Apple, Creative, Microsoft? (some random thoughts)

With all the technology hype going around these 2 weeks, I cannot help but to pen down some of my thoughts.

Why doesn't Creative products support the Macintosh platform?

To answer the first question, you have to read what is happening behind the 'scenes'. Then you will understand that it takes both hands to clap. If one party is trying to protect itself and thus try to isolate itself, too bad.

Creative is only a fragment of the size of Apple - in terms of capital. It's a case of David and Goliath - then Goliath decided not to fight - and so all assumed that Goliath will win even if there's a fight, cos Goliath is bigger than Dave.

Now that Apple has no choice but to switch to Intel chips, consumers can potentially install Windows OS in their 'macs' instead of using OSX. So the good news is that PC users can finally experience the coolness of carrying an Apple hardware, with "Intel and Windows inside". Don't have to learn new OS to be 'cool' anymore .

Fact: About 90% of the world uses PCs.

So would Apple decide to just drop the MacOS and concentrate on its hardware sales? No one knows for sure. Apple always like to surprise, and the public loves surprises. Not bad ones though. and Apple has its fair share of 'abandoning its ships and crewmen'.

Fact: Bill Gates and Sim Wong Hoo have more philanhropic traits than Steve Jobs.

Bill and Melinda Gates were named "Persons of the Year" alongside U2's Bono by Times magazine. (link)
Sim Wong Hoo was named "China Charitarian" by China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF) (link - u gotta scroll down a little) and set up a "Hardship Assistance Scheme" for retrenched staff in 2001 (link)
Steve Jobs made a phone call to the parents of the kid who got killed because of an iPod. (link)

My point is: are we 'inward-looking' or 'outward-looking'? While some people may argue that these people did it to get tax relief or free advertising or whatever reason, but I'd rather give them the benefit of doubt. Cos I know while I may buy a product that may be more inferior-looking than its rival, I somehow know that the company I support believes in realistic values. I mean, the only winning-edge that Apple has is it's cool design = artistic depth. What about overall performance? What about practicality? What about down-to-earth?

So isn't it time for the consumers, who don't have to think of "Where do I sleep tomorrow?" or "Will I get water to drink later?", to take few days of the new year to ponder on our own lives, and check our lives to see if we've been led astray by Steve's skillful speeches?

Wake up, O superficial creatures, and look deeper into the meaning of life, than trying to be a copy of U2, Carrie Bradshaw or Steve Jobs. Cool ain't cool anymore when EVERYbody carries the same white mp3 player. Life is define by yourself, not by others.