Apple products are ‘mutant viruses,’ says Acer’s Shih
Nothing can put a smile on my day like a wild-ass, off-the-cuff remark by an Asian business leader. LG’s upcoming tablet? Better than the iPad! Apple’s expensive products winning over customers in the midst of a downturn? The iPhone and iPad are viruses!
You’ve gotta believe that folks in the Asian hardware biz are feeling a little rattled right now. With the iPad gutting the notebook PC biz, which has been their most profitable segment for years, and no tablet competitors available or realistically expected for a couple years, they have to be wondering what to do next.
Enter Acer chairman Stan Shih. DigiTimes was in the room when the aged and apparently still feisty tech titan held forth on why Apple’s so darned successful and why it’s just not that big of a deal.
Acer founder Stan Shih, in a talk with reporters on September 8, commented that Apple’s strong popularity is mainly due to its products such as iPad and iPhone, and these products are like mutant viruses, which are difficult to find a cure for in the short-term, but he believes that PC vendors will eventually find a way to isolate Apple and become immune.
Shih pointed out that Apple deserves to be respected, since it has a completely different strategy than other PC brands. Apple CEO Steve Jobs has always been looking for revolution, while other PC brands evolved naturally and are developing products in a more solid way, Shih commented.
Lots of people laughed at the iPod. More scoffed at the iPhone. Haters poured scorn on the iPad.
And, now, here we have Stan Shih saying that our favorite fruit company, which bests Acer and everyone else in customer satisfaction surveys by 10-plus percent (and has for years), is like a “mutant virus.” Yup, innovation, superior build quality and best of class service are indeed the perverse exception.
Thanks for the laugh, Stan…
What’s your take?
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September 9th, 2010
My take on this is to ignore Mr. Shih.
1. Mutant Virus — the analogy does not work. In what way is it a mutant and in what way is it a virus? Is he trying to say that Apple’s popularity and products are spreading like wildfire, just like a virus could? Well, that’s a poor analogy because by using the word “virus” he is also demonising the company. He doesn’t have to demonise Apple in order to express desire to want to compete with it. It’s a poor choice of words and poor thinking on his part.
2. Cure — what does he mean by it’s harder to find a cure? Apple products don’t need a cure. If he means it’s harder to find a way to compete with Apple, that is cannot be characterised or put into analogy with looking for a cure. A cure is a remedy for a disease. Apple’s popularity is not a disease.
I’m not defending Apple.
What I’m trying to suggest is that if Apple competitors want to appear credible, instead of using illogical, inane, and infantile characterisations or analogies of Apple such as “mutant”, “needs a cure”, and “virus” they need to be demonstrate veracity by being upfront and honest.
September 9th, 2010
Just remember, this is a guy whose English is probably not quite what ours is and while it is easy to laugh at him, he’s probably trying to make a valid point.
Think of it like this: maybe he’s trying to describe the ‘halo effect’. Where one person buys an iPod, likes it and buys another Apple product. A mutant virus infects somebody, mutates and becomes more prevalent in their bodies and lives. For the general PC industry this halo effect really is proving to be a virus – its eating away at their sales and getting worse as it spreads. Only their innovation will be the cure.
I think maybe we’re being a little harsh on him. His English probably isn’t as good ours as I said at the beginning and he probably doesn’t realise that a phrase which is made with such negative connotations could seem an attack on a competitor. Maybe what he was trying to do was actually praise Apple, but as always the media and blogs don’t want to consider this as it doesn’t make good news, does it?
September 9th, 2010
Just like an apologist, shih was educated in the states, he is very aware of what he said and deserves no pass on his comments.
All of thease companys are running scared, insults are the only amunition they have.
That’s all.
September 10th, 2010
It’s bad to make fun of people’s religion because it’s so central to their sense of self and self worth and they don’t have the emotional tools to deal with it.
September 12th, 2010
I’m quite happy laughing, scoffing and hating.