Comments on: Dell's Rollins: Unfazed by iPod, IBM

CEO sees little cause for concern from Apple's "one-product wonder" and Big Blue's "waving the white flag."

[Soliton]

Its ROUND Rock

... not Red Rock, where's Dell's located. One would expect CNET to be more careful about silly inaccuracies like these ! After all, this reporter is supposed to have interviewed the CEO at that location itself !

[labcondave]

Ironic

I think it's very Ironic that someone from a company like Dell would criticize Apple... They make a great PC - but everything they sell is pretty much the same as everything else out there... What have they ever produced that was "innovative" or "trend setting"? It's great to gloat about how many billions you are making - it would be even better, though, if you spent at least a LITTLE effort building something other than a "ME TOO" product.

[kakman1]

Read carefully first, then spout off.

There was not any disparaging remarks towards Apple. Read carefully first then remark.

[Dibbs]

yup

i agree! all PC companies pretty much make the same thing. there is marginal difference in quality across the board. you can get lower quality computers and you can get better quality ones, but they're only going to be so good. they're all selling the same thing. its the asthetics that differ, ever so slightly. some companies put lights in their cases, or route the cables so as to maximize air flow, but really these are trivial things.

[iometro]

Re: Ironic

I think it's very Ironic that someone from a company like Dell would criticize Apple... They make a great PC - but everything they sell is pretty much the same as everything else out there... What have they ever produced that was "innovative" or "trend setting"? It's great to gloat about how many billions you are making - it would be even better, though, if you spent at least a LITTLE effort building something other than a "ME TOO" product.

"everything they sell is pretty much the same as everything else out there"

So then what exactly is Apple manufacturing that does not also handle the same functions as "everything else out there". If I am correct, Apple is not the actual "innovator" in any of the products they are currently getting attention for.

They have always done a great job of "re-thinking" products, but I think their last truly innovative product was probobly the Newton, which of course was ditched based on reasons very similar to the criteria Rollins says keeps them from digging to deep in the CE arena.

"Trend setting" of course is a different story. Apple clearly excels in this arena and is probobly the context most appropriate in their regard.

Everyone in the computing industry creates "ME TOO" products. Some just are better at it.

Yeah, okay dude.

So, that mouse your holding in your limp-wristed right hand wasn't an innovative idea. Apple ripped it off of someone else back in the early 80's. right? The user interface they built into the iPod isn't innovative at all either. All of those companies that TRIED to rip the UI off the iPod actually did it first. right?

And I suppose, next your going to tell me that the Cases of the PowerMac G3's didn't innovate the way wire management and space inside of cases are used today, did they? Or the fact that the cases themselves wren't big ugly boxes.

Yes yes. The people responsible for building the first personal computer with a friendly UI 20+ years ago didn't innovate or invent at all. You are SOOOOOOOO correct.

Where do you people come from?!

[Dibbs]

re-think and come out with a better product

yes apple's products do the same things as their PC counterparts, but apple does so with more grace. that is partly fact, partly my opinion. i use both. normally a PC since those are more popular.

for instance: the PC world is just now getting to a point where you can keep your computer for more than say 2 years before it needs replacing. apple has made computers with a much longer useable life for years! think about this: there is a reason apple can come out with a "new" computer (the mac mini), and not have to put in all the latest stuff and still expect to sell it. that is because even their older computers are still kicking and doing everything their users want to do, while PCs of an equal age may be struggling.

just my thoughts

The age of appliances

Dell, HP, Apple, and the other "PC" makers are in the business of
making appliances, the equivalent of refrigerators and stoves.
The core technology in these appliances hasn't really changed
much in 30 years. Smaller for sure, but not any "smarter". If and
when someone can develop and sell a device that can execute
original problem detection and solving rather than monkey in
and monkey out, then it may be fun and interesting to care what
CEO of that company has to say. But as long as these appliance
makers are making money and are able to employ folks, they
should be encouraged. Just like the makers of stoves and
refrigerators were encouraged.

[godsfault]

Silly CEO

Dell's CEO Kevin Rollins must have been in a silly mood when he referred to Sony's Walkman and Apple's iPod as "fads."

Or perhaps it was merely CEO type envy when he trashed another company's successful product.

Regardless of his motivation(s), Mr. Rollins needs a reality check. A visit to one of Apple's fine retail stores should serve the purpose.

[J.G.]

Re: Rollins is confused, but. . .

The question about Apple was put in such a way as to encourage an aggressive comeback. Of course Rollins is just plain wrong about Sony's Walkman. It led the market for much too long to be dismissed as a fad. Disc players by other companies even came to be referred to as Walkmans. Apple should be so lucky with the iPod.

Dell may indeed be doing very well as a business. But, so is Apple.

Certainly not in same league

I would hate to think of Apple in the same league as a low end ( I
have owned several Dell's...all crap), cookie cutter computer
manufacturer.

Apple is out of touch with what the majority of consumers

I notice with partucular interest that the pro Apple replies have such vehemence and snobbery that are worse than angry reactions in a polotical debate.

Personally I have respect for every manufacturer or company from Apple to Dell that are succesful in today's exceptionally tough market since that means that millions of people have voted for them in terms of what they achieved in their products.You can't argue against such great numbers.

Unless some people think that only they have the right judgement in choosing what's best,in which case,they need to have their head examined.

Well the people don't think Apple is doing as good a job as Dell judging from their market share and the difference in percentage is huge.And they are right since Apple are overcharging and their models are far behind in computer power especially gaming wise.In fact in the latter respect Apple is sadly low.When I enjoy an Nvidia FX 6800 in my PC being able to play games of the quality of Half Life 2 or Doom 3 my Apple owning friends are just envious when they are given archaic Nvidia cards like 5200 Ultra and they can play nothing.And at what a price they got that totally outdated system!

Stability?Well even though I'm a Linux supporter,Windows XP with the Service Pack 2 is a serious operational,ever since installing it I haven't had the shadow of a problem.

Finally,Linux,especially Suse 9.2 is as good and fast and rock solid as Macos or even better and it is either free or very cheap.

PC processors,especially AMD 64 have been found to be faster than G5 ,much faster,and finally there are motherboard giants like Asus and Abit that manufacture fantastic mobos that enable me to burn dvds in 12 minutes tops.

Apple may have been leading in the past and I'm respectful and aware of its history and contribution to technology but nowadays it is only appearance and no essence inside and at exorbitant prices in times of great financial crisis all over the world.

Is for these reasons that I find it hilarious that some elitist people,probably rich,who are way behind in technological advances input,come here to defend an elitist company,perhaps for psychological reasons of inferiority complex.After all one has to justify why one has an Apple these days,isn't that so?

[Dibbs]

walkman a fad?

how can he say that? the walkman spurred on an entire industry! Ugg boots are a fad! walkmen are lengendary. the same goes for the iPod. it is a continuation of sony's legacy in portable music players. there's not a chance in France we'd have access to such inexpensive hard-drive based music players if it weren't for the iPod. it's imitators struggle to attain the same image and quality that enjoys. this makes for copy cats that sell for much less, for those so inclined. it's impact will be felt for quite some time. no fad has this much influence. not even Ugg boots.

Exactly. Walkman was a 10+ year "fad"

We should all be so lucky to have fad products like the
Walkman...

He's just trying to take some wind out of Apple's sails, but he's
not fooling anyone.

[Calvin Hobbs]

Dell hath no future.

And so at last Dell fell from the crushing weight of the lands of Lenovo which held total control of the motherboard supply and the unbelievers rejoiced. But all was not lost, for from the ash rose an Apple. The Apple gazed down upon the unbelievers and cast Tigers and Spotlights upon them. For Apple had been reborn with its strength renewed, and the infected followers of Mammon cowered in horror.

Dell faces a tidalwave of competition from Asia on the hardware front. Their sales model is quantity and cost. Dell has nothing else to differentiate it from Lenovo or any of the multiple others coming down the line. If China decides to use creative supply side economies raising the cost of boards and boxes to favor her own national brands Dell will no longer be able to compete in that segment.

P.S. This was posted on my NeXT Turbocolor station running at 33 Mhz Openstep 4.2 with Omniweb 3. :)