Apple

How does Apple do it? Unless you've been under a rock, you're no doubt aware that Apple has launched a version of the iPod that will allow for the playback of video. This isn't a new concept and several other vendors have had portable video devices on the market for sometime now. However, to look at the press you'd think the introduction of the new iPod was the second coming! How does Apple manage to get so much press? Apple fans will say it's because they deliver groundbreaking and well designed products. Unfortunately, history says otherwise. Apple was not the first to come to market with MP3 players, portable video devices, or all-in-one compact computers. Truth is many of their much-hyped products have been duds: the iPod Photo, the Power Mac G4 Cube, the Newton, etc., etc. This failure rate is probably no greater than that of most other consumer electronics companies. The difference was when was the last time a new MP3 player from Sony or Creative made front page news? I wonder how well the Mac Mini is selling. It sports a slow processor, weak video card and paltry hard drive. But who cares, it looks cool!

Don't get me wrong, I think Apple has the lead in design. I can't imagine living without my iPod and iTunes and I'd love to see Apple purchase Tivo (fat chance, I know). I just don't get how every time they introduce something it's treated as a groundbreaking event even though in most cases they're not the first to have come out with such a product.

Update: Two days after I posted this what should arrive in my mail box? The latest issue of Time magazine. The cover photo: Steve jobs holding an iPod Nano while standing in front of an iMac. Never mind devastating earthquakes, floods, storms, wars, political shenanigans or the economy. Apple coming out with revisions of two already existing products (both in categories Apple didn't invent) was apparently the most important story the editors at Time could come up with. Amazing.