News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

January 23, 2008

rivals

Sony claims to be a “twin” of Apple

Posted Jan. 23, ’08, 10:05 AM PT by Aayush Arya
Category | Apple » Rivals

Sony Black LogoNow, now, this is just plain pathetic. Everyone is aware that Apple is flying high these days—their competitors painfully so. It seems that Sony is just a tad envious of Apple’s remarkable successes in recent years and their firmly established image as the most hip and happening cool brand in the industry. In an attempt to get a piece of the same sort of attention, they have published an entry on the Sony Electronics Blog comparing the two companies and trying to draw parallels between themselves and Apple.

I think it is fairly clear from that essay that Sony is forlorn and desperate at having lost the title of being one of the coolest and most innovative companies in the world. The unprecedented dominance of the iPod music players and the minority market share of the once-iconic Walkman brand is starting to hurt and they seem to be running out of ideas.

Whatever be the case, this just isn’t the proper way to get back that reputation again. No one is going to read that article and think, “Wow! They say they’re as cool as Apple. Let me get one of those Bravia Internet Video Link thingies.” They actually seem to be taking pride in the fact that Jobs mentioned their VAIO TZ notebook onstage at the Macworld Expo, even if it was to show how much better the MacBook Air was by comparison.

C’mon, Sony! You can do better than this. By publishing lame articles like this one, you’re basically accepting that you’re second to Apple and happy to be so. Even if that is the case, it’s not something you express publicly on a company blog. Having hired an Apple ex-employee is not something you should be boasting about. However, since you are so eager to get some of those Apple employees on your side, how about hiring one of Apple’s PR team members? I hear they’re well-trained in the art of keeping ugly half-truths under the wraps. You guys could sure use some of their skills.


7 Comments

fletcher Author Profile Page said:

I was a big fan of Sony's for a lot of years. I bought a long line of Walkman and Discman players from them, including one for $150 from their store in San Francisco. I have had a Sony DVD recorder, home theatre speaker set, television, several boomboxes, a PlayStation, etc.

And, when I look through their store or at the advertisements I get in the mail I must admit their computers look pretty good. I think that they are the only company which is seriously giving Apple a run for their money in the industrial design department. But, unfortunately, you know, Windows...

Anyway, I think Sony was once as cool as Apple and could be again. But, they need to reconnect with their customers who have drifted away from them. I don't know how they can do that, but I don't count them out.

One anecdote. I was commuting on the bus and my Discman broke so I swung by the store and got a new one. I literally bloodied my fingers opening the blister packaging with my keys at a Starbucks so I could fire the thing up. Contrast this with Apple's iPod packaging which is such a joy.

January 23, 2008 11:10 AM
Sony Sucks said:

Sony used to be a very good product company. Not anymore, especially after they were taken over movie executives and emphasis placed on glitz and glam over substance! This is a pathetic attempt by the uncool crowd to be considered cool! Sony phones are not available in the US since their customer service sucks! I used to buy only Sony Ericsson phones before TWO conked out on me less than a year after I bought them and their Customer Service deliberately messed the warranty! Another friend had a similar experience with the Bravia LCD TV, despite paying $ 1000 more than other TVs.

SONY, Keep ignoring customers and you will be the next Ford or Motorola!!

January 23, 2008 1:08 PM
fxgeek Author Profile Page said:

Are you kidding me? Did you even read the article or did you just scan through it and decide what it was saying. Are you such a die hard mac fanatic that you can't stand anyone else even mentioning them while talking about themselves. There was nothing in that post that was either arrogant or derogrative of apple and even contained a frank meaculpa about some of sony's failings in the past.

I don't understand where the widespread anti-sony sentiment has come from lately apart fromt he nonsence that is written about them on Engadget and Gizmodo. Sony and Apple do have a lot in common, not the least of which is the way the press used to trat Apple and the way they're currently treating Sony.

January 23, 2008 1:24 PM
Joe Leo said:

Don't forget, they use the same style keyboards on the Sony MacBook and the Apple VAIO lines.

January 23, 2008 7:01 PM
Dave-O said:

@fxgeek, did you read this article? Did you post a response to the wrong story? You are so far off base, you're in a different stadium.

To recap, he's criticizing Sony for playing the annoying little brother instead of establishing its own identity. He never said the article insulted Apple.

January 23, 2008 7:16 PM
Eduardo said:

My rant:

I have a Sony Mini Disc Walkman (I actually had two) and I bought their High End SACD Multi-disc player/Changer.

Both are products Sony let die...oh well, such is life for early adopters.

January 23, 2008 9:38 PM
Dave-O said:

@Eduardo, clearly you don't understand the special privileges afforded an early adopter. Look to the iPhone and iPod touch owners and raise hell over this mistreatment. Where's the outrage, man?

:)

January 24, 2008 11:24 AM

Leave a comment

 



Visit other IDG sites: