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The iPhone 5C/5S will fail like the iPod
- Thread starter masands
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So awesome.
Someone in there demanded a new PDA... ROFLMAO!!! That's one device I knew with all my heart wouldn't last.
What were these people smoking? I still remember when the iPod was announced. Blew me away. Right from the start it was obvious that this wasn't your typical mp3 player. But oh how I wish I knew how restrictive iTunes would become.
Someone in there demanded a new PDA... ROFLMAO!!! That's one device I knew with all my heart wouldn't last.
What were these people smoking? I still remember when the iPod was announced. Blew me away. Right from the start it was obvious that this wasn't your typical mp3 player. But oh how I wish I knew how restrictive iTunes would become.
The real problem is that the "forum" community is a tiny, tiny fraction of Apple's consumer base. We get all riled up, while the average Joe or Jane is going to flip the hell out over a pinkish or green or blue iPhone that only costs 100 bucks.
I read the forums, post rarely, and watch every product these guys create sell like mad despite what it is I as a junky wanted. I've come to learn that as one of the junkies, I'll never quite get exactly what I want because Apple isn't selling to me. They know I'm loyal despite some disappointments here and there. They need the morons buying 50 and 100 dollar crappy Android devices to come over and the 5C will probably do it in droves.
Just my 2 pennies.
I read the forums, post rarely, and watch every product these guys create sell like mad despite what it is I as a junky wanted. I've come to learn that as one of the junkies, I'll never quite get exactly what I want because Apple isn't selling to me. They know I'm loyal despite some disappointments here and there. They need the morons buying 50 and 100 dollar crappy Android devices to come over and the 5C will probably do it in droves.
Just my 2 pennies.
My favorite comment:
Steve Jobs: "Isn't this cool? It's never been this fast or this easy before."
Me: Uhh, no!
Steve Jobs: "Isn't this cool? It's never been this fast or this easy before."
Me: Uhh, no!
Thank you for this post!
I hate seeing so many negative posts about something that almost no one has gotten their hands on. I for one can't wait to get a 5s!
I hate seeing so many negative posts about something that almost no one has gotten their hands on. I for one can't wait to get a 5s!
I have been around long enough to remember that thread.
so basically nothing has changed then?
It's astonishing how many posts on MacRumors repeat points made earlier over and over again, sometimes even by the same people. Sigh...
Well, now I want to know what your user name was back then and which comment you posted.
Well, now I want to know what your user name was back then and which comment you posted.
Unfortunately, I didn't join until 2008, when I first discovered this forum. Usually, I'm boringly reasonable, and I've killed a couple of "Mac vs. PC" threads by pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of each. Most people hate "reasonable."
For the record, here were my reactions to new Apple products when they were introduced:
iPod: I thought this was a great idea, and I wanted one, but I wanted to wait until the storage capacity went up and/or the price came down. I waited until the third-generation 40 GB model, which held enough of my music collection to make it worthwhile. I upgraded to the fifth-generation 80 GB model when it came out, because that held everything. While the iCloud is great, I'd buy a 128 GB iPhone so I could have my music collection with me when I don't have WiFi or cellular access.
iPhone: This didn't interest me, although I thought it would sell well. My basic Nokia cell phone allowed me to keep in touch with people, and my Visor PDA had my contacts, calendar, and other information. When the App Store came out and Apple opened the iPhone to third-party developers, though, suddenly I was very interested, because that greatly increased the versatility of the device and justified the price to me. I bought the iPhone 3 and have upgraded every other generation since, so the iPhone 6 will be my next one.
MacBook Air: I thought it was way cool, but underpowered for the price. I assumed it would get more powerful over time, and would be a success. My next Mac might be an Air.
iPad: This one didn't impress me. I thought it was an expensive toy that didn't do anything a Mac couldn't do better. I figured it would be a success, based on Apple's track record, but it wasn't for me. Enough people, however, told me that I needed to actually use it to understand how great it was. I decided to get the iPad 2 when it came out, but it sold out everywhere in my area within hours, so I bought an iPad 1 when AT&T heavily discounted it. After a week, I was hooked, and I knew I'd never want to be without an iPad again. I upgraded to the iPad 4 last year and will skip the 5. It hasn't replaced my Mac, but there are many things I used to do on my Mac that I now do on my iPad.
iPad mini: I liked the size and weight, and I compared it with the iPad 4 before deciding to go with the latter. The iPad 4's Retina display tipped the balance for me. Next time around, I might go with the iPad mini 3 rather than the iPad 6. I assumed that the iPad mini would be a success, but I didn't expect it to be as big a success as it's been.
iPhone 5C: This one had me baffled – for one day. Why would people in emerging markets pay for what's basically a plastic version of the iPhone 5 when it's priced the same as the iPhone 5 would have been if Apple had followed its usual model? I'd expected more of a stripped-down iPhone 4S in a plastic case, priced at $399 without contract. Then someone on this forum pointed out that Apple never claimed to be making a low-cost iPhone for emerging markets – that was all speculation on our part. If the actual target market consists of teens and young hipsters who like the candy-colored cases, don't know or care about specs, and want to save $100, and if Apple's profit margin will be bigger because the 5C costs less to manufacture than the 5, then it makes sense.
In short, I've never predicted that a post-iPod Apple product would fail. I haven't always agreed with Apple's choices (such as removing the optical drive from the iMac and Mac mini), and not all Apple products have interested me personally, but I figure that the Apple people know what they're doing most of the time, based on their track record.
Astounding!
If it's 2001 and you think the iPod is an outdated and underwhelming device, I'd like to know what you think is cutting-edge. It's almost like someone in July 1969 saying, "They're sending two guys up to the moon? Big whoop. Call me when someone lands on Pluto."
I'm also amazed how many complainers there were in those days -- it almost makes the reception for the 5S and 5C sound joyful.
If it's 2001 and you think the iPod is an outdated and underwhelming device, I'd like to know what you think is cutting-edge. It's almost like someone in July 1969 saying, "They're sending two guys up to the moon? Big whoop. Call me when someone lands on Pluto."
I'm also amazed how many complainers there were in those days -- it almost makes the reception for the 5S and 5C sound joyful.
Gold! Pure comedy GOLD! I love it!
I can remember my first experience with an iPod. It was one of the earlier firewire models, but I can't remember what generation it was nor when it was. A while ago, anyway. It was my sisters iPod and it was at Christmas. We were both visiting my parents for the holidays. She spent about--and I'm not exaggerating--10 seconds explaining a few basic things to me about using it, and then I was off.
It was astonishing. Everything I intuitively thought should work, DID work. It was the most amazing, magical, enchanting ergonomics and UI experience I had EVER had. More than the mouse, more than the Macintosh, more than anything before. I was like "Oh, so THIS is why people love this thing!"
Was the iPod "innovate"? I've been thinking about that concept--innovation--and I looked up the definition in the AHD today: "To introduce (something new) for, or as if for the first time."
For me--it all centers around that little "as if for" in the definition. Because, clearly, Apple didn't INVENT MP3 players! The introduction of the iPod wasn't the introduction of something new to the world. Not really.
BUT, it brought something to the general public that had only really before been known in fairly limited circles, and it did so with an elegance and ease of use and convenience that made it accessible to so many more people. To them, it WAS new. It was AS IF for the first time. Or rather, to them, it WAS the first experience with an MP3 type player. It was "innovative".
or take something like Time Machine. Is it "innovative"? It's certainly nothing new--a backup program--and yet a SHOCKINGLY small percentage of people backed up their computers before TM. TM is the ONLY way a lot of people will ever do daily backups, despite the fact that it's not that hard to do--even to automate. Or not for people like us reading this thread (or most of us, anyway). But we're not most people. Not by a long shot. For better AND for worse.
Apple's "innovation" isn't outright INVENTION. But that's not the only kind of innovation.
AS IF FOR the first time. That's Apple's innovation. Bringing technology--that actually gets USED--to a far wider user base than ever before. Making technology easy to use, elegant, practical, and convenient. When they hit the mark, this is the mark they hit. Of course, they don't always hit the mark. But what company does?
I can remember my first experience with an iPod. It was one of the earlier firewire models, but I can't remember what generation it was nor when it was. A while ago, anyway. It was my sisters iPod and it was at Christmas. We were both visiting my parents for the holidays. She spent about--and I'm not exaggerating--10 seconds explaining a few basic things to me about using it, and then I was off.
It was astonishing. Everything I intuitively thought should work, DID work. It was the most amazing, magical, enchanting ergonomics and UI experience I had EVER had. More than the mouse, more than the Macintosh, more than anything before. I was like "Oh, so THIS is why people love this thing!"
Was the iPod "innovate"? I've been thinking about that concept--innovation--and I looked up the definition in the AHD today: "To introduce (something new) for, or as if for the first time."
For me--it all centers around that little "as if for" in the definition. Because, clearly, Apple didn't INVENT MP3 players! The introduction of the iPod wasn't the introduction of something new to the world. Not really.
BUT, it brought something to the general public that had only really before been known in fairly limited circles, and it did so with an elegance and ease of use and convenience that made it accessible to so many more people. To them, it WAS new. It was AS IF for the first time. Or rather, to them, it WAS the first experience with an MP3 type player. It was "innovative".
or take something like Time Machine. Is it "innovative"? It's certainly nothing new--a backup program--and yet a SHOCKINGLY small percentage of people backed up their computers before TM. TM is the ONLY way a lot of people will ever do daily backups, despite the fact that it's not that hard to do--even to automate. Or not for people like us reading this thread (or most of us, anyway). But we're not most people. Not by a long shot. For better AND for worse.
Apple's "innovation" isn't outright INVENTION. But that's not the only kind of innovation.
AS IF FOR the first time. That's Apple's innovation. Bringing technology--that actually gets USED--to a far wider user base than ever before. Making technology easy to use, elegant, practical, and convenient. When they hit the mark, this is the mark they hit. Of course, they don't always hit the mark. But what company does?
Well that's exactly why I knew the PDA market would fail. Cellphones were evolving in that direction already. It was a pretty obvious evolution.
Great post OP!
Loved reading the negative reaction, in fact, I shared much of it..mostly because I was a thrifty college student and couldn't see spending nearly $500 for something that I was actually already doing with CD/RWs and an MP3CD player! That set-up cost me less than 100 bucks and I could re-write the discs many times, each disc held about 5 to 7 albums or one really killer playlist!
I even held out buying any Apple product for so long too! My first true mp3 player came in 2004 when I got the then new Creative Zen Micro. The Micro, which I still have BTW, was pretty neat because it had a removable battery, had 5gb instead of the then iPod Mini's 4gb and was less money all while having better audio (IMHO).
My first "iPod" came when I got a Nano free with the purchase of a iMac in 2007 :-D. I've slowly but surely become a mac fanatic ever since!
Loved reading the negative reaction, in fact, I shared much of it..mostly because I was a thrifty college student and couldn't see spending nearly $500 for something that I was actually already doing with CD/RWs and an MP3CD player! That set-up cost me less than 100 bucks and I could re-write the discs many times, each disc held about 5 to 7 albums or one really killer playlist!
I even held out buying any Apple product for so long too! My first true mp3 player came in 2004 when I got the then new Creative Zen Micro. The Micro, which I still have BTW, was pretty neat because it had a removable battery, had 5gb instead of the then iPod Mini's 4gb and was less money all while having better audio (IMHO).
My first "iPod" came when I got a Nano free with the purchase of a iMac in 2007 :-D. I've slowly but surely become a mac fanatic ever since!
