[webwielder]

I've always interpreted the quote as meaning that good artists are able to recognize worthy work and imitate it, while great artists take that work and make it their own, improve upon and personalize it.

The Macintosh team "stole" the GUI from PARC, insomuch as they turned an academic experiment into a user-friendly, commercially viable product with its own refined sensibility and personality.

Samsung was a good enough artist to recognize that the iPhone was worth copying slavishly (albeit poorly), but they never turned their imitation into a distinct work unto itself.

[Curmudgel]

Can you tell the difference between a Samsung Galaxy S5 and and iPhone 5? If yes, then why isn't the Galaxy series a distinct work with its own sensibility and personality?

[Swizec]

Looking at images on Google ... it just looks like a bigger iPhone with a slightly smooshed home button. Reminds me a lot of all those cheap knock-off things you can buy on random markets in places like Bosnia and Serbia (in my personal experience, I know there's many more out there) where they make it look off just enough to avoid being sued.

For example, Adibos sneakers: http://www.funfacts.com.au/images/fake-counterfeit-adidas-sh...

Not to say Samsung phones are knock-off iPhones, just that you could easily sell me one as such. Especially if I wasn't a techie. Hell, I'd be surprised if my mum could tell me I'm wrong if I said Apple released a bigger iPhone and showed her a Samsung Galaxy.

[sheepmullet]

"Hell, I'd be surprised if my mum could tell me I'm wrong if I said Apple released a bigger iPhone and showed her a Samsung Galaxy."

So? I could show a new Mercedes model to a non-car enthusiast and say it is a BMW and they couldn't tell the difference.

[Swizec]

So practical things look a lot alike? I don't know. But I'm almost certain you couldn't show a Pollock to a non-painting enthusiast and convince them it was a Picasso.