Story: Don't get carried away with portable war games

Posted by: Anonymous (Friday 19 March 2004, 4:20 PM)

The article made a lot of sense until I got to this paragraph:

"This isn't helped by Apple's instinctive urge to keep the system closed."

The fact that others can't license the ipod and make one themselves is the very reason why the iPod is as sucessful as it is... people appreicate the quality and experience that is only iPod.

It also reinforces the notion that many people don't use Macs because of incorrect preconceived notions that computer hardware needs to be open for it to be better.

Apple has proven time and time again with its computers that they can produce better/faster hardware by sticking to this business model.

But then he said this:

"I've never quite worked out why Apple fans give the company such an easy time over this: Think Different so often turns out to be Think High Prices And Limited Choice Due To Controlled Intellectual Property -- a tune that we've heard elsewhere."

The higher prices claims are a falacy. Apple's prices are right on par with those of comperably equipped PCs. He does have a point about limited choice (with regard to configurability however.) Asside from the bare bines $200-$700 market Apple has machines to suit the needs of just about every individual... Because of this, the "limited choice" claim is relatively moot to just about everyone except for the die-hard DIY buyers. Contrary to popular opinion though, the number of DIYers out there is not as big as people make it out to be.