In discussions with friends, they've asked me why I tend to defend Apple and dislike Microsoft, when it seems that they both do the same things. Why is FairPlay okay, but PlaysForSure wrong?
For me, it primarily comes down to the fact that Apple has tended to impose restrictions within its own little empire, and not outside of it; for the large part, Apple seems to follow the Principle of Least Aggression. Even with the latest Flash shenanigans, Apple isn't making deals with partners to kill Flash. They're not trying to ruin support on Android or anything. They're just not including it by default on the new Airs anymore, and sort of publicly saying that they think it sucks.
I agree with David, though: Apple's cultural position of power means that if they want to keep our hearts and minds, they have some responsibility to play nice.
Apple's never really had power outside of its empire before. This is a pretty new position they're in now.
With that said, the difference between MS and Apple is that Apple builds the full stack. Apple blocking Psystar from creating clones effectively blocks anyone else from creating Apple products, thus Apple has a lot fewer people to have to bully. The just keep everyone off their block. With that said, within the industry, Apple's bullying of Intel is rather legendary, given their small market position.
Where Apple does dominate they certainly don't mind pushing people around.
MS works with a lot more partners therefore there is a lot more opportunity for bullying.
My concern with Apple is that while Steve Jobs is brilliant, he also rules with what seems to be a larger degree of malice. With MS its obvious where they're going -- where the money is. With Apple that's usually the case, but sometimes its where Steve is just really mad. There's no single person, including Bill, at MS who wields that type of power.
I dunno, maybe I'm being naive. It seem pretty obvious where Apple is going, too: whatever makes computers easier to use. Flash on mobile is total trash, from what I've read (I have yet to try it on my Nexus One, I don't visit sites with Flash). They've been working on making the music industry a nicer entity to interact with for years. They've been relentlessly simplifying product lines. The Mac App store is obviously geared toward making it even easier for people to install applications. They basically invented the modern smartphone market, and haven't let AT&T call the shots, to the benefit of consumers.
There are plenty of things that would make their computers/products easier to use, but they don't do them. For example, their rental policy for video is horrible. I have just stopped renting because I never finish anything. How is it that Amazon can have a strictly superior policy, but Apple's sucks? I think this is actually an example where Steve plays the role of Apple CEO and Disney shareholder at the same time.
When Apple lets me run iOS/OSX in a VM on my Windows box then I'll believe their main mission is to make computers easier to use. Until then the bottomline seems to be the thing the thing that cuts across most items at Apple, like most other companies.
For example, their rental policy for video is horrible. I have just stopped renting because I never finish anything. How is it that Amazon can have a strictly superior policy, but Apple's sucks?
Is this 100% on Apple though? I know there was some hoopla awhile back before variable pricing came into play where the RIAA allowed Amazon to set lower prices than Apple with their goal being to get Apple to bend to their demands on pricing. Apple wanted to keep everything at 99c, but the RIAA wanted tiers and finally got what they wanted.
I'm talking about video, not audio (unless the RIAA also plays in the video space too). I've completely moved off of iTunes for music as I prefer streaming services like Grooveshark and subscription, like Zune Pass.
I used audio as a known example of content producers playing Apple and Amazon against each other. Do you think the MPAA is any less ruthless than the RIAA when it comes to controlling and pricing their content?
But I haven't heard Apple say a peep in this case. And Apple is not shy about saying their being bent over. Also if anything Apple seems enthusiastic about what they're doing. When they announced the new Apple TV Jobs had no reservations that they were making this their only streaming model.
Apple could fix this easy... support Amazon VOD. That would be the best thing for the customer. It would be super easy. Heck, if you're reading Steve, I'll implement it for you, for 1/2 my standard consulting fee.
For me, it primarily comes down to the fact that Apple has tended to impose restrictions within its own little empire, and not outside of it; for the large part, Apple seems to follow the Principle of Least Aggression. Even with the latest Flash shenanigans, Apple isn't making deals with partners to kill Flash. They're not trying to ruin support on Android or anything. They're just not including it by default on the new Airs anymore, and sort of publicly saying that they think it sucks.
I agree with David, though: Apple's cultural position of power means that if they want to keep our hearts and minds, they have some responsibility to play nice.