Info 202 Fall 2011

A recent thread on [noise] pointed to this article on Ars Technica about Intel's Ultrabook program and the search for a competitor to Apple's MacBook Air. The author explains a desire for a MacBook Air that isn't an Apple - essentially, a comparable laptop from one of the leading PC manufacturers. Low and behold, he is unable to find anything close.

The most interesting part, though, is when he describes his journey on the PC manufacturer websites to find this mythical Ultrabook. He illustrates completely broken organizing systems on their web stores, which arbitrarily organize different laptops using vague, overlapping descriptors. Frequently, there are search refining tools that present a plethora of options for features and requirements, all of which ultimately return a hodgepodge of confusing machines with unclear features and prices. On [noise], a few members of the I School community report similar experiences during summer laptop searches.

There is an immediate and explicit contrast to Apple's website, which has just a few simple, well-defined models to choose from. Apple, regardless of the quality of its hardware, has managed to develop a clear advantage over its competitors simply by organizing their products in a more thoughtful way. Whereas Apple and other PC makers are trying to do the same thing - maintain a few laptop lines, offer a calculated set of features for consumers, and sell the machines online - Apple has managed to design just the right mix of choices. The PC manufacturers offer too many options that change too frequently and too haphazardly. It's amazing what a good organizing system can do.