A casual chat with a friend the other day took me down a rabbit hole while rewinding back and reliving one of tech history’s most fascinating timelines. The story of how timing made all the difference between winning, losing, and completely missing the bus.
I still remember the smirk on Steve Ballmer’s face in 2007 when the iPhone launched. To him, it was just an expensive toy. A year later, Google entered with Android. And Microsoft? They were still busy somewhere else, only to turn up with Windows Phone in 2010 — three years late to a party where the dance floor was already full.
This isn’t the first time we’ve seen such a script. Back in 1984, Apple launched the Macintosh — revolutionary but pricey. Bill Gates spotted the gap, came in with Windows in 1985, and paired it with cheap IBM clones. Result? Windows ruled the PC world and nearly crushed Apple in the 90s.
Fast forward to the 2000s, and Steve Jobs repeated his own version of that play — starting with the iPod in 2001, owning the premium music device space, and then morphing it into the iPhone in 2007. Jobs’ brilliance was not just in the product; it was in seeing the inevitable convergence of phone + internet + entertainment before anyone else dared to bet big.
While Apple went after the premium market, the bottom of the pyramid was wide open. And here’s where Google showed killer instinct. They didn’t just copy Apple — they democratized the smartphone by making Android “free” for manufacturers. Suddenly, a web-enabled smartphone wasn’t a luxury; it was the cheaper alternative to owning a PC. Billions could now get online without ever buying a desktop.
Microsoft, in contrast, was still dealing with Vista headaches, chasing corporate server business, and nursing its Zune player. By the time they realized smartphones weren’t “just another niche gadget,” the app stores were already overflowing — for iOS and Android. Developers saw no reason to build for an OS with no users, and Windows Phone faded into irrelevance, officially bowing out in 2017.
Lesson? In business, being late is often worse than being wrong. Apple owned the top, Google owned the bottom, and Microsoft… well, they just owned the regret.
Tag: apple
Where it all started!!!
It all boils down to our vision and attitude!!!
Brand & Image Loyalty
I’m always known for my loyalty and today my friends got annoyed to see my adamancy in making my shopping.
Today I went for shopping along with my friends to buy a BlackBerry Phone & iPod Shuffle.
I saw a The Mobile Store inside Landmark and I enquired the price. My friend said sets are cheap in Poorvika & other outlets. I said what ever the price may be I’ll but the set only from Mobile Store because it is from Virgin Group. Obvious reason is Richard Branson. I’m a great fan of him and I’ve taken him as my Guru / Mentor.
Then after that I went to buy iPod Shuffle. Again my friend said Sony is better than iPod and Sony is much cheaper than iPod. Again I went ahead and brought an iPod and again for obvious reason Apple & Steve Jobs.
Then my friend said he can get some discount if I can buy thru his vendor. Again I went ahead and bought from Landmark because I’m a great fan of its Founder Hemu Ramiah & for Tata’s and also I hold their loyalty card.Â
My friends said I must be crazy. I know I’m paying a couple of hundreds more but I’ve benefitted a lot from the personalities I’ve specified. They were & are a great motivation for me. I’ve also copied some of their success formulas. I owe a lot to them even if they have not helped me physically. I feel like giving back to them though my contribution many me peanuts to them.
So I’m convinced on what I’m doing & I’ve no regrets even if my friends tell I’m a nut.
Welcome Mr.Baid!! Bid Adieu Mr.OP III!!!
I remember I brought this notebook Compaq Presario B1900 for my eMBA classes and I brought it the previous day. So I remember the date very well. It was during 15/12/2006 evening 7 o clocks I got the delivery of the system. From then on this guy has come a long way with me and had been with my thought and good times…
This notebook has several accomplishments behind him and he has a special place in the heart in days to come…Â
- Started and finished my entire MBA classes with this system.
- During 25/01/2007 I met with big accident neat Vaniambadi while returning from Bangalore to Chennai. He was thrown out of the car but nothing happened and today I’m typing about him.
- Started actively blogging only after getting this notebook.
- Travelled places with me like Andamans, Ooty, Kodaikanal, Chidambaram, Trichy, Erode, Coimbatore & Madurai.
- He was awake for at least 16 – 20 hours a day. So taking 16 hours a day he has been awake for 15,840 hours, 990 days & 33 months.
- Started tweeting in his times…
- Didn’t blogging & tweeting using data card and this guy while travelling to Chennai in a Bus…
- Searched for Cogzidel’s and freeze the name using this notebook…
- Booked domain names associated to Cogzidel with this notebook…
- Did all planning for Cogzidel using this notebook.
There are many more things I did using this guy and he has been with me for 33 long months. It is really hard to Bid Adieu to him. But I’m not planning to sell it or donate this system to anyone. It will surely rest in my personal museum and when Cogzidel becomes big this Notebook will be displayed with this description on him… Off late I started naming my car, camera et all. So I’ve not given a name till now so I think I can take this opportunity to give him a name and I’m naming him as Optimus Prime III…Â
- First one is the one in the movie Transformers…
- Second is Balaji’s car…
Thank you OP III for this long association with me and for being with my tough and good times… I think it is time for you to take rest…
Welcome Apple Notebook MC240ZP/A to my new world. I don’t think I’ve to give more induction about my needs as I’ve explained how your predecessor was… Having seen my requirement and the reputation you have for your brand I expect more from you and I’m more demanding for performance… Before I’d like to get you a name and from today onwards you will be called Mr.BAID named after my college name Dhanraj Baid Jain College. Being first time user of Mac today I’m planning to;Â
- Read the manual fully before using it.
- Start is slowly (2 – 3 hours a day for next 5 days) till I get a groove.
Other than that there is noting more to add and I expect you will come along with me a long way like OP III…
FYI: This is the configuration of Mr.BAID…
Intel® Core™ 2 Duo 2.13 GHz
(3MB L2 Cache, 1066MHz)
13.3″ WXGA Glossy,Â
2 GB DDR2Â (2x 1 GB),Â
160GB SATA HDD
DVDRW SuperMulti Double Layer,
Gigabit LAN, WiFi 802.11n
VGA NVIDIA GeForce 9400M 256MB DDR2,
ISight Camera
Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard,
Bluetooth, Firewire,
Weight 2.27kg.
AnandNataraj 