Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by TomOfTTB 6005 days ago
I don't agree with your assessment here. While there wasn't an existing product with the exact same specs as the iPhone in existence there were products that could do everything an iPhone does (Windows Mobile Phones) and there were multi-touch screens out there. What made Apple successful is combining those elements in a way that was attractive to average users.

In that same sense there are Tablet PCs and so called "Slate PCs" out there. What will make Apple successful is creating a package that can appeal to the average user.

3 comments

> there were products that could do everything an iPhone does (Windows Mobile Phones)

Windows Mobile was never designed to be friendly for the average consumer.

Did it ever occur to the WM designers that wiping the entire handset for a OS upgrade isn't the best experience. iTunes isn't the best program but it's day when compared to the night of a WM upgrade.

"Installing the new software will erase all data on the device."

"All third-party applications and data that remain on the device prior to downloading will be deleted and unretrievable"

http://support.t-mobile.com/doc/tm23435.xml

>> "there were products that could do everything an iPhone does (Windows Mobile Phones)"

Come on now. The iPhone was the first phone to have a usable browser on it.

I used pocket IE to browse full sites. It was bad, but it worked. Which is sort of my point
It's true a WinMo phone could do most stuff an iPhone does, but the iPhone was the first with a real browser and a usable interface.

Much like the iPod, the iPhone is the smartphone done right. It's success is, likewise, very well deserved.

People don't buy machines - they buy abilities.