http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/

I mean really, a scroll ball is innovative? In 2008? It wasn't even innovative in 2000.

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Guest wrote:
http://www.apple.com/mightymouse/

I mean really, a scroll ball is innovative? In 2008? It wasn't even innovative in 2000.

Let me see...first to release a personal computer with a GUI, first to incorporate a mouse, first reasonably priced release of a laser printer, released the Powerbook line which the industry has used as the standard for ergonomics and layout, one of the first digital cameras, the first PDA, first to remove the floppy from their designs, one of the first computer companies to start using USB and Firewire, online music service leader, released the iPod which no one has even come close with their 'iPod Killers', released the iPhone which has set another industry standard for smart phones (and this is just their first release)...just to name a few...oh...and a scroll ball in the mighty mouse. I'd say that is mighty impressive and quite innovative myself.

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Anonymous wrote:
Let me see...first to release a personal computer with a GUI, first to incorporate a mouse, first reasonably priced release of a laser printer, released the Powerbook line which the industry has used as the standard for ergonomics and layout, one of the first digital cameras, the first PDA, first to remove the floppy from their designs, one of the first computer companies to start using USB and Firewire, online music service leader, released the iPod which no one has even come close with their 'iPod Killers', released the iPhone which has set another industry standard for smart phones (and this is just their first release)...just to name a few...oh...and a scroll ball in the mighty mouse. I'd say that is mighty impressive and quite innovative myself.

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Intruder wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:
Let me see...first to release a personal computer with a GUI, first to incorporate a mouse, first reasonably priced release of a laser printer, released the Powerbook line which the industry has used as the standard for ergonomics and layout, one of the first digital cameras, the first PDA, first to remove the floppy from their designs, one of the first computer companies to start using USB and Firewire, online music service leader, released the iPod which no one has even come close with their 'iPod Killers', released the iPhone which has set another industry standard for smart phones (and this is just their first release)...just to name a few...oh...and a scroll ball in the mighty mouse. I'd say that is mighty impressive and quite innovative myself.

Naah. Apple never did any of those things. Remember, they stole all of them from other companies and have never created anything in their sorry, pathetic lives. At least that's what all of the trolls are going to say in

3...

2....

1,,,,,

Oh, please. I'm not starting with name-calling. I was being sarcastic.

Read some of the posts around here lately. Many bonafide troll posts.

Yes, Apple has bought some of their technology. They have also created a bunch (so has Microsoft). Some give Apple too much credit. Many give Apple no credit at all. Same goes for Microsoft.

Or did you think that my comment was directed specifically at you and you think you are a troll?

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Intruder wrote:
Or did you think that my comment was directed specifically at you and you think you are a troll?

Microsoft doesn't even belong in the same sentence in which the word 'innovative' appears! (Except for the previous sentence, of course)

Apple by the way, invented Firewire. I'd also the Mightymouse is pretty cool. It allowed Apple to appease both die hard Apple users who insist on a one button mouse and others who prefer two button mouses.

Why is innovation always equated with the first company to come up with an idea, as opposed to improving another idea?

As far as Apple and Xerox is concerned, your facts are out of context. Yes, Apple paid for access to Parc so that it could see some of Xerox's secret GUI work in action. The GUI concept, however, far predates Xerox and goes back to at least 1945 when Vanaver Bush discussed such an idea (Apple visited Parc in 1979). In the 50's, Douglas Engelbart took Bush's idea and began to work on making it a reality (this guy was also the inventor of the mouse). Engelbart worked for the Department of Defense. Eventually he lost his funding and lost many of his employees to Xerox's PARC.

However, prior to Apple's visit to Parc some employee's of Apple were already working on a GUI based OS. Apple's Lisa project was predicated on such a concept. As some former Apple employees tell the story, the trip to Xerox was necessary to get Jobs on board to further pursue the concept by making an even cheaper version of the Lisa project.

More importantly, Apple didn't get any access to any of the source code for Xerox's IP, and Apple had to figure out how to bring the concept to relatively inexpensive and low powered machines. Xerox's original Alto computer (the one Apple peeked at) would have cost $40, 000 if brought to market). So, much of the original ideas developed by Apple were figuring out how to bring make the concept Xerox had been working on affordable. Xerox eventually brought it's concept to market itself in 1981, but the product was $16, 000.

My point in all this is that Apple's innovation has always been about improving upon other's ideas. In my view, Apple's success is more about Apple's willingness to take chances when others are not so willing. Apple is also good at recognizing potential when other companies are not. It is not enough to be inventive without the foresight to recognize a good idea and the guts to further develop it for market.

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Intruder wrote:
Steal, no, bought, yes. But you already know that Apple paid Xerox in Apple stock for access to the GUI & mouse, hence you preemptively struck with name calling. Classic!

I'm not saying they have never done anything innovative (I bought an iPod back in the day but after it died just out of warranty I bought one of the products on the market that offered me more freedom). I am just saying that they get way more credit and get a free pass at claiming 80s tech as today's innovations.