Too many versions of the same product to choose from will drive people crazy. A lot of people had trouble deciding between black or white, now add 16, 32 or 64GB. Imagine if on top of the previous, they have to decide between two sizes!
Also, too many products makes it more difficult to control stock. Apple may end up with too many of one product, and not enough of another.
Plus, it creates more R&D costs, and more products to do quality control on.
If this rumor is true, then Apple may be taking the wrong turn.
SJ was smart in this sense: Don't give people too many choices!
Choice isn't bad when it's something like storage.
The only choice is storage which should be offered because that is RELATIVE to the user and their storage needs.
It's not like they have for sale iPads with faster processors and slow processors, iPads with different GPUs, different cameras, different screens, etc (other then the previous gen).
In the CURRENT gen you have 1 choice. That is the current iPad.
As for iPad vs Mini...that's acceptable. Again relative to user needs.
To compare the current Apple to the 90s would require Apple of today to put out 6-10 different iPads, 6-10 different iPhones, etc. That is what Samsung and Android currently have going.
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This iWatch nonsense has to be all code. No one needs or wants an watch these days, so what is it?
You aren't supposed to know what it is or that you need it. That's the genius of Apple. They know what it is and what its going to be and how it's going to change everything...again.
As for a watch, you really can't just view it as that..just like you can't view the iPhone as just a phone. The iWatch is obviously going to be the next big thing in communication devices that most likely synch with the rest of your devices while interacting with NFC and other communication/interaction.
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Its the ebb and flow which attaches to all of life. Sometimes you are up, sometimes you are down. Nobody stays at the top forever. Even Kings die. Zoom out and look at companies, kingdoms, countries or entire regions. Sometimes they are at the top, sometimes they are not.
Apple has had 2 very high highs in fairly short time. It will trough out and hopefully peak again.
Think of them as your favourite sports team. Sometimes you are at the top of the A class league, sometimes previous champions drop in to the B class.
It is... inevitable.
I didn't know Apple dropped into B class...seems to be a misconception considering the data nor $$$ supports this claim.