simple is fashionable for 2007
It seems that “simple” products may be what consumers will want in 2007. CNet News.com quotes Ed Zander, Motorola CEO:
“Mobile communication, said Zander, “is coming down to cool experiences and simple things.”” [1]
I wonder if one comes first: cool or simple? (Chicken or Egg?)
Do people use simple products and then declare them cool, or do people use cool products and then declare them cool?
The answer could be both: “both”.
a.) Some people, after finding a product simple to use, will then declare it cool and recommend it to other people.
b.) Those other people, before using the product, and based upon either hearing of the ‘cool’ endorsement or observing a ‘cool’ factor of the product such as its appearance / design / product feature list, will be motivated to use the product, figure it out, and then deem it simple.
So, instead of COOL/SIMPLE being a ‘Chicken or Egg?’ thing, maybe they’re more of a ‘Peanut Butter and Chocolate Together’ thing – two ingredients of one product.
One more observation. Can you substitute these words into Ed’s quote?
Cool = Fashionable/Fun
Simple = Useful
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1. Motorola’s mission? Make everything mobile, By Erica Ogg, Staff Writer, CNET News.com, Published: January 8, 2007, 3:48 PM PST, http://news.com.com/Motorolas+mission+Make+everything+mobile/2100-1033-6148323.html
November 30th, 2007 at 8:36 pm
Update: 2007 November 30:
At the end of 2007, Ed Zander will step down as CEO at Motorola but stay on a little longer as Chairman of the Board and as a strategic advisor.
I’m not sure if this news diminishes Zander’s vision. Did the competition just do a better job of creating cool & simple products / experiences?
(fyi: Greg Brown, Motorola’s COO and President will take the CEO spot.)
Motorola Press Release:
Motorola Names Greg Brown Chief Executive Officer, Succeeding Edward J. Zander Who Remains Chairman