The New York Times has posted a slick little feature on the effect of Jobs on Apple, and they echo the point I made the other day:
Apple came up with some amazing products without Jobs, and will do so after he is long gone, but they have to keep the product line clean and clear.
The feature highlights a fact that I had forgotten: In 1993 alone, Apple releases 19 new machines. Here’s a bit from the Times in 1993:
The new machines include the first color model in the style of a single-unit computer and video monitor like the original Macintosh. The new Macintosh Color Classic model includes a 10-inch Sony Trinitron screen and will have a suggested retail price of $1,389. The line also includes the first color model in Apple’s popular line of portables, called the Powerbook 165C, which will sell for $3,395.
Apple will also show a new model in its LC line, the LC III, which is a lower-priced color machine primarily intended for education, home and small business; a new line called Centris, aimed at mainstream business users and intended to replace most of the Mac II line, and a new Quadra, the 800, aimed at people who use Macintoshes for demanding production work, like magazine layout.
Simple has always worked for Apple. And it will continue to work for them in the future.