Shannon,
While they're better looking, I don't think their products are so great. The ipod and itunes have all kinds of shortcomings like:
1. If you're a classical music buff, and you've got hunders of CDs loaded, it's difficult to find a sonf unless you know the name of composer, conductor and orchestra that played every compostion since each album leads off with a different one on title and tere's way to search by keyword.
2. If you don't listen to a podcast you're subscribed too regularly,it automatically unsubcribes for you, which kind if sucks if you want it there when you want it.
3. Mossberg and Pogue both said the iphone is a lousy phone, albeit dump into the story, after the jump.
I think the reason they enjoy their position is partly because of their agressicve and highly stylized form factors and innovation marketing and advertsing, proving that paid media, when used right, still does work.
Eric
Eric,
It's a great question. The simple answer is: because they can (just as any publicist for an A-list celeb can dictate the terms of an interview). But you already know this, Eric, since you are in Hollywood.
As far as why Apple continues to enjoy an impenetrable aura: a) they make great products, but b) much of the PR machinations behavior is just too inside baseball to alter public perceptions of the company. What surprises me is how a company in the thick of Silicon Valley still remains very much in a "command & control" mode.
Good seeing you last week.
Shannon,
Thanks for the kind words. Next time, come up to say hi. I'm a fan of Pierce Mattie.
Peter
Peter, just dropping by to say I loved what you had to say at the seminar for the Bulldog Reporter this past Friday!
What's curious is that Apple seems to be impervious to just about anything. Regardless of how opaque their communciations policy is -- on all fronts -- people still love them. They seems to be able to get away withjust about anything. Now why is that, Peter?
Yeah, while they're at it, could they ask why you have to buy a million i-Tunes songs if you want to give away online codes in a promotion? I guess the masses have to be millionaires to gain access to this slick system.
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