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Holtz Communications + Technology

Shel Holtz
Communicating at the Intersection of Business and Technology
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More bad press for Apple

While Microsoft’s image slowly turns around, aided by its employee bloggers and the connection they establish with customers, Apple’s continues to deteriorate. The company steadfastly refuses to inch into the world of social media or acknowledge the shift in customer expectations. The latest example comes from Dan Gillmor, who discovered a flaw in the 15-inch PowerBook G4: The USB 2.0 port doesn’t have enough juice to power peripherals. After getting no help using traditional channels, Gillmor found a long-lived message board thread on the topic populated by equqlly frustrated customers. Steve Jobs seems to think Apple can survive on its core cult-like following, top-flight product design (masking mediocre products), and the dominance of the iPod. These factors may keep Apple from suffering the consequences of failing to acknowledge the rise of the social customer, but nobody is immune.

08/17/05 | 15 Comments | More bad press for Apple

Comments

  • 1.I wonder how many years it will take until it is discovered that there's "payola" in the blog world. "Prominent" bloggers suddenly decide to go against a company because the competitor starts paying them...

    and all of the sudden there's "more bad press for Apple."

    Neema Agha | August 2005

  • 2.So, you think someone is paying Dan Gillmor to relay his experience? Or make it up? That's a pretty serious accusation. Any evidence to support it?

    Shel Holtz | August 2005 | Concord, CA

  • 3.I think that every news medium has been exploited in the past and I see no reason why blogs would be immune to such exploitation. After all, people are still susceptible to the lure of easy money.

    It's easy to see - Apple getting lots of good press over the past year. Microsoft getting lots of bad press. Put out some "employee" bloggers to dish out MS propaganda and give "incentives" to get other bloggers to stop saying bad things.

    I don't have evidence but it's there... it will just take time for it to come out. Soon, people will treat blogs with the same skeptical lenses that they view other news channels.

    Neema Agha | August 2005

  • 4."Neema Agha", what a typical brainwashed Maczealot. He'd believe in the flat Earth sooner than accepting that Holy Steve or Apple would ever make mistake. Maczealots always remind me of Jehova's Witnesses.

    Sebhelyesfarku | August 2005

  • 5.Shel, Macolytes are immune to any news that challenges their view that Apple can do no wrong. Libeling people is a pretty stupid way to show loyalty, however.

    Dan Gillmor | August 2005

  • 6.I consider myself a Mac follower, but I also realize that they are missing the boat with social media, just as I realized that they missed the boat with CD/RW years ago (among other things).

    The issue is control. Now that they are successful again, they want to control too much. It could very well be their downfall.

    Apple serves an important role in the computer industry as an innovator and an alternative platform. I hope someone with some influence at Apple realizes their need to engage rather than dictate. It's amazing that a company can have such a following without providing real opportunities for involvement.

    Britt | August 2005

  • 7.In her editorial, ?Resistance is futile? in the just-released August 2005 issue of Strategy magazine (bold vision brand new ideas), Lisa D?Innocenzo begins with the words, ?Sometimes even Apple gets it wrong. Or does it??

    D?Innocenzo then goes on to talk about Wired?s recent article (?Think Belligerent?), plus quotes Andrew Potter (co-author of The Rebel Sell) on Apple?s image, branding and infamous need to control, despite the ??dramatic shift. One where the consumer has been able to find his/her public voice, thanks to the emergence of alternative media?. Even more disturbing to the conservative brand manager is the notion that the individual feels s/he has earned the right to take ownership of the brand.?

    Check it out for yourself at http://www.strategymag.com/articles/magazine/20050801/editorial.html.

    Judy Gombita | August 2005

  • 8.I'm on my way to read it now, Judy. I find that last quote interesting, though, since I don't believe organizations EVER own their brands. They own their marks and logos, but "brand" is entirely a perception owned by the consumer/customer. How I feel when I see your logo or hear your company or product/service names -- THAT's the brand!

    Shel Holtz | August 2005 | Concord, CA

  • 9.Since when did one person's blog recital about his bad experience with an Apple product constitute "more bad press?"

    And there's nothing presented as direct evidence that Apple is out of compliance with USB 2, which is industry standard. Furthermore, Apple can't be tethered to third party manufactures who may offer peripheral devices that are not in strict compliance with USB 2 specifications.

    Making mountains out of molehills is easy sitting behind a typewriter.

    Terry Murphy | August 2005

  • 10.Terry, it's bad press when people start to cover it. And I didn't read anything about "compliance," just a rash of consumer questions and concerns to which Apple did not respond or, seemingly, take seriously.

    I'm an Apple customer myself -- more than one product (a PowerBook G4 and an iPod), but the company is not incapable of crummy business practices.

    Shel Holtz | August 2005 | Concord, CA

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