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For years I've said that Apple is by far one of the scariest software companies out there. The enthusiasm for their products and CEO seems to have a blinding e

by asnyder 16y ago

For years I've said that Apple is by far one of the scariest software companies out there. The enthusiasm for their products and CEO seems to have a blinding effect on the very same people that would normally be up in arms. I think it would be an interesting social experiment to outline many of their business practices without mention of the products, company or brand, even possibly an alias, or dummy co. and survey their hardcore base for opinion of the company.

spoiledtechie 16y ago
You have to think about it. If Apple were a type of government, what type would they be? Wait, Ill let you guess. Socialist Dictatorship. Think about how closed they are as a system... Would you really want a Socialist Dictatorship running your country?
- jsz0 16y ago
  What type of company wouldn't be classified as a socialist dictatorship in your analogy? Government and business are two entirely different things. (another good reason to be skeptical of politicians who run on their experience as a CEO)
- aaronblohowiak 16y ago
  Depends on who is in charge. Not sure if it fits your description, but Singapore is analogous for Apple, and I'd live there.
  - mortenjorck 16y ago
    Not to belabor the analogy, but... Flash == chewing gum?
- stanleydrew 16y ago
  This is a pretty flame-y comment. There's not much use in this comparison. It only serves to ignite the Apple fans and detracts from what could be an otherwise great conversation about this particular event.
  - dejb 16y ago
    I don't get how mentioning the political angle of the sentiment expressed in the parent post somehow makes it flamey. Both platforms and governments represent ways of coordinating the productivity of numerous participants. Although there are differences it seems reasonable to think that lessons learned in one sphere may very well transfer to the other. If you believe that central planning is the most effective method for a platform (both hardware and software) then isn't it reasonable to ask why this wouldn't translate to the wider economy as well?
    - natrius 16y ago
      It's not a useful comparison. Companies aren't run like governments, where democracy is usually held as the ideal. The comment wasn't useful, but it was inflammatory. I don't think the commenter had bad intentions, but I agree with stanleydrew's judgment.
      - theBobMcCormick 16y ago
        I've actually been wondering a lot lately why isn't democracy held as an ideal for companies? With the amount of power that large corporations have, why do we as a society not hold them to higher standards and require them to be governed more democratically?
        ThomPete 16y ago
        Because the nothing would ever be done.
        theBobMcCormick 16y ago
        Then why do we run countries that way? If "benevolent dictatorship" is good enough for giant multinationals, why isn't it good enough for nations? If it isn't good enough for nations, why is it good enough for multinationals that have as much or more power than many nations?
        16y ago
- deleted 16y ago
  [deleted]

by asnyder 16y ago

spoiledtechie 16y ago

You have to think about it. If Apple were a type of government, what type would they be? Wait, Ill let you guess. Socialist Dictatorship. Think about how closed they are as a system... Would you really want a Socialist Dictatorship running your country?

jsz0 16y ago
What type of company wouldn't be classified as a socialist dictatorship in your analogy? Government and business are two entirely different things. (another good reason to be skeptical of politicians who run on their experience as a CEO)
aaronblohowiak 16y ago
Depends on who is in charge. Not sure if it fits your description, but Singapore is analogous for Apple, and I'd live there.
- mortenjorck 16y ago
  Not to belabor the analogy, but... Flash == chewing gum?
stanleydrew 16y ago
This is a pretty flame-y comment. There's not much use in this comparison. It only serves to ignite the Apple fans and detracts from what could be an otherwise great conversation about this particular event.
- dejb 16y ago
  I don't get how mentioning the political angle of the sentiment expressed in the parent post somehow makes it flamey. Both platforms and governments represent ways of coordinating the productivity of numerous participants. Although there are differences it seems reasonable to think that lessons learned in one sphere may very well transfer to the other. If you believe that central planning is the most effective method for a platform (both hardware and software) then isn't it reasonable to ask why this wouldn't translate to the wider economy as well?
  - natrius 16y ago
    It's not a useful comparison. Companies aren't run like governments, where democracy is usually held as the ideal. The comment wasn't useful, but it was inflammatory. I don't think the commenter had bad intentions, but I agree with stanleydrew's judgment.
    - theBobMcCormick 16y ago
      I've actually been wondering a lot lately why isn't democracy held as an ideal for companies? With the amount of power that large corporations have, why do we as a society not hold them to higher standards and require them to be governed more democratically?
      - ThomPete 16y ago
        Because the nothing would ever be done.
        theBobMcCormick 16y ago
        Then why do we run countries that way? If "benevolent dictatorship" is good enough for giant multinationals, why isn't it good enough for nations? If it isn't good enough for nations, why is it good enough for multinationals that have as much or more power than many nations?
      - 16y ago
deleted 16y ago
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