Tech Pundits Defend Apple’s Assault on Consumers
It’s been a week since Apple announced its entry in to the tablet computing space. The iPad is a very cool sleek device. But after all is said and done the iPad cannot be elevated beyond a very big slightly more powerful iPod Touch. It runs the same OS and runs the same applications. The only difference is that it is larger and has contract-free 3G. That’s it.
Apple did add the iBook Store to their mix of media distribution channels and in doing so has harmed consumers. MacMillan Publishers, Ltd. struck a deal with Apple where MacMillan books will cost consumers $15 in the iBook Store instead of $9.99 on Amazon’s Kindle. Amazon in an attempt to bring this to the bright light of day temporarily removed all MacMillan books from their store before announcing they will reluctantly continue to sell MacMillan books at the higher price. Amazon realistically can’t exclude MacMillan because they are one of the world’s largest publishers. Then the tech pundits went after Amazon.
Too many in the tech podcast and blog space are blinded by Apple’s ability to make cool and sleek devices. I guess that’s what makes it possible for them to declare Amazon’s move as anti-consumer. Usually competition brings lower prices to consumers. If, when Amazon was essentially alone in the e-book market prices were lower and when Apple decided to enter the market prices went higher, shouldn’t these same tech pundits be skewering Apple? Simply because Apple decided to sell e-books consumers now will have to pay $4 to $5 more per book. How is this good for consumers?
From all the coverage of which I’ve been listening and reading the most egregious offenders are those heard on Mac Break Weekly. Namely Leo Laporte, Andy Ihnatko, Merlin Mann and Chris Breen on Mac Break Weekly number 178. I can’t put any blame on Alex Lindsay because he wasn’t on the show this week.
I know it’s an Apple fan show but all these guys are professionals and should be able to see outside the Steve Jobs/Apple distortion field.
Listen to Mac Break Weekly number 178 and decide for yourself.
Then read this balanced blog post by Ben Parr on Mashable
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Twitter- It’s been a week since Apple announced its entry in to the tablet computing space. The iPad is a very cool sleek device. But after all is said and done the iPad cannot be elevated beyond a very big slightly more powerful iPod Touch. It runs the same OS and runs the same applications. The [...]
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The brand-new Ipod nano seems fabulous! And $149 for an 8 GB is pretty damn good. Look at the size of it! But I might go for an Ipod Touch and get all the additional Iphone 4 capabilities.