Elon Musk Backtracks on Earlier Comments, Says 'I Don't Hate Apple'

76ShovelHead said:
I feel iffy when a conglomerate enters a market completely untraditional to their prominence. Is it considered tacky? Mitsubishi has made televisions in the past, as well as Phillips which now seems to make pharmaceuticals. Apple has pioneered personal computing, likewise Mercedes has done the same for the automotive industry (genuinely the first automobile created despite popular belief of many fellow Americans). At any rate, I hope they succeed. I just can't imagine an Apple sticker/badge in place of my beloved three-pointed star haha. And with that said, I hope to dear God Mercedes gives Elon's precious "Tesla" a run for it's money. German engineering is better than that, and I do not care for that guy, or his brainchild. "The Best or Nothing."
Click to expand...
Actually it was Benz and Mercedes came later on in the 1900s.
Now German engineering, no doubt about it, just that VW executives and engineers had made the most stupid move ever made in the history of the automotive industry.
We'll see how the European continent will manage to create an electrical charging infrastructure that will make electrical vehicles practical to use regularly.
 
Yes, because electric cars and rockets are revolutionary concepts. If Musk were smart he should have said yeah, Apple tries to hire employees and I wish the best to those that chose to move to Apple.
 
Andres Cantu said:
Typical backtracking from people who are jealous and/or scared of what Apple is capable of and their incredible brand power that has yet to be matched by any other company.

We see this happen all the time, especially recently.
Click to expand...
Your kidding right? Try to take it easy on the rhetoric next time ok?
 
xlost6 said:
His face. It's something about his face. It's very punchable. And the fact he acts like a douche further adds to that.

Good thing he backtracked. It seems to be a trend now.
Click to expand...
Good luck getting a swing in. I bet you are on the floor by his bodyguards when you get within two metres of him.
 
Nobody really took the Apple Car that seriously until this comment.
After the comment Apple stock jumped 2.37% adding $15b to the company's value ("half a Tesla")
Tesla stock dropped 2.66% wiping off $800m for Tesla.
You only bother to trash talk your most important competitors.
 
Tubamajuba said:
Calling this an "online lynching" is so overblown that it reeks of exactly the same kind of politically correct, criticism-averse tone that you accuse others of using.

It's just words on a page, much like Musk's comments.
Click to expand...
Oh really? I guess thats why the thought police on his twitter account were totally not demanding an apology. Or thinking out loud on the blogosphere. I would be interested in your definition of an "online-lynchmob". Oh wait, no I wouldnt.
 
I think people are a little carried away with this. If Elon Musk sold computers and phones, his name would be Steve Jobs. Sometimes really brilliant people either get cocky or say stuff that's a little stupid or just arrogant. He's got pride in his company. I also think we need to hold off on full judgements of written articles that can hide inflection. I am a master sarcastrist, and inflection matters a bunch.
 
Googled Apple project Titan a few minutes ago and the engine gave me this

maxresdefault.jpg


I don't know.....
 
... Even if Apple hired people Tesla fired - even if they're nearly incompetent, they will still have value in their accrued personal and professional experience within the company. Apple is in the unusual position that it's playing catch-up, much like the likes of Samsung when they poach ex Apple employees.
 
Who?

Seriously, is the Tesla such a piece of perfect design and engineering? Apple have been doing this for years, he's hardly started. I seem to recall execs at Nokia dismissing Apple - where are they now?

P.S. I don't disagree with him on the Apple Watch, but the mantra of "Don't buy Version 1" has been around for decades in technology.
 
"I don't hate Apple.", "I'm just a talented, egoistic, hi profile guy who sometimes says douchy things. Oh, and I need to denegrate the talent we lost to the fruit company because we are going to announce our biggest quarterly loss ever."
 
Benjamin Frost said:
Tesla cars, like all electric cars, are totally impractical for everyday use.

When electric cars can be charged from 0%-100% in 2 minutes, when the battery doesn't cost a fortune to replace every few years, when there are charging stations installed in every single parking space and garage, and when the range is 400-600 miles a charge consistently for ten years, then they may take off.

Until then, they are government-subsidised trinkets for rich men with time on their hands.
Click to expand...

I agree. But it has to start somewhere.
Sonmi451 said:
This is totally false. An Apple car will most likely make Tesla more money.
Click to expand...


Well, that depends on how impressive and attractive Apple Car will be next to whatever Tesla has on the market by then. I see your point, but I'm looking at it from Tesla's point of view. I would look at what Apple has done to other companies when entering new markets. In the face of this Elon would be a fool not to watch the situation extremely carefully. Apple is poaching his engineers and I
don't believe we know if they were key to Tesla or not. Of course Elon won't and shouldn't say. I predict they will be in FIERCE competition when Apple Car arrives - assuming Tesla avoids any extremely damaging missteps between now and then. I'd say an Apple car *could* make Tesla more money, but we can't say for certain it won't go in the other direction, at least, temporarily.
 
flaw600 said:
Exactly. History is remembered with rose colored glasses, especially with Apple. The iPhone 2G was not compelling. It only sold in solid numbers after a price drop and even then wasn't a serious competitor till 3GS. I can accept the 'functionality' criticism of the Apple Watch but not the implication that because of it the Watch is inherently inferior to Apple's more popular products. Almost all of their products' first couple versions weren't compelling. The Mac was not an instant hit. The iPod was not an instant hit. The iPhone wasn't an instant hit, nor was the iPad. Do I wish the Apple Watch did more? Yes. Do I think that it's pretty good for v1? Also yes. And do I think it'll get better? Hell yes. If we decided to wash our hands of an idea because of v1 then we'd miss out on the improvements that would make it a hit product.
Click to expand...

Not quite.

The iPad was certainly an instant hit. The most bullish analysts were predicting a million sales in the first year, or perhaps 3 or 4 million.

It sold over 15 million.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top