Apple Is A Different Kind Of Corporation - Sure...

[stevetaz]

I think it is fair to say that many view Apple as a different kind of corporation...Socially responsible, demanding, but kind to their employees and best of all, out to do good for consumers offering cutting edge products at affordable or close to affordable prices.

You know, the opposite of that evil empire Micro$oft....

Yeah, sure.

I will agree they have great PR people and they do make some very nice products that are very well engineered, but they are a corporation and it does not say "Not For Profit" over their door. Their pricing always seemed high to me, but they have always (with a few exceptions) maintained a closed environment, which also gives them a very strong control over hardware and software and the interaction of the two making conflicts less likely. They are also not without computer crashes, software hiccups and all sorts of issues, but the users (fanbois) seem to deny any problems or issues with anything Apple in public.

They also have a very busy legal department, which seems to spend time daily searching for abuses of their logos and copyrights, which they have every right to do, but they love to send out strongly worded warnings of legal action any time people use their name no matter how minor the use may seem to those of us not under the spell.

They are also quick to quell any negative publicity and they are not afraid to spend money as long as they get what could be viewed as "Gag Orders".

A posting yesterday from a British publication tells yet another story about an exploding iPod and the family's quest to obtain a refund from Apple. The company would provide a refund, but only if the family signed a gag order promising to never discuss any of the settlement terms until they die.

Hey, I suppose that is their right, but it just seems wrong to me.

I guess that is one reason (there are also many other more important reasons) why I will never own a major corporation. I can't think like that.

Just struck me and I had to post....

/end rant

[dgray636]

I think that how they may seem as a "Non Profit" type of corporation maybe a bit of the problem. When I bought my Mac book last year, I knew it was a corporation. My dad has a PC with XP on it, and he has had nothing but problems with it. When I decided (or was forced to when it died) to give up my Windows 98 laptop, I decided to go Mac. Have I had problems? A few. It does decide to freeze up once about every 6 weeks. But I do like it. And I have gotten adept using my BlackBerry with it even without any DM software. Still want it when it gets released. The nice thing about the marketplace in general is the choices we have. I have decided when it comes to my computing needs, Mac's suit me just fine. And BlackBerry has hit my mobile needs.


Just my thoughts.

[stevetaz]

I think that how they may seem as a "Non Profit" type of corporation maybe a bit of the problem. When I bought my Mac book last year, I knew it was a corporation. My dad has a PC with XP on it, and he has had nothing but problems with it. When I decided (or was forced to when it died) to give up my Windows 98 laptop, I decided to go Mac. Have I had problems? A few. It does decide to freeze up once about every 6 weeks. But I do like it. And I have gotten adept using my BlackBerry with it even without any DM software. Still want it when it gets released. The nice thing about the marketplace in general is the choices we have. I have decided when it comes to my computing needs, Mac's suit me just fine. And BlackBerry has hit my mobile needs.


Just my thoughts.

And that is one of the major reasons that capitalism is a good thing. CHOICES...

I have three laptops and two desktops in the house, all with XP. Frankly I have been pleasantly surprised at how few problems we have had. My Windows days go back to a 286 desktop (upgraded to a 20mb hard drive) and then a screaming fast (relative of course) 386 laptop running Win 3.0 (or was it 3.1?).

I am glad I held off moving to Vista and it looks like Windows 7 may be an upgrade to do at some point.

XP is still working very well for me though and I am not really inclined to migrate. At least not yet.

I have tried a few Macs at friend's houses and I must say I found it confusing because I am so used to Windows. I was able to plod along, but there would be a bit of a learning curve, which should be expected.

As I understand the legend, Apple could have been the defacto household PC if Jobs didn't let his ego get in the way. He knew best and refused to allow an open architecture, which severely limited growth and expansion. The system remained closed to outside developers and Gates went the other way.

Apple almost died several times through the years and you have to hand it to Jobs as a designer extraordinaire...His ability to read what people want and how to design the hardware packaging has turned out to serve him very well after all.

[mouseboots]

I have a love/hate relationship with Apple. Apple products always seem to be a bit pricey and a better version of whatever product you just saved up to buy always comes out a week after you bought the old version.

I find it funny how people hate evil monopoly microsoft while they chat it up on their "AT&T ONLY" Iphones. I do have an Ipod but stopped using it after I got a Moto Q and now have a Storm.

Apple to me is the conforming brand for the nonconformist. Because 300,000,000+ people refuse to conform and use one brand (microsoft).Don't get me wrong I also have a love/hate relationship with Microsoft as well. I just choose what suits the need with either company and giggle when I see the fanboys get all heated up over whos the cooliest, fashionest, and trendiest.