Saturday, January 13, 2007
Simplicity
I've read articles and listened to speakers talk about the reasons for Apple's success narrowing down to the fact that while every manufacturer and developer tries to add new features, Apple is able to actually throw out features and just make sure it (whatever it is) performs the basics and does it well. Basically, Apple is simple. The iPod doesn't have the features of a Creative, Microsoft, or whoever else. But it works
I realized that this was more than an Apple thing after I spent more than a day putting up icicle Christmas lights on the house, only to have the whole family come out and say, "It's too cluttered." It was the exact same layout that we had done the past three or four years, yet I agreed. This year it looked too cluttered. I actually took down all of the lights and put up simple, elegant bulbs (satin finish globes). It looks very simple and everyone liked it. So I've been trying to figure out why it is that we're moving towards simplicity and away from features. Here are two possibilities:
1. The more features, the more confused. We simply can't figure out how to work it or get it to do what we know it's supposed to be able to do. So we get tangled up in the icicle lights or end up yelling, "Just play the dumb song" at our knock off brand MP3 player.
2. The Wal-mart effect. Wal-mart has made things more affordable. As a result, we are buying more things and lower income families can afford more things. A couple starting out can actually furnish their kitchen with appliances to make their life easier. Parents can afford to get their children cool and fun toys, including electronics. And Christmas decorations, especially including those giant inflatable air pumped things that everyone has on their lawns, became affordable. Not long ago, it seemed like putting more and more things out on your lawn and roof for Christmas showed that you could afford it. Now, it might seem like you're buying all of your Christmas decorations at Walmart (I have no trouble buying them there). So, now cluttered and more features doesn't mean that you can afford it, it might mean that you're shopping where things are made cheaply. iPod is more expensive with less features.
It could be a combination. What really drove this post was my recent purchase of the Creative Zen Vision W (which I love), the announcement of the iPhone, and my decision that I never wanted to put up an inflatable air pumped Christmas lawn decoration and I didn't know why. Other theories are welcome.
I realized that this was more than an Apple thing after I spent more than a day putting up icicle Christmas lights on the house, only to have the whole family come out and say, "It's too cluttered." It was the exact same layout that we had done the past three or four years, yet I agreed. This year it looked too cluttered. I actually took down all of the lights and put up simple, elegant bulbs (satin finish globes). It looks very simple and everyone liked it. So I've been trying to figure out why it is that we're moving towards simplicity and away from features. Here are two possibilities:
1. The more features, the more confused. We simply can't figure out how to work it or get it to do what we know it's supposed to be able to do. So we get tangled up in the icicle lights or end up yelling, "Just play the dumb song" at our knock off brand MP3 player.
2. The Wal-mart effect. Wal-mart has made things more affordable. As a result, we are buying more things and lower income families can afford more things. A couple starting out can actually furnish their kitchen with appliances to make their life easier. Parents can afford to get their children cool and fun toys, including electronics. And Christmas decorations, especially including those giant inflatable air pumped things that everyone has on their lawns, became affordable. Not long ago, it seemed like putting more and more things out on your lawn and roof for Christmas showed that you could afford it. Now, it might seem like you're buying all of your Christmas decorations at Walmart (I have no trouble buying them there). So, now cluttered and more features doesn't mean that you can afford it, it might mean that you're shopping where things are made cheaply. iPod is more expensive with less features.
It could be a combination. What really drove this post was my recent purchase of the Creative Zen Vision W (which I love), the announcement of the iPhone, and my decision that I never wanted to put up an inflatable air pumped Christmas lawn decoration and I didn't know why. Other theories are welcome.
Labels: christmas shopping, simple, walmart
