This past week, Apple announced two new products and a product upgrade to the masses. The results: Mostly a bunch of complaints about how Apple "psyched up" its fans only to "let them down". The reason? You've got me? I've read and heard a lot of discussion the Apple's annoucement that is filled with nothing but complaints about how Apple just "dropped the ball" this time.
I don't necessarily agree. While I think that the iPod Hi-Fi is pretty lame, and so are the 100 dollar leather iPod cases, I don't think that the problem had anything to do with what Apple did. Its more of what the fans and the Press was expecting. They let themselves down. Let's review how this all started:
About two weeks ago, Apple sent out a letter to the press basically saying "Come and see some fun new products on February 28th." That's all it said. Now, with plenty of time between the letter and the moment of truth, speculations on what the event was about went berzerk. People were dreaming up the most magnificent ideas about new iPods, ibooks, etc. Nobody had a clue, but their imaginations were nowhere near being curbed at all.
Then the day the event comes and Steve Jobs comes out all exicted, and announces a new Intel Mac Mini, a leather iPod case, and an overpriced speaker for an iPod. People were bummed. So bummed because despite Apple being excited about what they were offering, the people's curiosity was not gratified. The results: mass grumbling against Jobs and Apple.
People were claiming things like "Its Apple's fault that it is a flop because they 'hyped it up' by keeping it a secret." Uh, not really. The hype came from the Press and the fans. I'll use the following allusion for my example:
Let's say that you are a small boy wanting a bike for Christmas. Your parents come home one day all excited and telling you that they can't wait to see you open your gift from them. You suddenly start dreaming up ideas about how great the gift will be. Could it be a new bike? Maybe an xbox 360? Your mind wanders while your heart races in anticipation for Christmas day. Christmas day comes along and your parents, still excited, hand you a present. You open it, and it turns out to be a football, not a bike, Xbox, etc. Are your parents at fault? They were excited with what they got for you. They figured you'd be excited too, but you weren't. Is that their fault or yours?
I think that the Press and Apple fans who felt let down are like that boy. They dreamed up all kinds of ideas on getting something dreamy, like a 10lb iPod that microwaves your lunch and can make you fly. But instead they got a "football".
Honestly, if people had not been speculating, they wouldn't not have been burned by their own expectations. That being said, it is clear to see that Apple did nothing wrong.
And the moral is: Stop acting like a spoiled child and go play with your football!!! :-)
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