What I upvoted was this:
What ruined Apple was not growth: they got very greedy. Instead of following the original vision, which was to make the thing an appliance and get this out there to as many people as possible they made outlandish profits for about 4 years. What this cost them was their future.
Steve Jobs, 1995
As big an Apple fan as I am (and have been for well over 30 years) I have very much appreciated their principles: simplicity; quality; environmental; etc but pricing has increasingly become unfavourable. I imagine this is true to many, especially at such an unprecedented period of history.
Since 1997/98 we've seen Apple go from strength to strength introducing revolutionary product after product, iMac, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch, Air Pods and now services, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade etc.
But the current state of affairs reminds me of the ‘dark days’ of the 90s. Product lines appear befuddled. Too many options, too many overlaps, too concerned with providing something for every budget/market and subsequently diluted in focus and appeal.
While I appreciate the design effort, innovation and technical engineering that encompass Apple’s product range, and have been willing in the past to pay the ‘Apple tax’ in compensation for unparalleled build quality, aesthetic design and flawless operation, the high prices, especially for those of us unfortunate to live in the post-Brexit UK, can no longer seem justifiable. The popularity of such refined products has forced competitors to up their game and the chasm between Apple and others in terms of ease of use, build quality etc now only exists at the cash register.
With Apple positioned atop of the industry and in global mindset, there are obviously those who wish to pull them from the pedestal. Human nature favours the underdog and for a long time Apple was that underdog, but certainly no more. Apple’s dominance and growth in certain markets has rattled cages. The Media delight in bringing those on high to task, grounding those deemed ‘risen above their station’. In today’s society negative press gains more clicks, gets more debate, than positive. A sad sign of the times. Large successful companies seem now to be jumping on this bandwagon to attack and demean competitors in the public forum.
I don't hold to this media manipulation but I don't see Apple helping themselves. Even in the ‘dark 90s’ I don't recall a time when there has been so much negative publicity enshrouding Apple. Despite the ethical and moral tenets to which Apple attest, eco-contribution, sustainability etc it is very difficult to see how some recent decisions can be amenable. When a company holding excessive wealth to the tune of 100s of billions maintains elevated prices in the current climate it becomes highly questionable as to their motivation.
I’m sure they’ve crunched the numbers and decided what a ‘fair’ price should be for their products and service releases, knowing the sway they hold and the average demographic for their target purchasers, but I would suggest, in light of the backlash pervading the internet, that they reconsider their position and do the right thing for their user base, their fan base, not just their stockholders.
For a company at the intersection of liberal arts and technology, Apple's ‘nest egg’ could easily suffer diminished profit margins reducing the cost of entry to new users/subscribers etc and would do much to project an aura of benevolence and good will.
Taking all the other negatives into account I'll reckon price appears to be the overriding factor even if it's being sold as monopolistic, anti-democratic, tyranny.
It shouldn't be about margins, marketshare or volumes or any other metric you care to choose. It should be about improving the lives of others and maintaining user satisfaction. Even loyal die-hard users won't feel happy seemingly gouged by a company sitting on an unfathomable pile of money. They may vote with their wallet or begrudgingly change their affiliation. In these days of austerity something almost as good for half the price may win out over inconvenience in the short term. Potentially this could seriously undermine Apple's ecosystem.
