The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple, is known for his ingenious ideas and inventions.

Among his great creations are the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. He is also known for his ingenious business techniques. The first iPad came out in the spring of 2010 with amazing success. The iPad sold out within the first day it hit the stores and there weren’t any available in stock for several weeks due to the long waiting list of eager customers. Now, not even a year after the release of the first iPad, Steve Jobs came out with the slimmer, faster, lighter iPad 2, which also sports a camera for FaceTime. When the first iPad came out, of course the biggest Apple enthusiasts would be the first to get their hands on it, but now that the iPad 2 came out, they can’t just sit around with this slower, thicker, heavier version of the iPad 2; they have to get their hands on the new one! This means spending another $499 to $829 for basically the same gadget, just with a camera and a few technical enhancements.

The iPad 2 didn’t fall too far from the first iPad, yet it was a huge success. Most think it’s just a scheme for more money. In fact, it’s been proven that it’s just a scheme for more money. On the first iPad, there was an awkward amount of empty space above the screen. Coincidentally, just enough space for a camera.

Apple CEO, Steve Jobs, purposely did so. Most people had already bought their iPads after a year of its release, causing sales to slowly go down. This meant it was time for a new iPad, to get sales rocketing again. Some people saw this move coming, patiently waited for the iPad 2 to come out and bought it as soon as it did. Others initially weren’t interested in buying an iPad, but when the new one came out, they decided it was time. Then there were those who bought the first iPad, then bought the iPad 2 when it came out, and either sold their old one, gave it away, or have it laying in their house somewhere.

This idea goes the same way with the iPod, iPhone and even their computers. For example, they started out with the iPad Classic, then made nano, video, etc. Then Apple decided to mesh both the nano and video to create the iPod Nano Video. This product was also very successful, but about a year later they came out with a new version, almost half the size of the original. Why the change? The answer is simple, to get more money out of their products.

Most people buy their iPods with cases, which means spending another $20 to $25. Now that Apple came out with basically the same thing, but smaller, anyone who buys the smaller version can’t recycle the case they used for their older one, because it wouldn’t fit. Therefore, they have to buy a new case. There have also been many different versions to their best-selling iPod, the iPod touch. It seems like every alteration they made, from the first generation to the fourth generation, have been miniscule.

A few technical changes here, some physical changes there, and bam! They have a best-selling product. However, the newest, fourth generation iPod had the biggest change yet, a camera. One small camera on the front, and bam! Once again, they have another best-selling product that brought incredible, record-breaking sales. What do the people with the older iPod do? Buy the new iPod and leave their old one sitting on their desk at home while their new iPod is sitting in their pocket. Basically, Steve Jobs comes out with this great device, and makes it sound amazing, which brings him big bucks.

Then a period of time later, he comes out with an even better, updated product of the same device, bringing him even more revenue. The more we spend, the more he makes. As frustrating as it sounds, the idea is clearly working well for Apple. It might simply be the way people feel. Even if the device is great, and it still works, no one wants to have an older version of it as others walk around flaunting their newer model, so people go and buy the new one.

This goes on like a cycle, and keeps repeating as Steve Jobs comes out with more updates and products. Even I’m a victim of this clever system. Not only is Jobs the creator of great gadgets, or slick business techniques, he is also the leader of a revolution, the Apple Revolution. He has created a whole different community of people, a cult of Apple supporters, an international Apple Club. Apple is changing world culture. Before, I’d only use my computer for fun.

I’d turn on my Dell PC, play on MiniClip or go on Paint, but now I use my Mac for everything. I’ve made movies on iMovie, photo albums on iPhoto, and done all my homework on iWork. Now schools are even encouraged to distribute iPads to students in order to enhance learning. There are thousands of apps for anything you could think of. The younger generations are becoming more tech savvy than any other generations have been.

When I hear the word “apple,” the Apple logo comes to my mind before the actual fruit does. This is not just a fad, this is life-changing. Apple is iconic. Apple is revolutionary. Apple is change.