The Perfect Thing (pg.51-91)

* Just so the readers may know, Steven Levy, author of this novel is the narrator.
Summary
Chapter 3: Origin (Part 2)
In only four months SoundJam converted into what we know today as iTunes. iTunes can search songs in lightning speed. Now, the iTunes team made sure that it is possible to connect a portable MP3 player to the Macintosh. It did work, but the devices were not that great. Jon Rubinstein, senior vice president of hardware called in Anthony Fadell, who is not in the Apple company to help out. So when Fadell accepted the job, he started  researching on MP3 players and its hardware pieces to create a better MP3 player, Apple style. When it was time for Fadell to present his ideas, he showed 2 models. One model is that it had a big slot where it can accept hard drive or a flash memory card to hold music. When the battery dies, the music has to be reloaded. Steve Jobs did not like that idea. Fadell then showed another idea and Jobs preferred the second idea. Paul Schiller brought out a variety of models if a playback device. There is a circular pathway on the wheel so it can be easy to search for songs. Fadell said he can build a model like that. the project was a go and that is how the iPod came about in 2001.
Chapter 4: Cool (Part 1)
Dr. Carl Rohde is a professor in the Netherlands who studies coolness. Dr. Rohde says that the iPod is a cool product. However, it is the quality that is important in the marketing world. While talking with Bill Gates on coolness, Gates says in order for something to be cool, it has to have high market share. So the question that comes up is how the iPod acquired its coolness. Jobs tried to make the iPod great, not cool or trendy. Apple does not care about coolness. However, Levy makes a point that the fruit logo is a cool indicator in itself.  In 2003, Apple released a cooler campaign that had to do with silhouettes. Silhouettes are still being used today.  Then in 2004, Apple promoted the windows version of iTunes. The iPod was listed as one of Oprah Winfrey's favorite things of 2005. Studies show that people can get a little too attached to their iPod because the design looks attractive.

Quote:

Once I directly asked Jobs whether he had tried to make the iPod cool. 'No,' he said, ' we try to make it great. We try to make it great'" (Levy 80)

Reaction:
I agree with what Jobs said. I am not saying that design is not important, however the quality of the iPod is more important than the looks or design. I want an iPod so I can listen to my music. If the iPod only looked good but did  not have good qualities, I would not have bought it. So, I am glad that Jobs put quality before design. Quality will make the iPod be in the markets, the Apple company selling millions of dollars.