. Nevertheless, while Jobs did build great things, no argument there, he did not "build great things the world has not seen yet" nor did he "invent" the personal computer industry. No one person did either one or both of those things.
Lastly, Apple also use plenty of "cheap ass pc clone parts" too and do use them in a box (among other things) and sell them directly as well. Alas, at least on those parts, it cannot do as well as Dell.
Now if another person, say Jeve Stobs, comes along and sells Mac OS X (I will put it in my own box, thank you) and associated HW (x86 - dare I say it?) at Dell's price and effciciency and beats the pants off MS - now THAT is my hero. :cool:
<strong>Apple didn't invent the all-in-one, either.
Jet</strong><hr></blockquote>
Is it me, or was the first Apple computer ever an all-in-one? No wait...the monitor was seperable I think.
The original Macintosh was an all-in-one. You have to admit, they are the only ones that have ever been successful with the idea.
<strong>Yeah, that idiot Dell who made a company from nothing to the #1 retail PC manufacturer that is renowned for its efficiency and became the youngest Fortune 500 CEO is definitely NOT visionary. </strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, no. I don't think that's visionary at all. As Keyboard says, it's about being efficient and good management.
It doesn't take a visionary to say, "hmm, I can make a lot of money by using cheap computer parts"
Sure he's got money and clout, but do you honestly believe he's got respect among his peers?
Which leads me to an interesting scenario. What happens when you put Jobs, and Dell together for a debate? Who do you think would come out on top?
And yes, Dell has the respect among his peers. PC Manufacturers all would love to be as efficient as Dell's operation. He is a force to be reckoned with in the detail PC industry. Again - a common industry knowledge. Where have you been?
Lastly, to answer yor question, what would Job and Dell debate? If you stop being vague perhaps others can then formulate a response.
I am not interested in debating with you whom you think is a better person. That is one's personal choice.
<strong>Apple did copy the Windows Taskbar, a feature in Windows since 1995, as the Dock.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Wrong. The Windows Taskbar was a copy of the Dock from NeXTSTep. When Apple bought NeXT they inherited the Dock. What we have now has been greatly modified, but it's not a copy of the Windows Taskbar.