Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

SoylentNews is people

posted by LaminatorX on Sunday October 19 2014, @11:58PM   Printer-friendly
from the tomorrow dept.

Erik Karjaluoto writes that he recently installed OS X Yosemite and his initial reaction was “This got hit by the ugly stick.” But Karjaluoto says that Apple’s decision to make a wholesale shift from Lucida to Helvetica defies his expectations and wondered why Apple would make a change that impedes legibility, requires more screen space, and makes the GUI appear fuzzy? The Answer: Tomorrow.

Microsoft’s approach with Windows, and backward compatibility in general, is commendable. "Users can install new versions of this OS on old machines, sometimes built on a mishmash of components, and still have it work well. This is a remarkable feat of engineering. It also comes with limitations—as it forces Microsoft to operate in the past." Bu Apple doesn't share this focus on interoperability or legacy. "They restrict hardware options, so they can build around a smaller number of specs. Old hardware is often left behind (turn on a first-generation iPad, and witness the sluggishness). Meanwhile, dying conventions are proactively euthanized," says Karjaluoto. "When Macs no longer shipped with floppy drives, many felt baffled. This same experience occurred when a disk (CD/DVD) reader no longer came standard." In spite of the grumblings of many, Karjaluoto doesn't recall many such changes that we didn’t later look upon as the right choice.

 
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
Display Options Threshold/Breakthrough Mark All as Read Mark All as Unread
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
  • (Score: 2) by E_NOENT on Monday October 20 2014, @09:40AM

    by E_NOENT (630) on Monday October 20 2014, @09:40AM (#107759) Journal

    It just shows what I've said for years, history will show that Jobs greatest skill was BRANDING, he spent his entire life building this image of an "outsider" yuppie company that even years after his death his patented RDF is stronger than it ever was.

    Hear, hear!

    Someone forwarded me the 'green site' link to this story (yesterday?) and I responded by telling him "Oh, that's what's known as a Slashvertisement, which partially is why a lot of us left the Slash/Dice juggernaut."

    . . .

    --
    I'm not in the business... I *am* the business.
    Starting Score:    1  point
    Karma-Bonus Modifier   +1  

    Total Score:   2  
  • (Score: 2) by Hairyfeet on Monday October 20 2014, @12:39PM

    by Hairyfeet (75) <{bassbeast1968} {at} {gmail.com}> on Monday October 20 2014, @12:39PM (#107790) Journal

    This is something I've always given Jobs all the props for with all sincerity, that man knew how to build and market an image. From the posters on the walls of an Apple store to having stoned Jeff Goldblum in full hipster mode in their "candy Mac" ads every thing was well thought out to sell an upscale image while avoiding the "pass me the grey poupon" douchebaggery that so many that try to sell upscale. In this he has yet to have an equal, his ability to brand is simply unmatched.

    But what amazes me about it is how strong the RDF truly is, how the faithful will try to rally about "price equals quality" even when "you'e holding it wrong" was becoming the punchline of jokes and Samsung is shaming them into replacing defective batteries in their flagship phone. But I tell those followers just what I tell the (frankly fanatical) followers of GNU...If you LIKE this brand, if its aesthetic or look or philosophy is something that appeals to you? Then enjoy it, I wish you nothing but the best. I buy Asus laptops and Asrock boards because their design and software appeals to me personally, everyone has different tastes.

    What I DO have a problem with and will happily deal a smackdown over is when they make the leap from "I like this because it appeals to me personally" to "This product IS TEH BEST" especially when their metrics are built on bullshit like Apple using higher quality parts and design (see the battery and design fails above) or the FOSSies with "Open Source equals awesome security because many eyes myth and source is magic" to which I retort Heartbleed and the BASHing attack that is Shellshock. Just as I loved to lay the smackdown on the Softies trying to sell the "LULZ I Iz A Cellphone LULZ" UI of Win Mist8ke as "innovation"...so is replacing a steering wheel on your car with a joystick, don't make it a good idea!

    If you like something and think its great? I'm glad you have found something that makes you happy, I'm really glad...but don't delude yourself into thinking that because YOU like something or have invested considerable time or money into it that its somehow "better" than alternate choices, because that is delusional. To me THAT above all should be Steve Jobs legacy, that the man was so fucking awesome when it came to branding that even when they have a massive fail, from MacDefender to Bumpgate, shitty support for the latest mobile wireless tech to lousy batteries, even when the evidence to the contrary is literally front page news the faithful will STILL fully believe the RDF...now THAT is some class AAA branding work right there, it doesn't get any better.

    --
    ACs are never seen so don't bother. Always ready to show SJWs for the racists they are.