Comments on: The key to gadget buyers' hearts: Simplicity

At Silicon Valley digital-home conference, panelists tell device developers how to charm consumers.

[mhersh]

Simplicity?

This is exactly why Apple will prevail in the coming years. iPods
are the most simple to use media players, as well as the Mac
platform. Leopard will push this simplicity even farther. Most of
Leopards new features seem to improve on simplicity, such as Time
Machine and Core Imaging (for developers).

[Hardrada]

is it?

It's only simple if you buy completely into the Apple ecosystem. I agree, Apple has some nice products. I just don't like the idea of being locked into one manufacturer for the rest of my life.

[SethShapiro]

All four labels dropped the ball for years - Apple just picked it up

And if Sony Music and Sony CE had worked together, Apple would have been crushed out of the gate.

Don't hate the player hate the game baby.

[DecliningUSDollar]

Slip on the Apple Straight Jacket

What a load of crap. Apple is just plain evil. They are no f'ing better than Microsoft, or Generic Greedy Company X, perhaps even worse.

Imagine if your Ford Mustang wouldn't run unless you bought FordGas. Or you stop off at the FordGas station, fill up only to discover that the gas that you just bought will not work in your Toyota.

[azell]

simplicity in gadgets

Maybe designers of electronic gadgets and software should heed the words of Daniel Defoe (of Robinson Crusoe fame):

"Easy, plain and familiar language, is the beauty of speech in general, and is the excellency of all writing, on whatever subject, or to whatever persons they are that we write to or speak. The end of speech is, that men may understand one another's meaning; certainly then, that speech, or that way of speaking, which is most easily understood is the best. If any man were to ask me, what I would suppose to be a perfect style of language, I would answer, that in which a man speaking to five hundred people, all of common and various capacities, should be understood by them all, in the same sense which the speaker intended to be understood."

Alan J Zell
www.sellingselling.com
[e-mail]

[FusedAndCondazed]

This is what I have been trying to tell you!!

This is where most companies lose customers. Take cell providers... not everyone wants a camera, ringtones, web browser, IM, mp3 player, organizer, contact list, calendar, alarm clock, business card transfer, and the million other features. Just give me a phone that does what I need.

And to make it worse, some "simplicity" focued products go by the wayside because most people don't appreciate them. For example, the IXI Mobile Ogo device. Marketed for kids, no voice, but IM and E-mail everywhere... for a flat rate, no matter how much you use it.. And its big secret? It also works as a bluetooth modem for your laptop or PDA.. But in the end, a strictly-communication device rather than your do-it-all-including-your-girlfriend type device. This is why I may not have the most blinged out devices, but they work, and work well for what they are designed for, not work with a level of mediocrity at everything.

[chrisw63]

It takes a Panel to tell you that???

Unbelievable!!! Ipod, people. You think it rules the MP3 market on good looks alone? And if you need that huge example to point this out, God Help your business

[robwoods20]

Briding the gap to more market share

Couldn?t agree more with the need for a "simple is as simple does" OS. Think about how many people don?t have a comp, why? Its not solely because of cost, it?s because the old age question comes into play; Can you really teach an old dog new tricks? Well, yes you can. It?s all in the approach and the ability to true be ease of use to system with.

The key to this bridge lay?s in the hands of the instruction manual. Instruction Manual you may say? Who wants to read a 300 page book on just how to work there DVD player? Exactly, they don?t, so approach the development of the OS as if no one is going to read the manual or call up tech support just so they can be introduced to worlds growing technology. RMC/26/Las Vegas, N