Comments on: When it comes to Apple, proprietary, 'schmaprietary'

The conventional wisdom has it that most tech companies shouldn't get away with being closed. So why does Apple get a pass? There's a good reason.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

@ Lerianis

You know it's funny, you didn't even mean to do it but you hit one of the best reasons to chose a mac. I've had mine for 5.5 years with no antivirus or antispyware software installed. It still runs fast with no problems, and it's never acted unexpectedly.

[ausernamenoonehaschosen]

Oh, and I forgot to add, perhaps this is one of the reasons why people are switching to macs. Who wants to maintain their system (e.g. run antiviral and spyware scans, defrag, worry about attachments, etc) and not just use it. Most of the reasons people give for not liking macs are reasons the average, and even advanced, user could care less about.

Apple is one of the most open platforms in existence. Hardware is a low cost commodity, compared with the value of the data. Microsoft software is almost exclusively proprietary, closed data formats, that hold your information hostage, and create major barriers to interoperability with other platforms, virtually negating ease of transition or use of competing platforms and software.

Apple software products, on the other hand, can all create data formats that are documented, open, portable, and available for use by software from other platforms. The only exception to this might be the music data format, whose security was a compromise with the recording industry to hold onto intellectual property rights. If Apple had control - as shown in all their other product - the data would be readily accessible to anyone, and not bastardized or encased in some proprietary, closed format that forces product selection.

Apple believes that you should pick their product on their merits, not on blackmailing you with your data.

[aen916]

Did you get a free mackbook for this article? or was it an iphone?

[cbazza]

Apple is following the unsuccessful BREW way of doing things in wireless. JavaME came along and ate BREW's lunch. History will repeat itself and Android is going to come along and eat iPhone's lunch. Yes, the iPhone is great just like the original Mac was in 1984 but we all know how that turned out. Apple has certainly enjoyed great success with iPod for music and video but it is much much easier to "port" music and video than it is to "port" software to its device. When it comes to a computing platform that depends on software to thrive the rule is simple... do everything you can to please software developers.

The iPhone has a nice UI but others have been copying it like crazy to the point that you can have the same thing running on mass market JavaME phones (check out the youTube videos below) so outside developers are catching up quickly without needing to deal with the phone makers and wireless carriers... that's how important 3rd party developers are to this ecosystem !!!

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=TWUIK+iphone&search_type=

Carlos.

[cbazza]

Hummm, none of their youTube videos work anymore and I wonder why... they showed their stuff at the Under the Radar conference... next iPhone will be released next monday... anyways if anybody wants to check out their amazing work go to the following URL and click on "Video Gallery" on the right hand side :
http://www.tricastmedia.com/twuik/

Carlos.

[aen916]

Did you get a free macbook or iphone for this article?

[yttocs]

Why is Microsoft condemned, hated and brought to court over the same practices that have brought Apple laud, worship and unquestioning love? I mean it is to the point where Apple has reached a Kool-Aid status with the media. It is just a company.

[Dalkorian]

Read the comment by Kirk Rheinlander June 4, 2008 5:36 AM for your answer. Short version, M$ closes off the file formats to try to entrap you into their proprietary answers. Apple (generally) does not. I'm not sure I totally agree with his assertion that Apple is all that open, but he does a good job of answering your question.

[The_Decider]

That you compare MS's predatory practices to what Apple is doing shows how little you understand and how much MS kool-aid you have drank.

[TheTSArt1]

How "closed" exactly is Apple? I mean, how long has it been since Psystar starting selling Mac clones? What has Apple done to stop them???

Apple is usually not shy about bringing out the big guns and fast, yet they haven't done a thing yet.

[jypeterson]

The technology cycle continuously demands innovation. The problem with Microsoft is they stopped listening to customers and they replaced one of the most innovative men in business with a salesman (Gates -->Ballmer). Since Ballmer became CEO the stock has stagnated, customer satisfaction continues to fall, and products fail to meet customer expectations. How many articles have been written declaring the inadequacies of Vista -- and after billions of $ and five years?

Apple came to this in the 1990's before Jobs came back. A salesman took over the top spot and innovation took a back burner. Jobs came back in and has been heralded as a tech god, leading the consumer towards blissful simplicity.

In all, these two companies are vastly different in methodology, focus, and mission. Comparing them directly is impossible, but since we have our lives attached to devices and computers we naturally equate them on the same playing field. Regardless, consumers will continue to make their choice with their wallets, per say. Apple will continue to gain market share as well as consumer mind share. Apple started a revolution in consumerism leading companies and corporations to turn their heads. My hope is that their leadership will move industries to a higher standard of quality, usability, and technical genius.

One question though, how many of you have been asked by family members to fix their PC (XP or VIsta)? Wouldn't it be nice if it just worked?

[Stormspace]

Palm had a device and OS that supported 3rd party apps just fine and the user experience was great. Why can't apple do this?

[theveggiedude]

Apple has. The third party apps will be shown off next week.

[nothankscnet]

Mac can continue doing what's its doing, but even with their ipod, iphone and mac success, they still own a tiny segment of the computer market. They are too expensive, bottom line. There was an article on Lifehacker today on how to build a PC for $150 with brand new parts, using Linux of course. Ipod are way overpriced, iphones are reasonable, and macs are stupidly expensive for what you get. Yes, the simplicity model works for some, but others like more control over their computing experience. If the Apple model was the way to go, then Hitler was on to something.

[Dowap10]

Excellent! Godwin's Law has been invoked!

[theveggiedude]

I guess that is why Apple has 66% of the marketshare for PC's over $1000. Who can make money on a $500 pc? No wonder Apple's stock has risen 2700% over the last 10 years.

[The_Decider]

Compare the specs of an iMac to the same specs of a Dell, or HP. Then try to claim that they are too expensive.

[The_Decider]

Compare the specs of an iMac to the same specs of a Dell, or HP. Then try to claim that they are too expensive.

[JamesRatcliff]

unfortunately, in being "closed" "downloading software patches, or praying on one leg to a four-eyed ancient deity in order to get the damned thing to work" is just exactly what you get.

[hardchemist]

Take a chill pill, man. if the iPhone keyboard was so bad why do so many new phones, one year later, look like iPhones? Also the one-button Apple mouse has been dead for years. Jeez man, it's about choice - not about slander drivel from folks like you.

[blmartech]

apple should be sued for antitrust like microsoft, macs are great for people that want a computer but dont want to think, they like paying $2000 for a laptop with 2 year old pc technology. They are for people that dont want a lot of choices buying any software or hardware they like, the only hardware and software they need is the crap steve jobs has approved for them. apples proprietary crap should have died in the tandy days... if you dont want to think for yourself buy a webtv. lets quit making computers for dumb people and encourage people to learn..