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Entry 510, on 2007-04-11 at 18:25:12 (Rating 2, Computers)

Recently Apple sold is 100 millionth iPod, which is an impressive achievement in the few years the device has been available. If you look at the specs of the iPod it doesn't necessarily look that good compared with some other MP3 players. For example, its more expensive than most, doesn't have a microphone, or a radio, or other features which other players might have. So why does the iPod out-sell all other competitors combined by a handy margin?

Either its because the iPod is a genuinely good product, despite its missing features, or because Apple has managed to create a monopoly situation which locks people into their technology.

Critics of the iPod make Apple sound like they use more dirty tricks than Microsoft, but I don't think that is really true. The iPod is a genuinely good product. I have used many other MP3 players and no one else seems to be able to get the user interface just right like Apple can. Of course, this skill at building intuitive, elegant products explains Apple's success with their computers, the Apple TV, and the presumed success of the iPhone in the future.

So I think there is a difference between a successful product like the iPod, and another successful product (but for a different reason) like Microsoft Word (I knew I'd get a complaint about Microsoft somewhere in this blog entry). I don't think I've ever heard anyone complain about their iPod, but I've certainly heard plenty of Word users complain. People use Word because they have to, but they use an iPod because they want to. There is a big difference.

So great work, Apple. Now let's get those Macs moving so we can have a similar milestone for Apple computer sales.

Comment 1 (606) by Dave on 2007-04-16 at 17:05:16:

I think Apple will have a lot more trouble being successful with computers. Microsoft are already the winner in the PC market.

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