They aren't a 1 product company. They make multiple products. Go to their website. If the appletv tanked and they couldn't make it anymore, did the company fail??? No, that ONE product did. Hence AOL and their 1 product.
Have you ever used AOL? Back in the day, there was a big difference between the different features. Yes, it was content delivery, but AOL was big in offering different content, and unlike a lot from the bubble at the time, they actually received revenue for it. AIM is still used-just an example of an AOL service that still is useful. But beat that "only one product" thing more, that service had a lot of products. Problem is, many weren't useful/good.
They make iPod shuffle, iPod Nano, iPod Classic, iPhone 4, AppleTV, and a variety of desktops and laptops. Not sure how you don't understand that they aren't a 1 product company? Bc AOL product runs on Mac OSX vs. Windows 7 that's now 2 separate products?? The intent is the exact same thing. Does an iPod shuffle do the same as a MBP?? No, they are "different" products.
This is a good point. iPod shuffle is completely different. Both play music. A MBP is a full fledged computer. An iPod shuffle is a device that has one capability of an MBP. Its a much cheaper product for a much cheaper segment. But its not quite, say, a car, or something completely unrelated to another already existing apple product. Its less functional. Its ludicrous I'll admit to say they're the same type of product, but to say AOL provided only one service...clearly you're someone who doesn't remember AOL when they were younger.
You are forgetting they are also a software company. Oh, they also have their own email service and you can also purchase/rent movies and buy music. Still the while AOL still does the same 1 service.
I'm saying they're a software company first and foremost, the only thing is people don't seem to understand this. They were a hardware company before the Intel transition, but let's be honest: How many components does Apple actually make anymore? The case, and that's about it?
AOL had their own email service, and they also carried ways to stream music too. So yeah, one service. That's again, ignoring what AOL is/was.
How? If people decide that they don't need dial up internet bc high speed works better, AOL is dead as a company. If someone decides they don't need an iPod bc they have an iPhone 4, does apple shut their doors? Or what if, someone decides they don't need an iPad bc they have a MBP....again these are all separate products.
You're again making a false assumption that AOL was nothing more than a dial-in line. It made a lot of money because people needed dial in lines, but they could charge a higher premium because people needed content as well, especially when the internet was young, and AOL provided that. It wasn't that AOL only was an ISP, but other people provided free instant messaging, as well as getting around their ads on their mail/IM service, other people had free, competing content, basically, everything AOL offered, you could get for free except for the access to the internet, which you could get faster (Cable, DSL) or cheaper (NetZero).
Do you see people camping out for the latest tablet from Sony or the latest MP3 player from Creative? There is a reason why people are lining up and things like the iPad are sold out and delayed in showing up in stores.
That's what innovating is all about. Not necessary being the "inventor" but making things better.
To compare a 1 product company like AOL with Apple is just ridiculous IMO.
You know...you're cheapening AOL's contribution to the internet in many ways, but the reality is they were a horrible company. Creative still makes great products. When the Playstation 3 came out, despite being somewhat of a flop, people were GETTING SHOT for it. Do you not read the news? I don't recall hearing about people dying over an Apple product, EVER. Not to say it doesn't happen, I'm sure someone's been mugged for something at some point. But if you honestly believe people were sane over Playstation releases, you're not just an Apple Fanboy, but completely blind to everything that isn't Apple.
You're not the typical Apple consumer anymore. My dad is, your dad might be, your mom might be. But YOU aren't. I'm far closer to your average customer than YOU because I buy the products I like, and maybe I'm a fan and willing to buy something I don't need yet at a price I can do better than, but I'm not unaware of the competition.
And Sony's released tablets? Maybe they have but I'm not aware of it. So of course no one's camped out for a PRODUCT THAT DOESN'T EXIST. People didn't camp out for Playstation 1 either to my knowledge, but they certainly did for Playstation 2.
Sony's tablet: Not due for a while:
http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/business/news/20110427p2g00m0bu036000c.html
Do you remember when Nintendo was unbeatable in the late 80s? And when Sony was during the Playstation 2? That's where Apple is right now. That's not where Apple will be in 10 years unless they're VERY LUCKY. No company gets there unless they're very lucky. Even Microsoft hasn't had the luck recently that they had in the 90s.
Since when do people do serious computing on an iPod? An iPod is an entertainment device, nothing more. The iPod touch is more of a grey area, but considered by many (including Apple Marketing) as an entertainment device, as well as it is a pocket computer.
Yes they use the word computer, but would someone looking into a MacBook seriously consider an iPod touch as a possible optional alternative?
I actually did a lot of work on my ipod before I had my macbook air. If you try it, you'd find it very useful! I'm referring to the ipod touch, of course. The iPod is an MP3 player, which I consider nothing more than a natural progression of a Walkman anyway...
No idea what comparison you are attempting here, or in your first post. I fail to see how Apple and AOL are similar besides the A in their names.
Right now its arguing for the sake of arguing. The initial point was that AOL looked unbeatable 15 years ago, and crumbled. If that could happen to AOL, it could to anybody in theory. But AOL also had a bad accounting scandal.
You should read up on your Laptop history before you start picking on Apple. The Form factor that all Laptop computers use now was pioneered by the first Apple Powerbook. Since that time, There have been over 10 (this isn't like Job's "100 Amazing new features" plug either) Apple innovations to Laptop computers that many other manufacturers now all use. While reading, you may also want to read up on Creative, as you will find that they were not the first creator of a portable MP3 player.
I remember some computing from the 80s, and you're right, they didn't look like the modern laptop. So I'll give Apple props on the case design as I wasn't thinking, but they also did exist. By this argument, I think there's a case to call the Apple IIc the first real laptopish computer. I mean if you could hook it up to a monochrome flat panel-which existed then-it would be almost as portable as your current laptop.
Current cash is worth more than Nokia, RIM and Motorola Mobilitys market caps, put together.
