Hello Mr. Jobs,
I've been an Apple customer since 1995, and I've probably bought about 50 devices and Macs. But this is the first time I'm attempting a letter to you.
It must be hard to keep a perspective when a person, like you, is sitting right in the middle of the great storm of public opinion and media hype, both positive and negative.
It must also be hard to keep things like a strong ego under control when working in one of the most high-pressure jobs on the planet. (And it *takes* a strong ego to do such a job.) I applaud you for doing a great job even there.
It is hard to imagine a world without Apple and Steve Jobs. Nobody could or would have the vision and the will to make such things as the Power Mac, the iMac, the iPad, etc etc. Where else do we see products which have anywhere near the clarity of vision, and have to this degree been born through the long painful process of bending the world, industry, and collaborators to fit a very precise and challenging idea?
I don't see it anywhere. Sure, many other companies have very good products, but I don't see anything with the hard-core... I don't know, *precision* of idea, execution, and build that Apple products have. And the focus on making new possibilities for the costumer, rather than on how to do well in the market.
So, well, thank you.
Sincerely yours, Eolake
---
http://eolake.blogspot.com
http://stobblehouse.com
I wrote this as simply an email to Steve Jobs, since it has become clear that he does read at least some of those he gets. As an afterthought, I posted it here, since it seems that many people simply don't see the essential and significant difference between what Apple does and what other companies do. Some think the differences are just "slicker design" and "cult customers", which is totally off the mark. There are importance differences right at the heart of the matter.
Eolake
Dear Eolake,
ReplyDeleteI am experiencing a strange sensation. After reading your letter, my asshole started to hurt.
Dear "steve",
ReplyDeleteI did realize that some people have a hard time with direct and unqualified praise (perhaps even if it were directed at themselves?), but I posted it anyway.
Some think the differences are just "slicker design" and "cult customers", which is totally off the mark. There are importance differences right at the heart of the matter.
ReplyDeleteThis is something hardcore Apple cultists like you tell themselves. The people who buy their products are like you - pretentious twats who need a Mac to creatively check their email.
Since 1995???
ReplyDeleteWhat were you using before? ;-)
You forget the third part of the apple equation: price. Apple products have always been more expensive than the equivalent Win stuff. I'm not saying they were not worth the price difference, as I have never owned an Apple machine before the iPad (I have used a couple shortly, with the same frustration of other machines :-), I just mean that they were out of my reach (most of my friends have switched to Macs later in life when they had better paid jobs).
Probably now the price difference is less, or at least my perception of it is less.
Yes, pretty much, at least if you want the same features and quality.
ReplyDeleteBefore 1995, I had only used computers for a year, and that was at work, a peecee of course. I had never tried a Mac, I choose it solely on its reputation for being more user-friendly and better for creative work, and I have not regretted it for a second.
As an enthusiastic Mac & Apple product user since the original Mac 128K way back in 1984, I wholeheartedly agree with you Eolake!
ReplyDeleteAs soon as the cheap labor in China crashes, Mister Jobs (great name) will have to find a different 3rd world country to manufacture all those iPODS and iPADS and iGadgets and over priced iJunk.
ReplyDeleteThis is worth reading:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/08/why-the-end-of-cheap-chin_n_600330.html#s96152
Strange the way Apple is so polarizing. I have co-workers that won't even look at an Ipod as they sense or have been told the company makes overpriced, slick products for ignorant groupies to waste their money on. Never mind they work intuitively as intended. We have three Apple machines at home. They aren't perfect but much better than the alternative. There's something satisfying about using a well designed and engineered product.
ReplyDeleteAh, don't forget (basic economics) that a price is not the value of a thing, but an agreement between a seller and a buyer.
ReplyDeleteNobody is forced to pay a price.
Usually, after so much praising, there is an unavoidable "but..." - I acknowledge that you didn't jump on the same bandwagon, Eo.
I've been a Mac user for a year, I'm very satisfied, and it was no question for me to pay for a higher quality.
Before deciding for a Mac I had bought two Win netbooks, and almost smashed them against the walk because of their malfunctioning. Thus I upgraded to Mac, once and for all. Professionality.
I'm not buying an iPad for a while, simply because I don't need it.
If I needed one for work, I'd get me one, and pay the price.
Well said.
ReplyDelete---
'Usually, after so much praising, there is an unavoidable "but..." '
Exactly. Seems to be human nature.
I also decided that "of course there are details to complain about, but" was wholly unnecessary. Every mature person knows that nothing/nobody is perfect.
"Strange the way Apple is so polarizing."
ReplyDeleteAin't it though.
An easy way to lose all credibility: Quote or link to an article on The Huffington Post.
ReplyDeleteCouldn't comment on whether or not you lose credibility by quoting the Huffington Post, but if you actually look at the article, it's a collection of reports from some very heavyweight sources ... gives food for thought, if nothing else, and I thiunk that was the intention of the post maybe?
ReplyDeleteAs Wikipedia states, The Huffington Post "is a liberal/progressive American news website and aggregated blog." You'd expect them to be quoting other sources. One of those is The New York Times. Nuff said.
ReplyDeleteI've just heard The Huffington Post trashed so many times by legit journalists that it doesn't seem to do anyone good who quotes them. You're better to separately link to the sources they put together. I think The Huffington Post might be one of those that allows ordinary Joes to have their blogs on it, which might be what has the bad reputation and not The Post itself. I don't care enough to check into it. Make of that what you will. :)
ReplyDeleteYes, Philocalist.
ReplyDeleteThat was indeed the intention.
Sure, a certain product might get
one into a highly euphoric state,
but that perception might just
change when it's seen where and
how that product is produced.
I say that the perception 'might'
change, because we're programmed
to receive only.
Things will change.
eg: Foxconn
Robb in Houston said...
ReplyDelete"...because we're programmed
to receive only."
"...You can checkout any time you like,
But you can never leave!"
(sorry; couldn't help myself! lol! :-)
TC Girl - that also was my intention.
ReplyDeleteAnd you caught it! Very cool! :-)
Robb in Houston said...
ReplyDelete"TC Girl - that also was my intention.
And you caught it! Very cool! :-)"
Well...yeah, that is "very cool"...especially since I was just taking a "stab in the dark" that that was what you might have been referring to, also! lol! :-D
The Eagles happens to be my all-time favorite band and...Hotel California (gawd I LOVE these guys (although I don't know who the 2 yummy Classical guitarists are, in this vid! They could play for me, any day, though! They were AWESOME! :-P)
I took myself and a friend to watch them, for my 40th, in San Jose. I thought I'd died and gone to Heaven! It doesn't hurt that we were directly to the right and at stage level! I tell you what: for a gurl who LOVES to watch a dude playing a guitar, there's nothing sexier than having a whole ROW of 'em playing, simultaneously! Oh MY!! :-P I don't think I will ever see a better concert in this lifetime! I certainly never dreamed of being able to see the band that I grew up listening to playing just feet off to my left, years later!) is "right up there" in my many-favored songs from them! :-D GLAD that it wasn't "wasted" on ya! :-)
"Sure, a certain product might get one into a highly euphoric state, but that perception might just change when it's seen where and how that product is produced."
ReplyDeleteYou're just seeing parts of the world which are like that. Do you think the people working in the factories would have *better* lives if the factory was not there?