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Apple vs. Economics

I think that Apple’s future product lines should focus on a less is more philosophy. I am not saying that they should offer less, but that they should try and make do with less. For example, it has been widely speculated that the next major iMac revision will have an LCD screen. I think that the screen used for this iMac should be the same model as is currently being used in the PowerBook G4.


I think that Apple’s future product lines should focus on a less is more philosophy. I am not saying that they should offer less, but that they should try and make do with less. For example, it has been widely speculated that the next major iMac revision will have an LCD screen. I think that the screen used for this iMac should be the same model as is currently being used in the PowerBook G4.

In one way this makes good economic sense and in another it makes good aesthetic / consumer marketability sense. Another thing that I think Apple should do is standardized the CD/CD-RW/DVD setup. In the iBook and G4’s is a tray loading system, in the PowerBook G4 and iMac is a slot loading system, I’m thinking that using one system would be cheaper to produce in the long run than using different ones. This is what I mean by less is more – not less features, just less initial costs.

In Canada right now, as I’m sure it is in the United States, there is much financial trouble within the airline industry. Just this week, the countries second biggest carrier has filed for bankruptcy protection and grounded its planes. However, there is a small company called WestJet Airlines that is apparently still profitable during these dark times.

Westjet only uses Boeing 737-200’s in their fleet, thus mechanics only have to know how to fix one kind of plane and parts can be easily swapped (!) from one aircraft to another should the need arise. Less is more. I’m sure that this is not the only reason for this companies continued success, but I’ll bet that it doesn’t hurt.

By Jason O'Grady

Founded the PowerPage in 1995.