4 ms·
The proof is in the pudding. Apple doesn't really sell products; they sell a lifestyle. This is in contrast to almost all other tech and PC brands which sell on
by mimixco 5y ago
The proof is in the pudding. Apple doesn't really sell products; they sell a lifestyle. This is in contrast to almost all other tech and PC brands which sell on the tech itself.
Because tech cannot compete with lifestyle, Apple is in a different business. Clearly, it's a profitable one. Changing to an open model or competing on raw hardware or software is never going to be their thing.
BTW, this is not to denigrate their hardware in any way as much of it is great. But, especially in recent years, the company has compromised the usefulness of its hardware through its walled garden approach to software.
- karmakaze 5y agoThey don't only sell a lifestyle. They could do that without being anticompetitive and creating a walled garden. They do sell a lifestyle but want to be the only one who can sell it. I would really have to drink the cool-aid to work at Apple on their tech. I'm so annoyed by how Macs so commonly negotiate a low quality external display signal, e.g. YPbPr. It would suck to be told to make it do that in a plausibly deniable manner.
- mimixco 5y agoMicrosoft stands out here with their Xbox product, which is 1000% percent a walled garden. They make great hardware, have a great online product, their store is well liked and used by other gaming companies, and they allow cross-play with other platforms, even PC and Mac. Xbox Game Pass is considered the big success of the gaming industry right now and could define the future of how gaming looks (a la Netflix). It makes tons of money for them. All of this inside their walled garden and not in any way open. So walled gardens are not necessarily bad. I pay for Game Pass and I think it's a great deal.
- topicseed 5y ago> Apple doesn't really sell products; they sell a lifestyle. Other brands sell products, just products. Apple sells a lifestyle, on top of great products. Many of their products are leading technologically their specific category (e.g., Watch, iPad). Others are amazing products, sure pricier at times, but great nonetheless (e.g., iPhones, computers). So yes, Apple definitely sells a lifestyle and coolness but that's also backed up by real tech.
- paulddraper 5y agoI'd have named the iPhone as a bigger technical edge than the iPad. Like a Surface Pro thoroughly beats an iPad on hard technical grounds.