The idea of a product warranty is fairly simple: a company “warrants†that, should their product fail in a specified period of time and circumstances, they will repair or replace it, telling the consumer what level of reliability they should expect. In short, a warranty is all about confidence. But when does a warranty become a confidence game?
Apple
The Myths of Standardization
I certainly benefit from standardization of the world around me, and I welcome interoperability and interchangeability as well as the price and product selection advantages. But I am not blithely focused on standardization above all else. I will happily use a proprietary solution if the alternative is inelegant, ineffective, or insufficient.
In Search of the Perfect USB Cable
You wouldn’t know it from hefting my backpack, but I’m always looking to lighten my load with clever, compact, versatile cables. With so many devices now using USB for both data and power, I’m always on the lookout for nifty new cables. Here’s a quick overview of a few cables that I found useful recently.
A Nerve-Racking Revolution at the Apple Store
A guy walks to the back of the second floor, pulls a brand-new iPhone bumper off the shelf, fiddles with his iPhone, opens the package at one of the yellow wood tables, fits the bumper to his phone, and walks out of the store. This is the new retail experience preferred by Apple, but it’s pretty terrifying to a regular shopper like me!
The Downward Spiral: How Economic Pressure Turns Commodities to Junk
I am certainly not the first person to notice the peculiar “race to the bottom†that happens when products are commoditized. But it is been much in my thoughts recently as I observed the annual tragedy of holiday price wars. How can a company economically produce a DVD player, tablet computer, or even a string of Christmas lights at the prices we see today?
