One of the most common mistakes that entrepreneurs make when they launch a start-up is trying to do too much. Thinking about starting a pedicure shop for dogs? Maybe it's best to put off the canine bakery/juice bar until you actually generate positive cash flow. Have ten so-so products you'd like to launch? Why not start by releasing the one consumers-can't-live-without-it product you've got and roll the rest out over time?
You get the point. And it's one worth remembering. It's an impulse that even large, successful businesses can fall victim to—with the same, predictably bad result. To wit: in a leaked email from Steve Jobs to Apple employees, he admits that maybe launching the 3G iPhone, along with iPhone 2.0 software, the App Store, and MobileMe maybe wasn't such a great idea:
"It was a mistake to launch MobileMe at the same time as iPhone 3G, iPhone 2.0 software and the App Store. We all had more than enough to do, and MobileMe could have been delayed without consequence."
While sales of the iPhone have been excellent, Apple's MobileMe has been plagued with bugs and outages since day one, prompting the Washington Post to proclaim that "Apple Bites Off More Than It Can chew" and ZDNet to exclaim, "Shut Down MobileMe Immediately." Them's fighting words—but they could have been avoided if Apple had simply rolled out the iPhone and its new goodies, followed by MobileMe when it was ready. Er, Steve Jobs, take note.
(Via Ars Technica)
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Part of me wonders if this is an attempt by apple to manufacture some false sense of stability in the Microsoft software systems. MobileMe is essentially a more grandiose gateway into the Microsoft Exchange server. If they release nearly EVERYTHING else without bug... what's the deal? Microsoft's SDK is very approachable and developer-friendly.
Apple's claim is that they tried to do too much at once. Why is it they always seem to screw up with windows? Even iTunes lacks the functionality and stability of the same on OSX.
I think Apple is playing a dangerous game of "Screw the User".
—matteo
18:28, August 6th, 2008
As a person who returned my first generation iPhone after two weeks due to hardware malfunction, and who was issued a second 3G iPhone yesterday due to hardware/software issues, I nonetheless believe that the Washington Post and this blog post is incorrect. Both of these criticisms reek of hindsight bias.
One feature of Apple's business model that is incredibly successful is that they actually understand what "synergy" means. They have continually demonstrated how different products (both hardware and software) can work together to support each other in the marketplace. That is precisely why they are so dominant right now.
If you were Steve Jobs who wasn't looking back at the release of the 3G, but instead looking forward to its release, would you suggest that the super successful app store be canceled? Would you suggest that they don't offer the 2.0 update? Which products would you cancel, and why? Only in hindsight does Mobile Me look like the outlier who should have been shelved. Unfortunately the arrow of time runs in only one direct.
—mjandri
17:20, August 6th, 2008
You're too kind.
—richard
19:03, August 5th, 2008
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