We started the day with the wise words of Andy Lark, Dell’s head of marketing for enterprises and public organizations. He claims that the iPad, and tablet computing may be a flash in the pan.
Let’s get this out of the way, here’s his quote:
“I couldn’t be happier that Apple has created a market and built up enthusiasm but longer term, open, capable and affordable will win, not closed, high price and proprietary,” Lark said. “[Apple has] done a really nice job, they’ve got a great product, but the challenge they’ve got is that already Android is outpacing them.
“Apple is great if you’ve got a lot of money and live on an island. It’s not so great if you have to exist in a diverse, open, connected enterprise; simple things become quite complex.”
What a profoundly arrogant, not to mention stupid, remark. They think pairing up with Microsoft for tablet computing, which on one side of their mouth they are claiming is just a fad, will recreate the scenario of the 1990’s where Windows will be a “good enough”, low-cost substitute for Mac. Except this time drop in whatever Microsoft is calling their tablet OS this week, for Windows, and “iPad” in for Mac.
So let me get this straight. The iPad is a success, but one that is not destined to last, but you want in on this market anyway, and Microsoft will help you do that.
Just to be an ass, I’ll also point out that Lark also said something factually wrong, along with his bone-headed statements.
Lark:
“An iPad with a keyboard, a mouse and a case [means] you’ll be at $1500 or $1600; that’s double of what you’re paying,” “That’s not feasible.”
First off an entry-level iPad is $499, and is all the computer most people need. If you’re feeling extra randy you might buy a higher capacity model for $599 or $699, which I (and I think most people) consider inexpensive for a good computer. Secondly, and more to the point, you can’t buy a mouse for the iPad because none exist, because the iPad doesn’t use a mouse. Has this man ever even seen the device he’s bashing?
Now, onto Craig Mundie, Microsoft’s global chief research and strategy officer. In talking about the difference between “mobile” computing and “portable” computing, he claims Apple is filling the niche in between these two lines of thought, which may dry up as smartphones (which he believes will be our main way of computing going forward) become more sophisticated, and portable computers become more portable.
Just as before, with Dell, Microsoft is claiming that this is a market not worth looking at, while scrambling to get something in it. This is exactly the kind of ass-backward thinking that’s going to get both Microsoft and Dell, and possibly other mobile phone and computer manufactures in trouble going forward.
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer thinks that the iPad is nothing more than a PC with a fancy form factor, and for the most part, he’s right. Where he, and his company misjudged a decade ago with their own tablet initiative, is that a cursor driven GUI works well with a mouse, but not so much with a stylus or a finger. Regardless, Microsoft still plans to shoehorn Windows 7, which has a user interface designed for a mouse and not a finger, onto tablets in the near future. Something they’ve been threatening since before the first iPad was announced last year.
In short, to my ears, these sound like panicked words from panicked men. Discredit the competition as much as you can, while you scurry to get something, anything, of your own into the market. Giving these men, and the companies they represent the benefit of the doubt, they might just be playing stupid in an attempt to buy time, while their teams cook up something to bring to market. The stark, more realistic view, is that these companies are so set in their ways, and so dumbfounded by the success of the iPad, that they don’t know what to do other than rearrange the deck chairs on the Titanic.
Continue reading:
- Everything New Apple Just Announced (Septembe
- Apple Watch Pre-Order
- Apple Research Kit launches with 5 Apps
- Apple TV now only $69
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