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October 4th, 2007

Apple arrogance - part II

Posted by Jason D. O'Grady @ 8:09 am

Categories: Opinion, Steve Jobs

Tags: Steve Jobs, Apple Inc., Business Structures, Microsoft Windows, Strategy, Leadership, Finance, Operating Systems, Software, Management

In Focus » See more posts on: Leopard

Almost 4,000 readers of this blog voted overwhelmingly that Apple users are smug and arrogant, but what about Apple itself?

Mike Elgan seems to think so based on a Steve Jobs interview where he said that “the only problem with Microsoft is, they just have no taste.”

Elgan agrees with Jobs, but jabs back at Apple:

That may be true. But the only problem with Apple is that it has no gratitude. Or humility. Or generosity. Or manners.

I’m a big fan of Apple products. But there’s no escaping the fact that Apple has always been, well, arrogant. Which was fine — their superiority complex has always been both partially deserved and one of the company’s motivations to strive for better things. But in the past few months, the company seems to have crossed some kind of invisible line, now brazenly pissing off not just competitors, but its most devoted fans, closest partners and industry supporters.

He goes on to lambaste Apple for their recent foibles, including the Windows BSOD icon in Leopard, the iPhone price cut, shutting out iPhone unlockers and discontinuing BootCamp when Leopard ships.

Funny, he didn’t mention Jobs’ quote about Microsoft making “third rate products.” Nor did he mention that, judging by that haircut, the interview has be at least 15 years old.

What’s your take?

A note about thumb ratings: Those little thumbs at the top of each ZDNet blog post are there for you to vote whether or not the article is “worthwhile.” Not whether or not you agree with the content of the article. For example, if you think that this topic is valuable, relevant or well-written then you’d give it a Thumbs Up as worthwhile. If you think that Apple Inc. is arrogant, you shouldn’t give this article a Thumbs Down as not worthwhile–that’s what the poll below and TalkBack comments are for. Make sense?

Is Apple, Inc. arrogant?

View Results

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Jason D. O'GradyJason D. O'Grady is the editor of PowerPage.org, which has been publishing daily mobile technology news since December 1995. For disclosures on Jason's industry affiliations, click here or to view Jason's full profile click here.

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  • Talkback
  • Most Recent of 96 Talkback(s)
"Monappley"
PS - I wouldn't be surprised if I get a legal letter about
this...'cause that's what it's all about.... (Read the rest)
Posted by: BeastfromtheEast Posted on: 01/19/08 You are currently: a Guest | | Terms of Use
hover disclaimer for voting  icerabbit | 10/04/07
re: hover disclaimer for voting  M.R. Kennedy | 10/04/07
double lined...  Madsmasher | 10/04/07
RE: Apple arrogance - part II  supcomtabz | 10/04/07
Arrogance is considered a negative trait.  ShadeTree | 10/04/07
I think you're confusing "arrogant" and "confident"  laura.b | 10/04/07
Great post, Laura.  Userama | 10/04/07
Thank you!  laura.b | 10/04/07
You're welcome  Userama | 10/04/07
Wow. Me too. Scary. LOL  laura.b | 10/04/07
NYT. I'm impressed.  Userama | 10/04/07
Sadly however...  zkiwi | 10/04/07
You are correct, but that is so wrong  laura.b | 10/04/07
On convincing...  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Well duh  laura.b | 10/05/07
Well...  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Confusing marketing with personality  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
Excuse me, but where did you see the word "Apple" in my post?  laura.b | 10/04/07
A quick apology  laura.b | 10/04/07
Good observation.  frgough | 10/04/07
I would agree with that  laura.b | 10/04/07
Hehe, you got it almost right!  NonZealot | 10/04/07
: )...or not  Madsmasher | 10/04/07
One acronym for you...  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Obsess much?  NonZealot | 10/05/07
It has everything to do with it  zkiwi | 10/05/07
He is staying on topic .  Intellihence | 10/08/07
indeed ...  fredsmith6 | 10/05/07
Nah  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Oh how the RDF clouds your vision...  Scrat | 10/05/07
And this just reminds me...  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Well, the total lack of originality shines through here  laura.b | 10/05/07
Originality?  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Just ribbin ya  laura.b | 10/05/07
I gathered  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Yeah, perfect iMac experience!!  NonZealot | 10/05/07
You really need to get that seen too  zkiwi | 10/05/07
IE 7 bug reopens debate over patch responsibilities  Intellihence | 10/08/07
Well...  Spiritusindomit@... | 11/01/07
When it comes to arrogance Laura , Microsoft is KING .  Intellihence | 10/08/07
Wow, that was COMPLETELY off the topic of my post  laura.b | 10/09/07
Microsoft's entitlements and people's complacency are the problem  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
RE: Jason  ShadeTree | 10/04/07
BOTH Apple and MicroSoft are arrogant!  kd5auq | 10/04/07
RE: Apple arrogance - part II  trickeyboy | 10/04/07
Go ahead!  Userama | 10/04/07
Zune 80 To Adjust Apple Attitude  goingbust | 10/04/07
goingbust???  Userama | 10/04/07
What happened to versions 3 thru' 79 then? :P  zkiwi | 10/04/07
I think he means the version that will come out in 2080  Userama | 10/04/07
Thumbs Down  Jim888 | 10/04/07
Unless...  Madsmasher | 10/04/07
Bricking Phones  Len Rooney | 10/04/07
Nope  Jim888 | 10/05/07
The sad truth is  laura.b | 10/04/07
People personalizing Apple to excess  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
There's an aesop's fable in here  frgough | 10/04/07
Wow, I'm impressed, nice post!  NonZealot | 10/04/07
And why do you get so sensitive..  msalzberg | 10/04/07
If Apple is arrogant...  Henrik Moller | 10/04/07
What's all the fuss about?  Userama | 10/04/07
Took a look. Didn't like it. Windows is better.  Emilio_z | 10/05/07
Are Mike Cox's rep or something?  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Your reply is very revealing  NonZealot | 10/05/07
RE: Your reply  meelder | 10/05/07
I see you couldn't refute any of his points either!  NonZealot | 10/05/07
Besides...  zkiwi | 10/05/07
Are you that ignorant , or are you putting me on .  Intellihence | 10/08/07
Microsoft the nursemaid to the myth  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
You talk too much...  BFD | 10/04/07
So you defend the surveys as accurate then?  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
The best surveys $250 billion can buy  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
You must be blind  rapson | 10/04/07
What criticisms are personal?  YinToYourYang-22527499 | 10/04/07
Considering Jobs...  rapson | 10/04/07
Good old Apple zealot double standards!!  NonZealot | 10/04/07
I have yet to see...  rapson | 10/04/07
Arrogance or Confidence?  CowLauncher | 10/04/07
There is incredible truth in what you wrote!!  NonZealot | 10/04/07
It's all in good fun...  CowLauncher | 10/04/07
We're arrogant...  Richard Flude | 10/04/07
I see that you don't let modesty stand in the way of truth.  Userama | 10/04/07
nor truth in the way of fantasy...  Scrat | 10/05/07
RE: Apple arrogance - part II  Thralni | 10/05/07
iPhone Advantage  fondy | 10/05/07
Apple is too proprietary. Only idiots buy into it.  Emilio_z | 10/05/07
*Backs away from Emilio_z slowly.....*  laura.b | 10/05/07
Aw, shucks.  Userama | 10/05/07
Dude what are you Smokin'??  meelder | 10/05/07
You must be retarded ?!?!?!?!  Intellihence | 10/08/07
NZ: RE: I see you couldn't refute any of his points either!  meelder | 10/05/07
I'm taking an arrogance seminar  Len Rooney | 10/05/07
You go, Len!  Userama | 10/06/07
RE: Apple arrogance - part II  cyndidannerkuhn | 10/07/07
"Monappley"  BeastfromtheEast | 01/19/08
"Monappley"  BeastfromtheEast | 01/19/08

What do you think?

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