Comments on: The Columbo Technique http://powazek.com/posts/644 It's pronounced poe-WAH-zek. Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:26:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Shawn Levasseur http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1170 Shawn Levasseur Sun, 12 Aug 2007 17:21:28 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1170 The "Columbo" method of questioning may be vaild. But it's more for a one on one setting, not a press conferernce setting where the reporter is just as "on stage" as the subject is. The “Columbo” method of questioning may be vaild. But it’s more for a one on one setting, not a press conferernce setting where the reporter is just as “on stage” as the subject is.

]]> By: Leif Ree-Pedersen http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1168 Leif Ree-Pedersen Sun, 12 Aug 2007 12:31:41 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1168 As it turns out, Keefe's question was probably very useful. Because the underlying issue here is: Why is the rest of the computer world putting up with those hideous stickers? Mr. Jobs of course could not answer that one, but it's now sort of in the air. The most mind-boggling thing, when you think about it, is that lots of PC users (most of the people I know anyway) just leaves the crap hanging there, as if it was part of the PC's design (there generally isn't any anyway), or as if it was a criminal offence to simply peel it off. Why? Why? Why are PCs so ugly? Is it because nobody but Apple have got good designers? Sure, Mr. Ives is brilliant, but even a half decent designer would make a difference. One PC user once told me that the looks of a computer was totally irrelevant, what mattered is how it works. Sure. But would he by his next new car by the same guidelines? Personally I think that more often than not quality outside speaks of quality inside. Or the other way around: If nobody have cared about how an expensive high tech product looks, why would I believe that the function has been given all that much thought? As it turns out, Keefe’s question was probably very useful. Because the underlying issue here is: Why is the rest of the computer world putting up with those hideous stickers? Mr. Jobs of course could not answer that one, but it’s now sort of in the air. The most mind-boggling thing, when you think about it, is that lots of PC users (most of the people I know anyway) just leaves the crap hanging there, as if it was part of the PC’s design (there generally isn’t any anyway), or as if it was a criminal offence to simply peel it off. Why? Why?

Why are PCs so ugly? Is it because nobody but Apple have got good designers? Sure, Mr. Ives is brilliant, but even a half decent designer would make a difference. One PC user once told me that the looks of a computer was totally irrelevant, what mattered is how it works. Sure. But would he by his next new car by the same guidelines? Personally I think that more often than not quality outside speaks of quality inside. Or the other way around: If nobody have cared about how an expensive high tech product looks, why would I believe that the function has been given all that much thought?

]]> By: John Gaskell http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1165 John Gaskell Sun, 12 Aug 2007 07:21:15 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1165 I still think Bob Keefe was a plant by Apple PR. I still think Bob Keefe was a plant by Apple PR.

]]> By: tman http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1164 tman Sun, 12 Aug 2007 06:48:07 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1164 Nice commentary Derek. But your question, "Why does Apple get a pass when every other PC manufacturer has those awful logos all over their products?" is poorly framed. It's not a case of Apple "getting a pass," because joining the Intel Inside program is a marketing choice, and if Apple chooses not to be involved why is there any question? Other manufacturers could do just the same. Nice commentary Derek. But your question, “Why does Apple get a pass when every other PC manufacturer has those awful logos all over their products?” is poorly framed. It’s not a case of Apple “getting a pass,” because joining the Intel Inside program is a marketing choice, and if Apple chooses not to be involved why is there any question? Other manufacturers could do just the same.

]]> By: Chris http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1156 Chris Sat, 11 Aug 2007 14:48:55 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1156 Derek, I agree that it was a dumb question, but in order to get a "smart" answer, it needs to illicit a previously unheard response. It didn't. All it got was a regurgitation of the same response Apple gave last year, as anyone who has followed the transition from PPC to Intel processors knows. Derek,
I agree that it was a dumb question, but in order to get a “smart” answer, it needs to illicit a previously unheard response. It didn’t. All it got was a regurgitation of the same response Apple gave last year, as anyone who has followed the transition from PPC to Intel processors knows.

]]> By: Steven Hambleton http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1155 Steven Hambleton Sat, 11 Aug 2007 13:27:27 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1155 I bought a lovely shiny metal digital camera today. It had a garish sticker telling me that it had 8mp capability, anti shake and 3x optical zoom. Big whoop, I know that because I read the box. Sticker promptly removed and now it looks nice :) I bought a lovely shiny metal digital camera today. It had a garish sticker telling me that it had 8mp capability, anti shake and 3x optical zoom.

Big whoop, I know that because I read the box.

Sticker promptly removed and now it looks nice :)

]]> By: dan c. http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1154 dan c. Sat, 11 Aug 2007 12:24:43 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1154 it was a silly question. do people really *deserve* to be ripped or ridiculed? I also bought Apple stock, at $14, and unfortunately sold it at about half what it is today. my first Mac is on it's way, and I am giddy about being able to use one every day after copying with XP some time. I'll try to stay away from being smug, I don't like the way it feels. it was a silly question. do people really *deserve* to be ripped or ridiculed?

I also bought Apple stock, at $14, and unfortunately sold it at about half what it is today. my first Mac is on it’s way, and I am giddy about being able to use one every day after copying with XP some time. I’ll try to stay away from being smug, I don’t like the way it feels.

]]> By: Emma http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1149 Emma Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:11:08 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1149 This is a classic "zealot" reaction from the portion of the Mac community that's as thick as two short planks. It doesn't matter what Bob Keefe thinks he knows, as a journalist he must attribute "the facts" to someone with knowledge of the matter, which he did. If he goes via the Apple PR dept he gets some PR flacks, bleached, pre-packed answer but this way he got Steve Jobs. Most Mac bloggers wouldn't last 10 minutes with a real journalist, they'd be lying down on the concrete, cuddling their Macbook, crying like a baby. Gruber (one of the 'high profile' zealots stoking this rubbish) has page views. No credibility, no ethics, no f****** clue! I'm a long time Mac owner and this crap makes me sad, really really sad. Grow up and get with the real world. Nice post Mr Powazek. This is a classic “zealot” reaction from the portion of the Mac community that’s as thick as two short planks.

It doesn’t matter what Bob Keefe thinks he knows, as a journalist he must attribute “the facts” to someone with knowledge of the matter, which he did. If he goes via the Apple PR dept he gets some PR flacks, bleached, pre-packed answer but this way he got Steve Jobs.

Most Mac bloggers wouldn’t last 10 minutes with a real journalist, they’d be lying down on the concrete, cuddling their Macbook, crying like a baby. Gruber (one of the ‘high profile’ zealots stoking this rubbish) has page views. No credibility, no ethics, no f****** clue!

I’m a long time Mac owner and this crap makes me sad, really really sad. Grow up and get with the real world. Nice post Mr Powazek.

]]> By: addicted http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1148 addicted Sat, 11 Aug 2007 10:09:10 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1148 Thanks for calling Gruber out on this one Derek. I completely agree with your sentiment that often a stupid question is necessary to elicit a great answer. And in this case, this is exactly what happened. Steve Jobs laid out the entire mac philosophy in a quick impromptu speech better than anyone who may have written tomes about Apple, or has been blogging about them for decades. And all because of 1 "stupid" question! (P.S. Was there any other question at the Q&A that got a better answer than this one?) Thanks for calling Gruber out on this one Derek. I completely agree with your sentiment that often a stupid question is necessary to elicit a great answer. And in this case, this is exactly what happened. Steve Jobs laid out the entire mac philosophy in a quick impromptu speech better than anyone who may have written tomes about Apple, or has been blogging about them for decades.

And all because of 1 “stupid” question!

(P.S. Was there any other question at the Q&A that got a better answer than this one?)

]]> By: Kenneth http://powazek.com/posts/644/comment-page-1#comment-1147 Kenneth Sat, 11 Aug 2007 08:31:58 +0000 http://powazek.com/posts/644#comment-1147 Derek, I think you've got a huge point. His question was actually a very clever question, if it got Jobs to comment on why Apple doesn't participate. One thing I hate is when mac-fanboys get all defensive and shit on everything that doesn't have a glossy apple on it. I'm a mac user – developer even, but you gotta be realistic. Steve Jobs is not god, and Cupertino is not heaven. Derek, I think you’ve got a huge point. His question was actually a very clever question, if it got Jobs to comment on why Apple doesn’t participate.

One thing I hate is when mac-fanboys get all defensive and shit on everything that doesn’t have a glossy apple on it. I’m a mac user – developer even, but you gotta be realistic. Steve Jobs is not god, and Cupertino is not heaven.

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