“Coming from any other phone maker positioning itself as a rival to Apple, that might seem like hubris,” Johnson reports. “Coming from Rubinstein – who was one of Steve Jobs’s closest lieutenants until he left Apple in 2006 – it seems like something else.”
“Rubinstein, who took a hands-on role in product development when he arrived at Palm, is a private man,” Johnson reports. “He spent years working alongside Jobs and was one of the major architects of the iPod project, which is what really helped Apple overturn its troubles and surge back to success.”
Johnson reports, “So his iPhone comment is strange. Is Rubinstein suggesting that he never saw an iPhone while he worked at Apple? Or is he saying that, in the 18-month downtime, this technology industry veteran of more than 30 years didn’t have any interest in Apple’s new handset? It’s not even like he was working for Palm when the iPhone was launched: famously, he took a long holiday until he was tempted to get back into the race in October 2007.”
Full article here.
Video of Rubinstein’s statements here.
MacDailyNews Take: Do you believe Jon? If so, he’s just admitted to dereliction of duty. CEOs who are properly performing their jobs need to keep up with their competitors’ products. In fact, they should be intimately familiar with how their competitors’ products work, how they’re constructed, etc. so that they can plan their company’s competitive strategies. This comment is even more eyebrow arching, since Palm’s current products wouldn’t even exist without Apple’s iPhone.
Jon’s comment says quite a bit more than he probably intended: He’s either a liar or an incompetent or, most likely, both.
See, Jon? It’s not that easy to run a company, now is it? After Palm is finally bought by an even bigger fool than you (good luck with that search) or goes tits up like it should’ve two years ago, why don’t you go back to Mexico, sit on the beach, and repeat: “I’m no Steve Jobs; not even close. I’m not even CEO material. I’m no Steve Jobs; not even close. I blew it bigtime when I left Apple. I’m no Steve Jobs; not even close…”
The world doesn’t need no crummy phones from CRAPPLE while they can choose whatever phones they can use instead of a how a MACTARD praise how great their toy is.
http://www.bing.com When it comes to decisions that matter, Bing & Decide
@ Predrag –
But instead, he felt that he needed to come across as a loyal, faithful Palm manager, who out of that loyalty doesn’t look at competitors. The way Balmer doesn’t let his kids have iPods.
The Microsoft comparison is interesting, because it sounds like their corporate culture is built around the same cornerstone: don’t even *look* at other companies’ products, just faithfully use ours instead. Which is definitely a recipe for disaster in the long run, when their own employees are discouraged from becoming familiar with what they’re competing against.
Another way to look at Rubinstein’s comment is a subtle suggestion to Palm’s customers: “That’s right, don’t even *look* at an iPhone, or think about comparing one to our products. I don’t!”
@I’am a PC
Hope that you are enjoying your superior Zune piece of shit.
Probably means he’s never used the finished product, he was quoted out of context or misspoke. Tech reporters have more in common with OK Magazine than legitimate news sources these days.
The guy was instrumental in the development of the iPod, so his contributions to Apple are not insignificant. Cut him a break with the rabid dog routine already.
It’s embarrassing to read comments from the likes of I’m a PC.
That sure contributed to the discussion, didn’t it, kid?…. Feel better now?
it’s a standard legal tactic. if you claim/prove that you never saw a competitor’s product, you can then argue that your feature set is original work, not derivative, despite similarities.
@I’m a PC
Again please, in English?
A few years ago there were lots of posts along similar lines. But the extraordinary success of the iPod, iTunes, Apple stores, iPhone, the relentless march of the Mac and the appalling failure of Vista and Zune have all but silenced the Microsoft trolls…
…did you miss something? (apart from grammar class)
Count me as one of those that doesn’t believe that you should base your strategies on what the competition is doing.
If you make the best product, does it really matter what the competition does?
Have you ever seen an ad where Tylenol compares itself to Advil? It is always Advil/Aleve/etc comparing themselves to Tylenol.
Always execute your own strategy, never worry about your competitors’ strategies. The bigger question should always be is my strategy good enough? Are my products good enough?
@I’m a PC
Nothing like bringing logic and reason to a discussion… and that was nothing like logic and reason.
@IndyMac
Bing-ophiles are unfamiliar with either concept.
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What a stupid F***! So he’s blind to the competition. SLEEP EASY PALM USERS, YOU’RE IN PERFECT HANDS. idiot.
Wilfred Thompson, of Thompson Buggy Whips, said, “I don’t have an automobile. I’ve never even used one.'”
@ PreDrag –
The Godfather saga wasn’t directed by Martin Scorsese — it was Francis Ford Coppola. Scorsese did a bunch of other Mob-related movies, though (notably Goodfellas and Casino).
Perhaps there are legal reasons involved in his saying that.
(And, by the way, Jobs is a far bigger liar, if we are at that)
Oh please… I can believe he doesn’t “own” an iPhone. But what competent CEO of a company that is trying to survive by copying Apple’s product would state (whether true or not) that he has never “even used” one. First, it seems like a lie. But second, if it’s actually true, it shows that he is a moron. I’m sure Steve Jobs has tried every competing mobile phone type, so that he knows exactly how the iPhone needs to be better and more user-oriented. Either way, it makes Rubinstein look like a fool.
Get an iPhone Jon. Opportunity always arrives at a certain point.
@ I’m a PC
“The world doesn’t need no crummy phones”
I love the smell of a double negative in the morning.
And i never beat off. I swear!!!
@ I’m a PC
Yes, you are. We can tell from the senseless drivel you threw up on us.