CarbonStated

Talk about a tale of two cities (actually days). On the 21st, Apple announced a record quarter. One day later, Microsoft depresses the hell out of everyone with news of a 5% workforce reduction. Let me get this straight...in the same economy, in the same industry, in many of the same specialized sectors, Apple adopts W’s “what recession?” mentality while Microsoft fast tracks it’s 'softies to the soup lines? You’re joking...right? Wrong.

For some reason, Stevie Ballmer’s comments about the iPhone are playing on repeat in my head - “we have our strategy” yada yada yada “you can get a Motorola Q phone now for 99 dollars” yada yada yada “it’ll do music. it’ll do, uh, internet. it’ll do email. it’ll do instant messaging.” Sure Steve, it sure will - except when it is sitting on store shelves.  His comments are a direct reflection of what the tech giant is all about these days, living off the past. What has Microsoft done lately? Hm…let me think…

Vista = disaster.

Zune – just pissed off its last remaining faithful with the Dec 31 freeze.

Xbox – red ring of death, anyone?

Seriously MSFT. Seriously.

The crucial mistake Bill and Steve B. made was the same mistake Dell made - taking the “cool” factor out of the products (or never having it to begin with). Windows Mobile is not an experience; it is a means to an end. Need to send email? Okay. We’ll just make the most unattractive, most boring, most unfriendly user interface possible because after all, you only care about sending email.

If Apple has done anything, they have shown companies what tech consumers want. Even in turbulent economic times people are willing to swipe their cards to get the latest Apple products because they want an experience and they want it in a neat, aesthetically pleasing package. Need to send email? Okay. We’ll just make a keyboard pop out of the bottom of a screen here.

We will see how long Apple can keep this up but for now they have turned the bad economy into a money-tree growing right in the heart of 1 Infinite Loop, Cupertino, CA. 

Just for good measure...