whmurray
Well-known member
Bad, I am going to argue that it is not just the updates, that sets Apple apart from their competitors, it is the ease with which they can be applied. Apple planned for updates while for Palm they were an after thought. Apple tells me three different ways that an update is available while Palm left it to me to discover. Apple says, "Our programmers do it once but the customers must do it over and over. Let's make it easy." Apple spends the time on the last ten percent of the function that makes it elegant.That my friend is exactly what separates Apple from the rest. Updates. The device is not perfect no, but tell me one device that is perfect... No Treo, Windows Mobile phone, BlackBerry, etc...
How often does a firmware update come out to improve those devices? Not often. Apple is making an effort to keep improving the iPhone. And yes I've owned them all and still do.
Apple does things the way that you are led to expect when you see the elegant design, elegant stores, and elegant packaging.
Remember all the whining about the rumored activation process the week before the release of the 3G. I bought my 3G from an AT&T store on Saturday, day 2. I admit, I had to stand in line for about 15 minutes just to get in the store However, from the time stamp on instant messages to my sister, I was in the store exactly 5 minutes. During the time that I stood in line, managers came out of the store, counted the number of buyers in the line, and assured us that there was adequate inventory to meet our requirements.
One of the applications that I held on to my Treo for was the e-reader. However, the implementation on the iPhone just blows the Treo implementation away. I was in a book store in Austin, TX with my nephew, saw a book that I liked on the shelf. It took me about the same amount of time to purchase it and download it from ereader.com as it would have taken me to check out of the store. (I admit that I miss the little green beacon on my Treo that helped me find it amidst the covers in the dark.)
Palm sells the product; Apple sells the experience. Some people say that Apple hovers over its customers like a helicopter mom but Palm abandons theirs. Better spoiled than orphaned.