Re: [NTLK] Interesting article about the Newton

On Dec 11, 2006, at 4:17 PM, Roman Pixell [GMail] wrote:

>
> On 12 dec 2006, at 00.52, Joel M. Sciamma wrote:
>
>> We have to remember that the imaging division, which created some of
>> the best peripherals of their time, also got the chop but that was
>> probably just the numbers. It remains a shame that they stopped
>> making those devices which had all the key Apple design virtues - I'm
>> still using them.
>
> truly interesting point, which also deserves explanation. in
> hindsight, it might have been jobs most stupid move, regarding that
> it was so difficult to get imac peripherals the first year after imac
> was introduced. low margins and relative revenue is not as
> interesting for a particular printer line, when you regard the whole
> picture.
>
> if there would have been more peripherals, i assume the imac would
> have been an even larger success.
I couldn't disagree more strongly with this statement. Part of the
"new" Jobs era was the clear focus on the core products (ie the Mac)
AND the letting go of products that Apple wasn't adding that much too
(ie rebadged inkjets, etc.).

The fact that Apple stepped out of the printer market and switched to
USB at that time drove the adoption of "standard" printers for the
Mac, which was long overdue.

One of Apple's biggest problems has been the perception that "Macs
are different". People had that stuck in there minds, and adopting
standards based peripherals was a compromise with regards to products
(ie The stylewriter is better designed then the cannons it's based
on), but proved Apple's readiness to live in the real world.

The Intel switch is another such move. It doesn't add much for
existing mac users, but it removes the perception that Apple's are
incompatible and allows for Windows to run on mac hardware (like we
care).

These moves toward "standard" have done more to help Apple's core
business then any slick printer or camera.
> just imagine digital cameras,
> scaners and laser printers for the imac from day one. i remember this
> was discussed a lot back in 1998, when a lot of people waited with
> their new mac purchases because there were no legacy ports on the new
> models.

Good riddance and welcome to the brave new world ;~)

Marty

-- 
This is the NewtonTalk list - http://www.newtontalk.net/ for all inquiries
Official Newton FAQ: http://www.chuma.org/newton/faq/
WikiWikiNewt for all kinds of articles: http://tools.unna.org/wikiwikinewt/