Since my first 128K Apple IIe back in 1984, I've always loved Apple products. To those who share my admiration, there's no need to explain it. To those of you who don't, simply put, Apple products are esthetically beautiful, well designed, easy to use and cool.
There's always been another reason I loved Apple. It was the underdog. But more than that, it was an underdog that deserved to be number one. And that made me love Apple even more.
But something is happening to the Cupertino-based company on its way to dominance. It's getting dickish. I'd always heard that Steve Jobs was sort of a dick but often, when someone is really great at what he does, you kind of overlook the attitude and bullying (to a point). No successful company or leader, after all, gets to the top by being nice. Sad but true.
Still I'd kind of hoped it wouldn't happen to Apple, whose continued existence is in large part due to the loyalty of customers who stuck with it when no one else would. It's like loaning your friend money when he's going through a rough patch only to see him screw you later when he's back on track.
That's why stories like this and particularly this irritate me. It turns out you won't be able to tether your iPhone to your wifi Ipad. What this means is, should you have both devices, you'd have to buy data plans for each other them. Expensive but, most of all, dickish.
Apple needs to be a little careful. Most of us still love it. But that doesn't mean we won't leave it in the future.
(Image)
Comments