mjoakes

It's always hard to see turning points. Plenty of smart people at RIM/Blackberry in 2007-2008 relied on that firm's continuing good metrics in the face of the first year or so of the iPhone and saw no reason to change course. The same at Kodak, Blockbuster, and others where alert, bright managers were confident sticking to core (or past) strengths was the right move and where noise from competitors trying something different was dismissed as temporary nuisances.

Whether executives, managers, loyal customers, and fans can recognize a company's jump the shark moments as they are occurring, or quickly after, would be an interesting issue to explore. I've no idea. As I pay attention to the commentary on Apple's success, strategy, products, and future, I am uneasy about so much dismissal of Wall Street investors. And as another university semester wraps up this week, I am also uneasy about a small but noticeable change since August: some Apple backlit logos have been replaced by the Surface kickstand. I expect to see more of that when things start again in January.

Again, I mostly agree. The article is a fine description of things as they have been and as they are. I hope, too, a fine projection of what drives the future.