Comments on: Dell wants to give you choice, but choice is dead

Dell wants to give you more choice. But as Don Reisinger explains, choice is dead.

[rturner2]

Consumers want the following, in this order:
1) Limited and easy choices, with ease of use
2) No choice with ease of use
3) Heaps of choice (which inherently brings lack of ease of use)

Apple with iPod and iTunes has number 2. Other MP3 plays currently have number 3. Unless Dell can crack number 1, it might as well not try (in an established market).

What do others think?

[nachurboy]

I don't think people want choice. They want ease of use, good value, and great service. Choice is only important when these aspects are missing. If Dell put time and effort into making a great product with great service that's reasonably priced, people won't look for alternative choices. Most folks given multiple choices, will have no clue which to pick because they won't know what the best value is, or the best service, or the best product. This usually leads to poor perception and customer satisfaction.

[MikieV_501]

Agreed.

Dell and its partners can only do things with the music-files that the copyright owner's let them do.

The copyright owners then have to defend their refusal to allow competing services to make the same use of the files.

Of course, that hasn't stopped copyright owners from letting Amazon sell music without DRM, while still requiring Apple to use DRM.

[lmasanti]

quote:
""Customers want access to content from a broad variety of sources--how, when, and where they choose," Michael Dell told the publication."

Will this "invocation" be as true as the one about Apple's returning the money to its shareholders?

[lmasanti]

quote:
"I look forward to the day where the content I buy from one service will work on anything I want it to work on, but I don't think we're at that point yet."

Give customers DRM-free files in standard ACC high-bitrate format and let them do whatever they want.

[GlennF]

Enderle is a consultant employed by Dell. "Rob Enderle, an industry analyst whom Dell hired to consult on the new entertainment strategy, said he is still discussing with Dell whether profits would come mainly from the subscription service or from devices tied to it." from the Wall Street Journal, July 30, 2008.

This apparently wasn't disclosed to BusinessWeek, which describes him as a consultant who was briefed by Dell, rather than a hired hand, which he is.

Endlere has a remarkably consistent history of being entirely wrong about everything he's ever said about Apple, and is the go-to guy when you need a quote from someone who will reliably tell you that, for instance, the iPhone will never sell, Apple retail stores will never sell computers, that Apple won't get buyers for its new Intel Macs, etc.

[john55440]

Amazon.com offers music customers the choice of CDs or DRM-free MP3s. It's clearly the best legal source of music. I prefer the superior sound quality of CDs.

[rmva]

I personally prefer to shop in my neighborhood hardware store. The selection is modest, but the clerks know my name. Those big box stores just have too many choices.

[moneysurf]

As far as technological advancement is concerned sky is the limit but at the same time one is bound to get redundant paving the way for the new one by it's very nature.

[Spartan_458]

It's called an MP3 player with unencrypted MP3 files. EVERYTHING has an MP3 player in it these days, so it shouldn't be too difficult.

[MasumX]

Dell, How about getting my order shipped instead of delaying it for another 2 weeks?

[cyclelogicpress.com]

Choice is great if you want Windows.

[g15host]

Until they stop selling CDs and DVDs they are still the best choice. And digitally all it takes is for movie and music industry to sell DRM free content everywhere for there to be choice. No new software/hardware needed. When music industry in fear of Apple releases DRM free music on Amazon but not for Apple, and Windows Media Player refuse to play the higher quality iTunes format, they are the ones against choice. Dell is not ahead. It is behind. Would Dell dare bundle Open Office on their Windows PC because they care so much about giving customers choices? I doubt it. Consumers will see through fake intentions every time.

[Thomas, David]

Well ... Choice ... Dell, Enderle, and Microsoft are playing games with that word. This whole claim that Apple locks you in has always been nothing more than a spin on a successful solution. Apple customers choose to use iTunes, and iTMS. There is no one holding a gun to their heads, and it certainly isn't the only solution (game in town).

It just happens to be the best solution (game in town).