@NonZealot
The "8,000 pound gorilla", in this case, is not Apple but Consumer Reports. Let me explain that statement, NZ, for it surely needs an explanation and also what the "dirty little secret" I alluded to is. Oh .. a little personal background first.
I retired from an American Automobile Company recently and, to a person, my associates never felt CR represented or reported on our products in an unbiased manner. I'm sure more than a little bit of "professional pride" influenced our opinion of CR's reports but we also had access to extensive warranty, dealership and customer reviews of our own that were far more comprehensive than any analysis that CR's staff could ever hope to field.
Plus, (and I only cite this as an example and not to pick on Toyota) with CR's continued long standing love affair with Toyota products and CR's glowing reports of our Japanese brother's vehicles simply didn't agree with common Industry analysis and current world knowledge of Toyota's recent and on going quality problems, our negative opinion of CR's proclaimed unbiased reports were justifiably upheld. I actually think that ANY manufacturing company would feel and think the same about CR's objective credibility to accurately assess a particular product. (Please note: I never would or did state that CR can't report an accurate assessment of a particular product's ability to satisfy its consumer owner's expectations. They can, obviously, but people seem to believe that they get their reports or opinions 100 percent correct ALL THE TIME).
And that's the key element of our "dirty little secret". Manufactures know that consumers take CR's reports as gospel even though they can't possibly be. Manufactures want a good CR report of course but we tend to feel that its sort of a "crap shoot" if we get one or not. So, because the media reports CR's opinion as gospel and consumers, to a person, believe that, CR is the 8,000 pound gorilla in this case.
Now .. my opinion on the current issue at hand and ZR, you already know my opinion of the iPhone antenna issue.
I do agree that paying thirty dollars for the Apple iPhone perimeter bumper is idiotic and Apple should give one as standard equipment when an iPhone is purchased. Now, if a consumer wishes a different bumper color, than that consumer should have the right to satisfy his vanity urges and pay that outrageous price to have a customized iPhone colored bumper. (I sort of think a white iPhone with a Green bumper looks cool and would remind me of a Michigan State University memory association .. but I digress)
I'm sure every Apple supporter would wish this issue would "go away" but of course, it won't. At least, not until iPhone 5 is introduced next year by Gizmodo (grin).
As for myself, purchasing an iPhone 4 would still be a viable option although the "CR duck tape" fix would not be. (I do have some engineering pride left!)
Mike
Discussion on:
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