4 ms·

I love Apple products, but the lack of a monopoly is what's keeping Apple innovating. Lets hope no other competitors decide to drop out.

• hsuresh 15y ago
  Are you serious about this? Or is this a tongue-in-cheek statement?
• ifthen 15y ago
  Hmm. Typically, it’s the opposite, no? There are plenty of companies who have no reason to innovate once their competition is gone.
  • robtoo 15y ago
    Grand-parent has slightly clumsy phrasing, but you both agree: "the lack of a monopoly is what's keeping Apple innovating"
  • angusgr 15y ago
    I think you're both saying the same thing, the parent just worded it a bit oddly.
• maxharris 15y ago
  I know this is a very popular notion, but I don't think it's actually true. Two arguments follow: One often overlooked thing is that as a market becomes saturated with a product of a company with total market share, those already-sold products increasing become that company's competition. So long as the company does not resort to special laws from the government (i.e., does not seek to obtain a coercive monopoly), it must continually best its existing achivements. This is sometimes accomplished by adding features that give the company access to new markets for its products (selling a smartphone after gaining experience with portable music players). Secondly, on an individual basis, the desire for excellence always comes from within, and results from an inward ethical focus. The goal for those true strivers is not set by or on the existence of others: it is not "let's destroy X," but rather, "let's bring this new thing into existence." In a truly innovative company, this attitude predominates because it is held by the majority of its employees.