The Return of the Apple Toaster. Is Apple Doomed to Repeat History?
Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent comment that "You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not gonna be pleasing to the user" sounded awfully familiar.
Probably because Apple's Jon Rubinstein said something similiar in 2005:
"Is there a toaster that can also brew coffee?," quipped the iPod chief during an interview with Germany's Berline Online. Answering his own question, Rubinstein explains that no such device exists because it would not provide any benefits over an individual toaster and coffee machine.
"Many companies believe in [the convergence theory], but I personally do not," said Rubinstein. "It's important to have specialized devices."
In fact, Rubinstein believes the iPod, cell phone, and digital camera will all continue to thrive in their individual markets for at least another decade. -- Apple Insider (2005)
Rubinstein was dead wrong with the iPhone becoming a major hit. Tim Cook's prediction could also be following down the same path if Windows 8 hybrid devices and tablets take off this fall. It seems silly to me that people leaving their house have to ask themselves, "Should I take my tablet or laptop?" Shouldn't people have the choice to have one device that does both?
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