“Sony takes aim at Apple iPhone, iPad, PSP phone rumours restoked” http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2010/03/05/sony_to_tackle_apple/. That article made me chuckle as it comes back to my hobbyhorse.
We live in an age when things happen faster than ever. Technology companies come and they go. They are essentially one product companies – Iomega, Compaq, US Robotics, Palm, Creative etc. Microsoft is essentially a one product company (Windows operating system and Office software) and is trying to move into other sectors. It has vast coffers as it rode on the biggest wave in the technology field – supplying operating systems continually to a newly created mainstream market of PCs. It is cash rich and has time.
The Apple has launched its iPad which is enlarged iPhone, essentially a mobile computer or a simplified laptop PC. Microsoft had predicted for years that the tablet would be the way of the future and had countless opportunities to get it right. The tablet computer with Windows o/s never took off. It was just too Microsoft – bulky, detailed or just too complicated. Apple’s tablet iPad is a simple machine with a virtual keyboard. In my opinion, it would work with new functions like – reader (books and periodicals), presentation aid etc.
The mindset at Microsoft is based on the success it had with the Windows operating system and Office software. Everything else it does, has this heritage with it. The technology environment changes all the time and that mindset is no longer appropriate, its products are just not right, the products do not sell.
The current big boy of the internet – Google – dominates the search engine/advertising in the web but it is struggling with the social networking aspect – buzz, wave. The new boys are Facebook & LinkedIn which are essentially tools of Social Media. This is the current trend.
One company that has a string of new products is Apple as I have commented previously on Steve Jobs and my reasoning to it. He works with the bigger picture, not only the technology industry but with other industries.
Comment: Steve Jobs, Apple’s chief executive, has been voted the CEO of the decade by Fortune magazine.http://michaeloon.com/mindset/comment-steve-jobs-apple’s-chief-executive-has-been-voted-the-ceo-of-the-decade-by-fortune-magazine/
Sony is a huge company, with at least 3 big killer products – TV (1970/80s), walkman and PS2, the other products have been run of the mill. I do not see Sony getting anywhere with its current structure.
Technology companies are one hit wonders, it is because of their mindset it had when it came successful. But, there are very, very few exceptions to this one hit rule.
Dr Michael Oon
