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Comment by alaskamiller | Hacker News Reader

This is like making a McDonalds because everyone says they want it their way but deep down the truth is we just want an In-N-Out menu of 5 things. And the McDonald's way is bloated, slow, expensive, and dying.

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You're thinking of Burger King's "have it your way", not McD's. Regardless, I'm not sure it's an apt comparison. McD's is dying not because they offer lots of choice, but rather because the food is shit and unhealthy. In-N-Out is in a similar situation, but their food just happens to be of a higher quality.

When it comes to mass-customization, there's actually a lot of evidence that shows people do want more choice. You're seeing it with products like Moto X and NikeiD. Or even with what Apple is doing with the Watch. It's logistically more difficult to pull off, but it's doable online.

One of my favorite Jobs stories is how he took Apple's late-90s lineup of numerous products and simplified it in a 2x2 matrix.

(Maybe not the best link, but it shows what I'm talking about.)

http://www.slopefillers.com/steve-jobs-product-matrix/

That strategy worked because Apple was dying and Jobs needed to focus their efforts. But that all changed once they found their footing. Consider the iPod and all the sizes and colours they offered, or what Apple is now doing with the Watch. There are many many customization options, and I suspect these options are only going to grow.

I don't know you, but you seem stuck on customization? A lot of us out here just want a functional product with a decent half life. I think Apple is making a big mistake putting form over function? I cringe when I hear I need a heat gun in order to open their sleek products. If a product is well made, and does what it's suspose to do, I don't see the need for a bunch of aesthetic nonsense. The best watchmakers don't vary their designs much-- Rolex, Patek, and Omega vary their styles so little, I mistake some older models for new. I glad you have a new job. I'm just more mystified over VC funding/hiring than before I came here today.

Still, compare, say, "Mac mini, iMac, or Mac Pro?" to the set of desktops available from Dell. Apple has lots of options, but they generally stick to consistent branding of a couple of core product lines.

Just the other week I was listening to a podcast where they were talking about how Apple seems to be moving in the opposite direction now. They have the MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro (and a non-Retina version), iMac (and a Retina version), Mac Pro, and a Mac mini.

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