Apple Vs. Google: I’ll Stick With Apple
Seems the competition between Google and Apple is heating up, with a New York Times article reporting some increasing behind-the-scenes rivalry, specifically around Android.
Which naturally got me thinking: if hypothetically forced to choose between Apple and Google — without hesitation — I’d go with the former.
Tally of what’s before me right now: two Mac Minis, MacBook, Apple TV, iPhone, Airport Extreme, several iPods. Running Safari and iTunes (loaded with music, iPhone apps, rentals, and TV shows from Apple). Typing this article in Notational Velocity.
In my world, for all the great things Google has done, it’s still primarily, just a website. Gmail is a great email service, but I could switch to .Mac since I download all my mail into Apple’s Mail app every day. I still use Safari and Firefox more than Chrome. I can’t imagine giving up the iPhone for a Google one. I regularly use Docs and Reader, but can think of equivalents to switch to. Buzz and Wave are amusing diversions with lots of potential, but simultaneously, disappointments.
Google Search is the one thing that would be a little difficult to give up, but I could do it (hello *cough* Bing). But this underlines a general feeling that Google’s only clear success so far, has been search. All else has been interesting, but certainly nothing comparable to Apple’s string of successes: Apple II, Macintosh, iPod, OS X, iPhone, iTunes, App Store.
And the choice becomes clearer when getting down to dollars and cents: I’d estimate last year, what with the purchase of a new Mac Mini, Airport Extreme, iPhone apps, music, TV rentals, Mac software updates, etc. — several thousand dollars were handed to Apple. There may as a well be an “Apple Tax” where I set aside pre-tax dollars directly to Apple. Kind of like a flexible spending account for Apple addicts. I literally start each year with a budget for Apple products (this year, iPad and new iPhone).
Meanwhile, I haven’t paid a single red cent to Google. I can’t think of a single Google product or service I’d pay for. If Google started charging money for Gmail: bye bye. I’m currently paying for a Mobile Me subscription for no clear reason whatsoever; I should start using it.
This thought clarifies how dedicated I am to Apple: I’m paying $100 for Mobile Me, which I hardly use. Suppose Google started charging $100 a year for Gmail, Reader, Buzz, Chrome, Docs, and Wave? Without hesitation, I would find free alternatives.
I need Apple. I like Google, but definitely do not “need” them, any more than Microsoft.
And I just thought of another use of Google: Adsense to display the nonsensical ads on this here blog. The occasional checks are generally speaking, sent directly to Apple in exchange all their cool products.
There’s some odd justice in that — robbing Schmidt to pay Jobs.
Well, technically.. Yeah I hate to be this guy. But technically, you are paying Google. Viewing those ads all over the web. The accidental mis-click when you click on one of them. Even the small cheques you get from them — they’re of course keeping a percentage of the $ you make by running adsense. Even by using those apps (gmail, reader, blah blah blah) you’re increasing the # of users, which the marketing + sales folks will use to pitch people (and justify rate hikes in selling ads).
I love Apple. I have who knows how many iPods, an iMac, a MacBook Pro, Mobile Me (which like you, I don’t even use) I’m going to suffer through the line at the 5th Ave Apple Store in NYC to pick up my pre-ordered iPad…
But Google is SO integrated w/ my online life. Adsense to make $, Analytics to track website stats, feedburner, webmaster tools.. My site(s) rank higher for nearly every post in Google than in Yahoo or Bing (which is the biggest reason I’m able to make a living blogging).… it feels like the list is endless. Now add in my gmail account being the ONLY one I really use, Reader is hands down the only way I’ll read RSS, Gcal is my ONLY calendar (I don’t even bother to have it imported to iCal). Docs I’m using more and more every month and I haven’t used a search engine other than Google in who knows how many years.
Now add in the fact that all of these services are handled by single-sign on. No having to keep track a zillion logins and passwords. They’re all very seamlessly integrated. If I had to switch every service to a different one (and there are other services for every single Google related thing I use) it’d be a nightmare.
So at the end of the day — I’m sold on Google. To the point where I did buy a “Google Phone” (the G1) and will almost certainly get the Nexus sometime soon’ish. If Google decided to charge for Analytics or Gmail or whatever, I’d pay. Might not be thrilled at the idea, but I would.
No problem if you are “that guy;” it’s always nice to get other people’s opinions on what tools they use. You’re definitely using more Google services than I am. I didn’t mention Google Calendar as I primarily use: you guessed it, iCal.
Definitely agree on search and ads, as mentioned before, that’s one place I find the most value. But since I don’t earn a living through this blog, I actually could ax the ads. Don’t use analytics.
None of the above means I’m about to actually pull the plug on Google — just that in the thought experiment, my mind still has 1) Apple, 2) Google.
I definitely liked things better when Apple and Google were playing nice with each other. This is like choosing between the “greater of two goods” if there is such a thing.
It’s getting tougher to budget all the Apple upgrades every year. It was bad enough getting a new Mac. Now, I’m going to have to upgrade the Mac, the iPhone, and the iPad? At least I stopped having to buy a new iPod every year; the old iPod Classic is still doing a great job in the car.
And good thing Apple seems to be staggering release dates on the different classes of products.
I think 90% of Google users would drop all of their services in a heartbeat if Google started charging. Why? Not because those services aren’t worth money. But because they trained us all to think they they should be free. Apple very wisely gives away almost nothing for free. Even with Snow Leopard, they charged a small fee, because they want people to think of their products as having real, tangible value. They have fewer users that way, but their users are 1,000 times more loyal, as you demonstrate in this article very nicely.
One of the reasons Apple has been purging the App Store of “crap apps” in recent weeks, I think, is because it doesn’t want to devalue the App Store’s inherent value to consumers. That’s dangerous territory, because it could scare off developers at a crucial time in the App Store’s adolescence. But it isn’t necessarily crazy for Apple to want to keep the Store filled with valuable products, rather than junk.
Google is in real trouble, if you ask me. And no one seems to notice yet. It has bitten off way more than it can chew with Android, Buzz, Chrome OS, etc. And it’s going to get hit sooner or later by a second dot com bust with the ad revenue.
Great point about “free” eventually causing problems if you ever hope to charge the end user. Apple’s done a great job of charging for everything from software to entertainment, but also pricing things appropriately — always a little above what I personally feel comfortable — but not prohibitive. And there’s always high value in return.
I wouldn’t go so far as to say Google is in trouble, but it does seem like they are developing a pattern of having interesting ideas that get messed up in execution. Really smart people building technically good products, but missing that understanding of what the consumer actually wants at the end of the day. They then apply that release early, iterate often strategy, but I personally can’t say that’s produced much better products than Apple’s.
What could end up a strategic mistake is trying to compete directly with Apple, while already competing with Microsoft and Facebook. It’s like they want to compete with everyone in Silicon Valley simultaneously. A sure way to waste resources. Every acquisition by those companies, every new product, Google will now be expected to answer.
I suspect that you’re part of a dwindling majority. I run a Mac at home, but everything else (phone) is Google. I don’t touch iTunes, ICal, iPhone, iThis or iThat. I don’t like Apple’s control over the user experience. (I do appreciate how well it makes things work, but that’s not the be all and end all to me ) But it’s not just me…
Google is chipping away at Apple on so many fronts. As you tally those devices in front of you, think about how many feel the same way about the few Google _products_ they own. Then think about the fact that Google does something Apple is afraid to do: license software. In some ways, Apple is making the same kinds of mistakes that it made in the past, as did NeXT, as has Sun, as has SGI, and so many other *NIX manufacturers. Google has chosen an approach that’s more like Microsoft’s approach — ensure that their software is on /everything/ — This is a proven, successful strategy. Again, Apple’s strategy seems to have been proven to be a long term failure.
And, to top it off, Steve Jobs is becoming a serious liability, on several different levels. (not the least of which is the lack of a clear successor)
So…go ahead..your short term money is well placed in APPL. You won’t lose there. Apple makes great products, and leads the mobile industry. And will for some time to come, too.
But, for those of you with your money in long term, you’d probably be foolish to leave it in APPL. You’ll come out ahead enough to be (:comfortably) short APPL when it starts to sink.
And remember.…GOOG doesn’t give ANYTHING away for free. They just don’t send the bill to the users. They send the bill to the advertisers. The users don’t get the product for free.….they give away information. Valuable information. And truly, in information technology, information is king, not technology. Facebook is Google’s only real competitor in the information business.
Because Google’s business ISN’T software, or hardware but ADVERTISING, they DON’T have to answer every acquisition, every product, or anything many of these apparent competitors to Google’s products do. They only have to answer:
1) Other Ad networks (Facebook will become huge here!)
2) Any product that provides a true path to enhancing their advertising revenue stream. — If a “competitor” releases a product that is presumed to not generate significant ad revenue OR user associated information, then why should they compete?
I think that really to understand the potential of Google, you have to take the longer term view of the information they’re collecting. Not just the information about you and me as individuals, but the information about all of humankind. Google Earth/Maps…Think about all the information being generated on those maps, not just through the data being placed on them, but by HOW the people interact with them. As we delve into that data, we discover insights into human behavior that become valuable for not only the return it gives us on the advertising dollars, but valuable for the expansion of the human knowledge base. I contrast this to Apple which is more concerned about delivering popular entertainment. I’ll point here to the staying power of real knowledge versus that of entertainment fads. I say it doesn’t bode well for the long term viability of Apple.
Fear not though. Apples still makes great products. And will till the day that they’re swallowed up. And, if you invested in them…you may see their purchaser split a couple times shortly after that purchase (Apple is that good).
But…if I was going to buy shares today that I wasn’t allowed to touch for 10 years.….I wouldn’t buy Apple.
Good points. Specifically, you bring up Google’s licensing vs. Apple’s tendency toward control, which in a sense is a replay of the whole PC clones vs Mac OS situation of decades ago. We’ll see if the end result is the same.
I don’t agree with entertainment being a fad. Music and movies have been around for centuries and Apple’s latching onto both starting with the iPod were genius moves. They’re highly addictive, just like caffeine in Starbuck’s coffee. The particular artists are faddish, but the medium and the devices to play them on will always be a business.
No question that collection the world’s information is a huge deal. I do believe that Facebook will give Goog a serious run for its money in the years to come. And Facebook is creating more of a walled garden relative to Google’s approach.
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