Today Apple became the most valuable publicly traded company of all time. Not bad for the once “beleaguered” company which has been declared dead more times than pretty much any other company.
Here’s a quick history of the company pre-iPhone:
And here’s a quick visual look at of a few of Apple’s computers over the years:
Given his recent passing, I thought I would put up a poll on what product represents Steve Jobs’ greatest accomplishment:
I know it’s already been linked from Slashdot, but this interview with former Apple CEO John Sculley over on Cult of Mac is fascinating reading. It talks about Steve Jobs design-centric perspective, and how it’s lead to every important Apple product. Required reading for anyone interested in high tech, design, or business.
After years of shilling for Microsoft and predicting Apple’s demise, only to see Apple pass Microsoft in market cap, Rob Enderle finally changes his mind and admits that Apple’s success is due to superior attention to detail and producing products people actually want to use.
Ha, just kidding. He says Apple’s success is due to spies at Microsoft deliberately sabotaging Steve Ballmer’s awesome genius. In truth, his column is actually stupider than it sounds, since some of the Microsoft technologies he holds up as being killed off by other Microsoft initiatives (like PlaysForSure) are among those that most consumers hated. It’s a veritable goulash of Microsoft-worship, Apple-bashing, paranoia, historical revisionism, and general cluelessness. In short: vintage Enderle.
In closing, I’ve often thought that companies could use an executive in charge of the “don’t do stupid stuff” department whose job is — wait for it — to make sure firms don’t do stupid stuff.
Like taking advice from Rob Enderle.
(Hat tip: Mike.)
Today Apple’s market capitalization passed Microsoft’s.
From the mid-1990s death spiral to King of the Tech World following the return of Steve Jobs is perhaps the most impressive business turn-around story…well, possibly ever.
In light of that, let’s take a moment to reflect on the awesome prognostication skills of one Rob Enderle, head of “The Enderle Group.” (Presumably he has a cat.) If you are unfamiliar with Mr. Enedrle’s work, he is the man who has predicted the demise of Apple more frequently than any other pundit. Let us sample the fruits of Mr. Enderle’s unparalleled insight, shall we?
Which such startling powers of prophecy, Mr. Enderle is wasting his time as a tech pundit. He should be using his extraordinary powers in Las Vegas, where I’m sure he would soon amass a fortune the likes of which this world has never seen…