Acer Founder: Apple is Like a Mutant Virus

[palladin9479]

It all boils down to open platform (not open source) vs closed platform. How difficult is it for a developer to create a program on a platform and how many restrictions does that developer have. Developers hate restrictions, the more your have the less software gets made. For awhile the iPhone was the only real game in town as a target for mobile application development (Blackberry is a business orientated format and not really casual). Now we have industry as a whole moving to Android, in the next few years it'll be iPhone vs Everyone else, and its not hard to see how that one ends.

On the same note you have Windows, Linux and MacOS all competing for market share. All of those are on Personal Computers so shut your holes about the Mac vs PeeCee crap. Windows is an open platform, application developers are free to make whatever they want whenever they want and sell it however they want. HW manufactures are also free to create and market their products directly to consumers. The only things MS controls are the OS level API's and standards, namely DirectX and the windows kernel. With this single standard people can all make their products work together. This is probably the #1 reason MS Windows is in the position its in, open platform combined with backwards compatibility.

Then you have Linux which is an extremely open platform, also an open operating system where any component can be rewritten to accommodate anyone. Anyone anywhere can develop anything and it'll run, on the development machine at least. The problem here is there is no single entity controlling the standards, instead you get too many standards and developers are forced to choose one (and miss market share) or write large amounts of code for different standards. Too many different distributions have different configuration methods, different service control methods, different binary locations, and different philosophy's. Many applications that are developed here end up being ported to the Windows world where they share a greater market presence. Hopefully in the next decade or so the Linux community will solidify behind a handful of protocols, APIs and standards and then development can really kick off.

MacOS, where do I start on this one. Its a very closed platform with each of its components controlled by the manufacturer. Right down to the HW it allows you to use. That is correct, your OS is dictating to you, at the behest of a company what HW you are allowed to use. If you desire to use a piece of HW not marketed and approved by Apple, your hosed. To develop an application for MacOS requires the developer jump through hoops and sign onto the Apple way of business. Now because a single entity controls all the standards and the HW those standards run on the system as a whole works very well. Its efficient and streamlined. Its also prohibitively expensive due to lack of competition. And if what you want is not within Apples idea of what you should use, your just screwed with little to no recourse. You can't just acquire a new HW and put MacOS onto it, you must purchase a ~special~ Apple approved system which is sold at a significant mark up.

All in all it obvious which direction the worlds going in. Windows will dominate the consumer market due to application base, with Linux slowly gaining more ground but always being a niche system until someone solidifys it. And MacOS will always be for those same people who enjoy over priced name brand clothing, for its label value.

 

[enforcer22]

[citation][nom]getreal[/nom]Typical comment from those who are jealous of Apple's success. It's tough being number 1; Apple has a giant target on its back.[/citation]


I guess when they ever reach #1 or if ever.. they will know if its tough or not. in anycase apple isnt really compatition. They are so close minded they try to keep any compatition out of thier platform as possible. Sure they are compeating with other computer makers mp3 makers and so fourth i suppose but software is all apple. Im in all honestly still trying to figure out why most of the people who buy apple products actualy do it. Everywhere else i look they are imo better cheaper and not as ugly.

 

[iamtheking123]

I'll keep it brief:

I think Acer makes cheapo products with no care for build quality. Ever held one of their laptops? Flimsy as a wet noodle. Ever put two brand new identical monitors side by side? Don't even color match.

And I'm sorry Acer but didn't you just fall behind Dell?

Point 2..Apple. The reason why Apple will fail is because they rely on an inbred market share. I'm not speaking literally, but the snobbishness of the people who buy the products and the arrogance of the people who make them completely precludes a huge potential audience. Instead of trying to advertise "you're a really hip abercrombie douche if you have an iphone with an ipod with a macbook pro" they should try and appeal to a mainstream, intelligent PC user. Right now they can't get any more market share because the only people who buy their products are the people who bought previous generations and the like.

Do I like Windows? Not particularly....it bogs down way too easily and constantly has you thinking in the back of your head that there's a cleaner way of doing everything. Do I like Linux? The problem is it's a black box operating system. Yes, technically there's no lock on the box but it's an absolute nightmare to deal with any sort of problems or customizations. And I don't like the fact there's no such thing as an exe...just double click and you're off...I don't want to have to build from source code or go to an arbitrary repo.

BUT I will never own a Macbook...ever. I have no interest in even trying one...or any other product that starts with 'i'. Good job Apple PR. I do use an ipod nano though...that I found on the street and was too lazy to resell on ebay....I really do prefer my Insignia though.

 

[V8VENOM]

This guy's IQ has to be no higher than 3. Whenever any CEO starts down the road of calling a competitor a "Virus" then you know that CEO's company is on the edge of financial doom (aka Acer). You only talk ****, when you are in ****.

Steve Ballmer did the same, laughing at Steve Jobs saying the iPhone was way too expensive (yet Ballmer sells Windows 7 Ultimate retail at $400 ... hmmm) -- now that Apple have passed up Microsoft financially (did you folks miss that News item or something??) ... I don't see Steve Jobs rubbing it in Ballmer's face?

Aaah, the old "all Apple buyers are snobs and arrogant" -- sounds like a religion, go start one. Nothing like good fiction and generalizations to see you thru the day.

Followed by the old "Apple is a closed platform", the platform is so "closed" that 30,000 + 3rd party vendor applications that run on OSX are just imaginary?? Because YOU can't install OSX on any computer doesn't mean it's a closed platform (actually you can install OSX on certain motherboards and hack the EFI64 to install on just about any motherboard). Proprietary firmware exists in all phones (not just Apple's iPhone), all motherboards, all video cards, etc. etc. etc. -- so are you suggesting that everyone is "closed". Get a clue on how computers work, then get back to us with some real information.

And finally the "IT guru" -- guess what, there is more to the computer than what goes on in large fat corporations. Yes, Microsoft are the dominant OS in the corporate world ... are you sure you want to be proud of that? In the mean time, the human race moves with this thing called products that work, don't need constant attention, and don't require OS wipes/re-installs every 3 months because an "update" caused a problem that can't be solved.

Competition folks, trust me when I say you WANT it. Do you folks need to be reminded about when AMD was top dog in the CPU wars and you could pick up an Intel CPU for next to nothing.

Honestly you Windows fan boys ... you spew the same wrong information over and over and over and over. Apple came back from nothing and just recently passed up Microsoft financially (yes I now MS purchased 150 Million of Apple's stock in exchange of having Office and IE on a Mac back in the 80's, didn't really do much for the Apple). You folks should be cheering this huge occassion, because it WILL force Microsoft to make better products.

As for the ACER CEO, the guy it a little barking dog try pee on a giants leg. The last ACER computer I had was a POS, lasted about 6 months -- instead of talking *** about other companies, perhaps he should figure out what to do about his own company and how to make it better.

 

[Diabolical User]

[citation][nom]getreal[/nom]Typical comment from those who are jealous of Apple's success. It's tough being number 1; Apple has a giant target on its back.[/citation]

If what you say is really true (sarcasm), it might be in Steve Job's best interest to stay away from the "mindless rabid fan boys" that tend to plague online forums/news with that kind of mindset (e.g. Apple is number 1). Especially, since you don't have any logic backing your claim of how "Apple is number 1". Ultimately, if Apple omitted the Apple Tax; ergo lowering pricing on their products. Apple worshipers would think: Lower price = Inferior Product. If this fact were to be revealed and VALIDATED by Apple worshipers; imagine the implausible consternation they would have. Many of them may even commit suicide...

Anyway, don't look too deep into this. It is not my intention to cause a massive epidemic of suicides, homicides, rioting etc.

 

[Maxor127]

[citation][nom]crus_russ[/nom]I used to hate apple, but now I own an iphone, ipod and macbook pro. Really you dont need windows anymore, except for Direct X based games.The reason I slowly got sucked into apple is because of their extremely high quality build and human interfaces. PCs are akin to bloatware and every app looks and behaves differently. With apple, there is 1 or 2 ways to do something and its simple, clean and fast. Sure sometimes you get stuck because there is something missing (like writing to NFS volumes), but the sheer quality and ease of use of the other 95% has totally kicked pc/microsoft in the butt.Apple has simply showed people, "there is another way, computers dont need to be complicated".With the web as the platform these days, the line between PC and Mac is blurring to really be the visual interface and support for certain programs. I am an IT professional and the reasons for needing a PC are rapidly dwindling (note, I run a win7 VM in the background if I need something, but its rare).[/citation]
I agree. Apparently the Windows fanboys on here don't understand simple logic.

 

[damianrobertjones]

Simple logic? What on earth are you going on about? The mac and PC are little or big boxes that sit in the corner with the same damn hardware. You then slap on the operating system and thus you begin to understand that there's only so many ways to empty the trash can, write a letter or browse the web.

THERE IS NO DAMN DIFFERENCE when you get down to it.

 

[r0x0r]

[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]And finally the "IT guru" -- guess what, there is more to the computer than what goes on in large fat corporations. Yes, Microsoft are the dominant OS in the corporate world ... are you sure you want to be proud of that? In the mean time, the human race moves with this thing called products that work, don't need constant attention, and don't require OS wipes/re-installs every 3 months because an "update" caused a problem that can't be solved.[/citation]

>implying that Apple products don't crash or break (or explode).

[citation][nom]Maxor127[/nom]I agree. Apparently the Windows fanboys on here don't understand simple logic.[/citation]

So logic is doing a company's marketing for free, and at no other benefit to you?

 

[back_by_demand]

He even cited IBM's sale of its PC department to Lenovo, deeming it as a sign of things to come.

IBM is almost an exception to every rule ever written.
They haven't just dumped hardware and transitioned to services, such as their ebusiness services, they are doing that as well as.
They build servers and chips and various non-PC hardware items such as bridge sensors. Just cos they don't make laptops & PCs anymore doesn't mean they don't have a hardware lineup that would put the Union Aerospace Corporation to shame.

 

[eddieroolz]

He has surprisingly good insight to the future. While providing Apple wit some credibility he makes a claim that isn't absurd.

 

[samely]

[citation][nom]frozenlead[/nom]I believe that 'app' is short for 'application' which have been available for smartphones and all kinds of computing devices for years before the app store.[/citation]
No, Apple invented everything.

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]yet Ballmer sells Windows 7 Ultimate retail at $400 ... hmmm[/citation]Dear lord, talk about inflating the price. I can find the Windows 7 Ultimate x64 retail at 150$, I can even find it cheaper if it's an oem version.
[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]now that Apple have passed up Microsoft financially[/citation]Sorry, I don't know why you though that Apple passed Microsoft financially, but it hasn't.
[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]In the mean time, the human race moves with this thing called products that work, don't need constant attention, and don't require OS wipes/re-installs every 3 months because an "update" caused a problem that can't be solved.[/citation]I work in IT and if I had to format the pcs every three months of all the companies I work with I would have quit my job.

 

[eyemaster]

[citation][nom]matt87_50[/nom]I'm sure when people get over novelty and realise they should probably actually get something done... Apple will subside. Apple is basically tech junk food. (irony)[/citation]
As if that will ever happen...

 

[crom]

Translation: Apple in a few months with their iPad has destroyed our netbook market share that took us a few years to build up. Apple innovates, its as simple as that. I'm not a fanboy by any means, but Apple has been leading the charge for years now. Apple makes colored cases, PC vendors follow with 'me too' products. Apple makes the iPhone, vendors follow with 'me too' phones.

Acer, here's a thought, why don't you take a risk and innovate yourselves? Your netbooks and laptops are crap. They are flimsy even compared to similar products by other PC manufacturers. If Apple's a virus, its wiping you out.

 

[crom]

[citation][nom]Vladislaus[/nom]Dear lord, talk about inflating the price. I can find the Windows 7 Ultimate x64 retail at 150$, I can even find it cheaper if it's an oem version.Sorry, I don't know why you though that Apple passed Microsoft financially, but it hasn't.I work in IT and if I had to format the pcs every three months of all the companies I work with I would have quit my job.[/citation]

You don't read the news:

http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/26/apple-microsoft-market-cap-2/

 

[zak_mckraken]

[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]In the mean time, the human race moves with this thing called products that work, don't need constant attention, and don't require OS wipes/re-installs every 3 months because an "update" caused a problem that can't be solved.[/citation]
You seemed to have forgotten the Snow Leopard fiasco that wiped the home directory when you simply logged with a guest account.

You'll be interested to know that the last time I wiped my hard drive is one year ago, when I installed Seven. Before that, I had Vista for 2 years. I could have upgraded without wiping, but for me it's an all-in-one step to clean my files, defrag my drive and get a fresh OS. It almost come with that pine tree smell.

 

[IWC Member 23495867]

The only virus this guy knows is botox.

 

[rsud]

[citation][nom]frozenlead[/nom]I believe that 'app' is short for 'application' which have been available for smartphones and all kinds of computing devices for years before the app store.[/citation]

Yea and it was all sooooo successful before Apple came along.
Android would not exist if Apple hand not "invented" the consumer smart phone market.

I used windows CE and what a joke it was. I couldn't wait to dump it.

From iPod, to iPhone, to Touch, to iPad it is Apple that catalyzed this market. Time for windoze fanboys to remove the heads from their posteriors and at least recognize where the latest inovations in the consumer handheld market are coming from.

 

[DXRick]

I can't figure out how people think that the PC with Windows is "complicated" for the average user. MS has made the Windows platform much more uniform for app developers, and their won office suite has a uniform user interface for many common things.

The "problem", as I see it, is the availability of software and hardware choices for Windows. If you stick with high quality stuff, it will work better with less problems. People buy the cheapest PC they can get, have problems, and then get an expensive MAC and find it easier to use. DUH!

 

[EnderWiggin]

[citation][nom]Joecitizen[/nom]I'm immune to this virus, I'm not an iSheep[/citation]

I thought this way until I recently started playing with the iPad at BestBuy and discovered it was a fun and well built comic/ebook reader coupled with net access and video playback (among other stuff). So I brought one. And I checked out the Android and Windows-based tablets available before buying and none had the same feel and performance. It does what I want and it makes me happy, so who give a **** who's name is on it.

 

[enforcer22]

[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]Steve Ballmer did the same, laughing at Steve Jobs saying the iPhone was way too expensive [/citation]

It was like $800 it was to expensive.......

[citation][nom]V8VENOM[/nom]Followed by the old "Apple is a closed platform", the platform is so "closed" that 30,000 + 3rd party vendor applications that run on OSX are just imaginary?? Because YOU can't install OSX on any computer doesn't mean it's a closed platform[/citation]

You dont seem to understand what a closed system is. But yes 30,000 compaired to millions. and the fact it cannot be installed on other systems is a testimit on how closed they are. People dont make hardware and software for apple OS for a reason, Yeah sure there are thousands out there but lets compare to an open system like windows that has billions and not just the people jobs allows to make something for thier system.

And your "reply" to guru only lets us know you dont know anything about an os. ALL os's need attention and yes even magical apple os. Hell at least MS gives out live updates every month....

O and no i dont remember when you could get a intel cpu for next to nothing. When amd cpus were top dog intel was still way over priced. They just brough the brices down to below the stratosphere.

And to end my "reply" apple isnt competition lol.. To whome do they compeat with? They are a nitch market item. They werent always but thats all they have become.

O i agree about acer. Not a fan of thier products.

 

[Vladislaus]

[citation][nom]crom[/nom]You don't read the news:http://techcrunch.com/2010/05/26/a [...] ket-cap-2/[/citation]
There's a difference between market cap and revenue. And Apple is still behind Microsoft.

 

[Guest]

Being only a user (sometimes advanced user ) I use XP (workplace) W7 (home system) Ubuntu and OSX on a macbook. All of these systems have their flaws and benefits. I think you should know what you need for the next few years when investing in the next hardware (and software). There does not seem to be any miracles or disasters out there, at least until we have the choice...

 

[cookoy]

Good analysis from a self-made man, complementing a tough competitor. Although Acer has been on the business for more than 2 decades, it seem to me it can't cross-over the line to be among the first-tier PC makers. Maybe it lacked that "revolution" factor.

 

[dEAne]

Good advice.