WIRED 1997: "101 ways to save Apple" | Hacker News Reader

WIRED 1997: "101 ways to save Apple"

wired.com

Isn't it time to make a blacklist for pundits and "journalists" who's prediction and advice are demonstrably off the mark?

For example:

James Daly: F

The advice in this column doesn't seem so bad.

Looks to me like Apple has taken some of these tips, partially taken others, and taken others farther than James Daly even suggested.

3. Start pampering independent software vendors: Taken -- what could be more pampering than switching the underlying OS to one programmers like?

7. Don't disappear from the retail chains: Taken farther -- They certainly have a retail presence now, with the opening of Apple stores.

8. Buy a song: Taken farther

10. Get a great image campaign: Taken

12. Build a fire under your ad agency: Taken

15. Dump (or outsource) the Newton, eMate, digital cameras, and scanners: Taken

18. Stop being buttoned-down corporate: Taken

25. Portables, portables, portables: Taken farther

34. Port the OS to the Intel platform: Taken

50. Give Steve Jobs as much authority as he wants in new product development: Taken

That's just the most obvious ones (to me) from the first 50. I bet other people here could note more of them. Point is, though, many of these tips were beneficial.

And finally he makes a prediction:

101. Don't worry. You'll survive. It's Netscape we should really worry about.

Yes, but what about:

1. Admit it. You're out of the hardware game. 2. License the Apple name/technology to appliance manufacturers and build GUIs

A lot of the stuff is generic advice too

Well, out of 101 tips, I'd hope a few of them hit the mark. :) IMHO, the best one was this:

14. Do something creative with the design of the box and separate yourselves from the pack. The original Macs stood out because of their innovative look. Repeat that.

Steve Jobs got the authority and the designs are great. That's why I've got an iPhone in my pocket and a MacBook Pro in front of me.

I can remember thinking back then that Apple ought to get out of the hardware business. It might in fact have been the right move under any other CEO than Steve Jobs. He has beaten the Japanese at music players. How many other American CEOs could have done that?

They did get out of the hardware business, kindof. Apple only does the design (and not all of it). The low margin stuff is handled by companies in Taiwan or China.

Apple seems to be the only device manufacturer that understands usability and is capable of producing ok software (microsoft is problem #2, amazingly).

10 years later conclusion: listen to the "experts" but only follow your instinct.

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