[kwlug-disc] peoples' thoughts on apple, adobe and flash?

[Andrew Kohlsmith (mailing lists account)]

On Friday 30 April 2010 11:24:05 pm unsolicited wrote:
> Oh, Andrew, you've fallen into that all too common trap - Apple isn't
> selling 'hardware' it's selling a 'solution'! It's not just selling a
> device, it's selling the complete environment surrounding it - and
> once they have your money, you can never leave!

I am not sure which trap I've fallen in to. Any device is more than its 
components. How many people buy a major appliance without a warranty? Would 
you buy a vehicle without feeling that you could either get a warranty/support 
for it, or without knowing you could buy parts for it?

I would posit that most people buy the iPhone because it is a device with a 
very good UI, a standardized place to buy applications and pretty much 
everything in it just works.

When did Linux become "mainstream" (some would argue it isn't yet)? I argue 
that it became wildly popular when Ubuntu came along and started really 
standardizing the distribution.

Most people don't buy (or use) a device in a vacuum.

And again, please keep in mind that I am not saying that Apple should have the 
right to prevent me from doing what I want with the hardware. I am saying that 
Apple's strict control over the interface is one of the most important factors 
in providing what I claim most people buy it for.

I certainly didn't say that Apple has a right to lock you in to their 
platform. I would appreciate if you could show me where I've indicated 
anything along this line.

> Then I thought ... well ... isn't Android breaking this model? 'Open
> software', closed hardware. Will, and how, will that ripple out?

Android suffers from the problem I described in my first email on the subject. 
You either play to the lowest common denominator of all devices for a given 
Android version, or you fragment your software base. You can't have both.

-A.