I love what Ford has done with the Mustang—GT, Boss, & Shelby. Revived classic style, power output in both V-6 and
a multitude of V-8 versions, and even a track weapon in form of the Boss all
highlight the comeback in popularity of the ‘Stang. But does anyone actually remember the Ford
Probe? Those of you that do are likely
trying to forget it. That car that was supposed to replace the Mustang back in
1989. Briefly, the Probe was a complete
overhaul of what Ford marketing people thought a Pony car should be. It wasn’t rear wheel drive. It wasn’t powerful. And as cars go, it wasn’t even sexy to look
at. In fact, when Mustang fans got wind
of Ford’s intent to replace the Mustang with the Probe, they raised such a
stink that Ford had to capitulate. It
was too late to pull the plug on the Probe, and it went on to be one of Ford’s
worst selling cars of all time. Ford
tried (unsuccessfully) to mess with a classic.
In fairness, Ford is getting lots of things right
these days. In addition to the Mustang,
the Focus, Explorer, and Escape are all good looking vehicles that offer great consumer
value. Still, someone in Ford’s
marketing team has convinced their executive team that consumers want Microsoft
Sync as a “feature” in their cars. Huh? As entertainment in a vehicle goes, having to
learn how to speak to car does not fall into a category I would call, “entertaining.” I see this more as Microsoft’s way of telling
us how stupid we all are. Because for
years, Microsoft time and again has expressed that they know better than the
rest of us how things should work. Somehow
speaking into your dashboard is a more “intelligent” way to increase the volume
than simply rotating a rheostat knob clockwise, right? And
just contemplate the humor in getting the blue screen of death the next time
you change your radio station. And how’s
that Zune player doing against the Apple iPod?
But I digress…
Kidding aside, this is the same Microsoft that will be
desperately trying to convince people to buy Windows 8 soon {*Note to self: Sell Microsoft stock now.}. Let’s briefly go down memory lane of the
operating systems that superseded Microsoft DOS, shall we?
·
Windows 1.0 · Windows 2.0
· Windows 3.0/3.1
· Windows for Workgroups 3.11
· Windows NT/NT 3.5/NT 4.0
· Windows 95/98/Me
· Windows 2000
· Windows XP
· Windows Vista/7
Since Microsoft’s release of Windows NT in 1995, consumers have been
duped into successively buying/upgrading without getting the refinement that
should come with an operating system that is essentially seventeen years old. Sure, Windows outlasted IBM’s OS/2 and all the
admittedly geeky permutations of Linux that consumers were never going to snuggle up to en
masse, but it’s my contention that this “old dog” of an operating system no
longer has any new tricks it can learn.
With each iteration, Windows was supposed
to get better. So the question you have
to ask yourself is, “Are you better off now with Windows than you were four
years ago?" Has Windows gotten better? The 911 sure has. The Mustang?
Even with its live rear axle, without question it has. Windows?
It’s Marginal.
With Windows Vista/7, consumers finally received more control over
security features. Is it faster? Not to the degree that it’s distinguishable
for what most consumers use it for. Is
it at least better looking? I suppose if
you like the Aero zoom effect that originally came with Vista, yes, but that blatant
rip-off from the Mac OS has been around for years. Fast forward to 2009 when Windows XP rolled
off the assembly line, and compared to Windows 7, the latter did not bring
anything substantially new to the table. Now here comes Microsoft again, looking to
sell the public more “lipstick on a pig” with Windows 8. Windows 8 is geared toward tablets and touch
screens. Is it too little too late?
Windows 8 represents a major change to the user interface that
will likely add to overhead load on existing hardware. For a detailed preview, click
here. With Windows 8, Microsoft is suggesting that they were wrong, and that the makers of the iOS and droid interfaces were right. Instead of innovating,
Microsoft is (in military terms) “bringing up the rear.” There are no killer features being introduced
with this latest Windows iteration. No
sonar backup avoidance. No self-parking
feature. No massaging leather luxury seats
with cooling fans. There IS a feature
that allows you to boot to a different OS.
The software developer in me says, “It’s about damn time!” but the consumer
in me says, “Why the hell would I ever want to do that?” You don’t see Ford instrument panels asking
you if you’d like to see the Chevy or Chrysler instrument cluster superimposed
on your dashboard, do you?
So what’s a
consumer to do? To upgrade or not upgrade? That is the question. When
friends and family ask me, I tell them with conviction, “My next computer will
be an Apple. No question.” I’ve been convinced over the years that you
really do get what you pay for as it applies to Apple devices. Here's why:
After being
notified of an issue with the battery in my old, first generation nano (that incidentally had a cracked screen,
but still worked), Apple shipped me a brand new one. For free.
The Apple TV device streams videos from Netflix and is capable of
accessing pictures, music, and video rentals/purchases from my laptop. The iPads also stream video direct to the AppleTV
device with (literally) the touch of a single button. Best of all, Apple has commoditized software
(via the iTunes Store) that used to cost me hundreds of dollars each, and I get
to install and run it on multiple devices at no extra cost. Take that, Microsoft! I’m totally impressed with the Apple
eco-system, and I understand why consumers who purchase their products are so
passionate about these devices. That loyalty
stems from the fact that Apple takes care of its customers. Period.
Now all this having been said, I’m no Apple zealot and I’m not going to
advocate that you camp out for the next iThing iteration. And I concede that Microsoft
products still have a rightfully earned position in the enterprise, but I have
to tip my cap to the folks at Apple.
They get it. Are Apple devices
more expensive? Absolutely. But you get
more than just the product. When you buy
Apple, you’re buying into the tangibles, too:
interoperability, ease of use, durability, and elegant design. Do you get what you pay for? With Apple, I'd say you get that and
then some.
'Nough Said,
+THINKR
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