[opendtv] Re: TV Prices Fall, Squeezing Most Makers and Sellers

  • From: "Mike Tsinberg" <Mike@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: <opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • Date: Sat, 31 Dec 2011 11:59:27 -0500

I am viewing Apple closed shop in view of US jobs and US competitiveness. I 
agree open model bring prices down for consumer and allow more players that 
should be a good thing except with an open model and absence of protection 
tariffs in the US we lose our industries and our jobs to overseas very fast. It 
will be less of an issue if all our trading partners drop tariffs. However,  it 
seems only US has no tariffs while all others protect themselves effectively. 

 

Mike Tsinberg

 <http://keydigital.com> http://keydigital.com

 

From: opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:opendtv-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On 
Behalf Of Bert
Sent: Saturday, December 31, 2011 4:40 AM
To: opendtv@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [opendtv] Re: TV Prices Fall, Squeezing Most Makers and Sellers

 

Mike Tsinberg wrote:

 

> In my opinion the reason Apple still has technological edge is

> because of their policy of holding all parts of system under strict control:

> software, hardware, and iTunes portal. Unfortunately for open standards

> based products such as TV's, Blu Ray players, and DVD players the

> innovation disappeared from US and became no margin competition

> driven from Asia.

 

Instead, I think that the closed shop nature of Apple is why their prices are 
considerably higher than the technology they actually embody would justify. 
I’ve never thought that Apple had a technology advantage. Arguably, an 
ergonomic advantage perhaps, ease of use perhaps (because of the vertical 
orientation of the company), and a certain fashion sense. That was Steve Jobs’ 
genius.

 

Thin profit margins are a sign of healthy competition. That’s supposed to be a 
good thing, for the consumer anyway. Standards that support interoperability 
are also supposed to be a good thing. Lavish profit margins are the sign of 
niche, fashionable products, that can support the price premium, as long as 
they remain fashionable. Very much like Sony a few short years ago.

 

Imagine if every industry went with the closed shop model of Apple. Nothing 
interoperates. Everything you buy MUST come from a particular source. Prices 
can be set wherever the single supplier decides. It would be miserable. As long 
as it’s just for personal, hand held gadgets, at least we can be thankful for 
that.

 

Bert

Other related posts:

  1. Home
  2. opendtv
  3. Archive
  4. 12-2011