Marketing (was Re: Columbus analogy (Was: Corrections to trivia

From: William Donzelli <william_at_ans.net>
Date: Sun Oct 11 22:36:36 1998

OK, back to the front I go, to defend Big Blue...

> If IBM can hardly be called successful, I would love to hear your definition
> of "successful".

Most people, including the folks at IBM, equate success of a product to
the bottom line. If the product makes money, it is a success. Almost
everything IBM has done with the PC line has made them money. Lots of it.
Sure they have had duds - PC jr., PS/1, OS/2 (kind of) - but every company
has had their share. In fact, if you can name an established computer
company that has not had a dud, I will send you a prize. Look at he
machines that have not been duds for IBM - specifically the PS/2 line. IBM
made a lot of them (I would like to know how many), and sold them to
businesses by the truckloads. With tradional IBM pricing involved, of
course they made money! And all of those machines had to come with MCA
cards (another thing I wish people would stop bashing)...

Do not confuse market share and product success. Just because any company
is not #1, does not mean they ought to close up shop.

William Donzelli
william_at_ans.net
Received on Sun Oct 11 1998 - 22:36:36 BST