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We can - now. But what of the future? Imagine if the iPhone had an overwhelmingly dominant market share of mobile computing devices, say, 90%, and that mobile c

by donaq 16y ago

We can - now. But what of the future? Imagine if the iPhone had an overwhelmingly dominant market share of mobile computing devices, say, 90%, and that mobile computing has become an integral part of life (which seems like what's going to happen). At that point, Apple would be able to dictate standards. Even supposing the quality went south and consumers genuinely started disliking the user experience, could one realistically choose not to buy an iPhone then? We've seen this happen before. Is Windows the best operating system out there? I don't think so, but I still have to use it now and then. I have a choice of only working with people who do not use Windows, of course, but it's not a realistic one. The problem is that consumers don't necessarily make the choices that are in their own best long-term interests. That's why tobacco companies are still in business.

tkahn6 16y ago
Just like you can use Linux instead of Windows, you can choose Android instead of iOS. Apple has a responsibility to its shareholders to make money. It therefore has a near-totally correlated responsibility to make products that appeal to the market. If people want Apple products they will buy them and if there exists a market that Apple chooses not to sell to, other companies will exploit it. The problem is that consumers don't necessarily make the choices that are in their own best long-term interests. Best for who? You? You, like I, may like the freedom that OSs like Android allow, but the majority of people don't really care at all.
- donaq 16y ago
  Just like you can use Linux instead of Windows, you can choose Android instead of iOS. Did you read my comment at all? I was arguing that if iOS gained a large enough market share, using Android might become a choice with unrealistic costs, like insisting on using OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office. You could do it, sure, but you'd alienate all your colleagues and/or limiting your choices of employment. If people want Apple products they will buy them and if there exists a market that Apple chooses not to sell to, other companies will exploit it. That's a straw man argument. If making iOS more open would necessarily equate to Apple choosing not to service any market, please show me how. Best for who? You? That question is peculiar, considering that it's a direct response to my saying "their own best long-term interests". :p You, like I, may like the freedom that OSs like Android allow, but the majority of people don't really care at all. That's actually part of my point about people not necessarily making choices that are in their own best long-term interests. Let's use SUVs as an analogy. SUVs are bad for the environment. What's bad for the environment will in the long run be bad for themselves. People still buy SUVs because they're spacious. In the same way, I would argue that, pleasing as the restricted platforms Apple produces are to consumers right now, the lack of freedom might result in a long term loss for consumers.
CamperBob 16y ago
This was basically my point as well, and like you, I was promptly modded down for it. It looks like "Just use Android" is going to be the new "Just install Linux."

by donaq 16y ago

tkahn6 16y ago

Just like you can use Linux instead of Windows, you can choose Android instead of iOS. Apple has a responsibility to its shareholders to make money. It therefore has a near-totally correlated responsibility to make products that appeal to the market. If people want Apple products they will buy them and if there exists a market that Apple chooses not to sell to, other companies will exploit it. The problem is that consumers don't necessarily make the choices that are in their own best long-term interests. Best for who? You? You, like I, may like the freedom that OSs like Android allow, but the majority of people don't really care at all.

donaq 16y ago
Just like you can use Linux instead of Windows, you can choose Android instead of iOS. Did you read my comment at all? I was arguing that if iOS gained a large enough market share, using Android might become a choice with unrealistic costs, like insisting on using OpenOffice instead of Microsoft Office. You could do it, sure, but you'd alienate all your colleagues and/or limiting your choices of employment. If people want Apple products they will buy them and if there exists a market that Apple chooses not to sell to, other companies will exploit it. That's a straw man argument. If making iOS more open would necessarily equate to Apple choosing not to service any market, please show me how. Best for who? You? That question is peculiar, considering that it's a direct response to my saying "their own best long-term interests". :p You, like I, may like the freedom that OSs like Android allow, but the majority of people don't really care at all. That's actually part of my point about people not necessarily making choices that are in their own best long-term interests. Let's use SUVs as an analogy. SUVs are bad for the environment. What's bad for the environment will in the long run be bad for themselves. People still buy SUVs because they're spacious. In the same way, I would argue that, pleasing as the restricted platforms Apple produces are to consumers right now, the lack of freedom might result in a long term loss for consumers.

CamperBob 16y ago

This was basically my point as well, and like you, I was promptly modded down for it. It looks like "Just use Android" is going to be the new "Just install Linux."