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It was scarier then, because it affected my business deeply, then. Now it doesn't affect me at all - it's just an old tale I can tell, that someone might find

• netcan 16y ago
  Was it scary because it was Apple or because it was a big company that you had no influence over?
  • sivers 16y ago
    Any big company. Anyone who I had promised my clients I could deliver them to, then changed their mind. Really more my fault than Apple's, for promising something to my clients before I had a signed contract in my hand. But the way they made it sound at that initial meeting, with the full pitch, immediate contract, and short timeline, made it sound like the contract was a small technicality. Lesson learned, as usual. ;-)
    • nlogn 16y ago
      I think you are far too forgiving. Jobs' language initially indicated Apple wanted all music in the store. Later he reversed his position entirely and seemingly spitefully. Apple does great things, but Jobs does have a reputation for expecting loyalty from companies they do business with. I suspect we'll see more moves from Apple like blocking Adobe's Flash to iPhone app tool (at least until presumably the FTC pressured them). That and a bunch of other great products.
• angusgr 16y ago
  Right, sorry. I didn't mean to imply that you'd decided to jump on some kind of "Steve Jobs is evil" bandwagon. The story seems balanced, probably more balanced than it would have been if you'd written it back in 2003 (I'd wager.)
• 1337p337 16y ago
  It reminds me of their sudden decision to drop their XServe line, with no explanation or hint of follow-up. We have a guy that has specialized in "enterprise-y" Apple deployments. We have a few XServes here and the default laptop people get is a MacBook. Essentially, years of building domain expertise on this platform have been wiped from his resume, and he's now terrified for his career; he's decided to learn a certain open-source programming language, one which is fairly friendly to Macs and good for scripting (so he can learn while having a practical use, since he's done a lot of bash scripting) as well as enjoying some popularity for web application development. He wants to hedge if Apple doesn't create an analogous replacement. Jobs is capricious and doesn't tip his hand; the article's lesson of not basing anything on his (or any other person's or company's) whims is a pretty good one.
  • CamperBob 16y ago
    I've been modded down twice on HN for predicting that the whole Macintosh line is going to meet the same fate, and sooner than many would prefer. The success of the iOS consumer platforms has brought Apple to a fork in the road, and there are a few signs -- such as the quiet excision of the 'Computer' part of 'Apple Computer' -- that suggest they can read a map. Soooo... may as well make it three times.
    • Luyt 16y ago
      Well, let me upvoted you for a change ;-) But what makes you think the Macintosh line will be abandoned by Apple? Mere aversion to product diversification? They discontinued the Xserve ("nobody buys the things"), but I have the impression that MacBooks and iMacs are selling quite well.
      • CamperBob 16y ago
        I think it'll eventually make sense for them to focus on non-computer products because those are the ones that are selling insanely well. The local Apple stores are so full of customers and browsers that I'm surprised they haven't had problems with the fire marshal, and it isn't because people are mobbing the Mac displays. Computers, even Macs, are heavy on support costs and light on profit margins. A common argument is "Well, what do you think people are using to develop for all those iPhones, iPods, and iPads?" The answer to that one is, "What do you think people are using to develop for XBox 360s and PS3s?" It's true that you need a Mac to write iOS apps, but that's an arbitrary corporate policy, and not an inherent requirement.
• sigzero 16y ago
  So Apple hasn't changed tactics in 7 years? Or are they still same old same old?