As if there wasn’t enough mentioned about Apple and Nintendo, the discussion continues. Washington Square News writes: “Apple and Nintendo’?s overall approaches to new product development aren’?t far apart, either. Both consistently innovate and refine technologies in their markets and have high reputations for putting out products that simply work? and work well, and are inevitably imitated by competitors.”
Regardless of the similarities, is the Apple/Nintendo comparison played out? And are a large number of Mac users also Nintendo consumers and vice versa?
[image courtesy of the Arton personal collection]
vakerorokero
I guess it’s a matter or rooting for the little guy
PRGuitarman
I personally don’t think it’s played out. I mean, I’ve only personally seen Nintendo and Apple going at this approach, so it’s not like everybody else has jumped that bandwagon…at least yet.
But I really like this slick/sexy while not trying to be too flashy style.
NuclearIce
I was doing te theory thing with some friends today, cause we had talked about Linux on the PS3, and the Windows on the 360, I thought it would be neat if Tiger (OSX) ran the virtual console. With these “apple” designs it just makes you think.
Rowan
GCN uses a G4 chip so I wouldnt be too surprised at an announcement like that – Iwata did actually mention that Virtual console would work very similarly to iTunes – if so that would be a massive scoop on their part.
Wai-Tung Leung
As a mac and Nintendo fan I’m naturally love the comparisons, but realistically we all know Apple and Nintendo are just similar but not in any relationship. Both companies have got their own thing going so I don’t see any of these mergers or partnerships (though if it was announced at E3 I would probably have a heart attack). Still as long as Nintendo keeps learning new tricks from Apple they look set to have a new era of success and respectibility. 😀
morningstarrising
Apple…..Yeah, that’s Nintendo. lol.
The comparisons are popping up more because of the similarities in history(iPod/GBA~DS), and as seen at GCD when the Pepsi comparison pop up, if your going to hype the “Blue Ocean” strategy you’ll need people to point to other companies and say “They prove it can work”
But what really started this is the look of the Revolution and the DS lite. Very Apple like products. This really what solidified it.
Doughboy74
Being both an Apple and Nintendo fan/proud owner, I love the comparisons. Better products, innovation, and they just plain ‘work’. I have never had a Nintendo console/handheld just stop working for me. Likewise, I have never owned an Apple product that just quit on me. Can’t say that for my old Sony Vaio PC. Both have great interfaces, design, etc… Keep it simple. Both companies keep it SIMPLE! Simplicity works for gamers and non-gamers. They have the ball in their courts. Let’s play!
karawapo
yeah, nintendo and apple have always been innovating and being copied. others could make more profit in the 90s, but only apple and nintendo can give me the quality, design and logical way of thinking that i have learnt to expect from a product.
both macs and nintendo handhelds get lots of criticism from people who haven’t even seen one in real life, while people who get used to them can hardly switch to their competitors/imitators’ products.
at this stage of my life, i’m happy using daily 3 macs, 2 gba sp, a micro, a gb light, and my ds.
wonder when ds lites will ship again to my local shop.
Anonymous
Heh. I don’t like the Apple/Nintendo comparisons because I don’t really like Apple (though I do love Nintendo). Give me a PC and a Zen over a Mac and an iPod anyday.
David
Anyone who has seen FrontRow on the newer Macs would probably agree that it would be a very sexy style of interface for the Revolution to use on the Virtual Console. And it lends itself to manipulation via the Revmote.
Anonymous
I’m really tired of the Apple/Nintendo comparisons, personally. Yes, the DS Lite is white… the Rev is white… we get it. It looks like a white iPod. Apple didn’t invent the color white, which a lot of people don’t seem to realize.
And I really dislike seeing Apple and Nintendo lumped together as “underdogs”. Apple has what, 1% of the home computing market? Nintendo has a much bigger chunk of the home console market, and basically owns the portable arena. Apple now owns the portable music market but they are still floundering as ever when it comes to home computing. The GameCube didn’t exactly crush the PS2 and Xbox but at least it held its own and made Nintendo some money.
Anonymous
I love nintendo products,, but I can’t stand most apple products.
I hate mac’s.
Doughboy74
Many people out there ‘hate Mac’s”. Why? I want to know why people hate Mac’s or the company Apple… I have used both, Mac at home, PC at work, and to me, Windows XP is just Windows 95 with a different theme. Many people just say they hate Mac’s, Apple, and never give any reasons. I just wonder why? They are much easier to use. OSX Tiger user…
Andross Gowlandinki
Macs are reliable, they get 35 hw MPG, and they can run on E85 ethanol
oh, and you can buy them for $100 with a monitor, ^_^
bake the damn baby!
jojonyc
i love both. both companies focus on actually getting use and enjoyment from their products than inciting fanboy arguments over this or that feature. they simply put out good, robust products that deliver.
and don’t forget though that apple came out with the 5 color imacs 3 years after nintendo originally did the same 5 colors of gameboys. i always kind of suspected that’s where the idea originated.
Poop, Master of All He Surverys
People who hate macs are so ignorant. All of you guys do us all a favor and switch. http://www.apple.com/switch/
Oh and @Anon 2, Apple did invent the color white, about 4 years ago, I believe.
Doughboy74
Pretty much what I wanted to say. PC users are the majority as of now, although Apple is the smart choice if you want something that will not crash and that can last you. I am still sick of PC users that are ‘stuck’ on this Windows 95 (XP) interface. Upgrade already!
(See previous post to SWITCH.)
Anonymous
If the DS Lite wasn’t originally unveiled in a white shell, no one would have said a damn thing about it being Apple-esque.
I’ll switch to apple when they actually make their applications COMPATIBLE with the new intel chips that they say are worth your second mortgage.
Wai-Tung Leung
Hahaha! 😛
The irony in the number of people who have dismissed the Apple/Nintendo comparisons is that it only further solidifies it. Cus let’s face the music as much as there are fans for both companies, there are also a large number of people who hate our guts. And now here’s where my fanboyishm (not a real word) takes hold!
And I really dislike seeing Apple and Nintendo lumped together as “underdogs”. Apple has what, 1% of the home computing market? Nintendo has a much bigger chunk of the home console market, and basically owns the portable arena. Apple now owns the portable music market but they are still floundering as ever when it comes to home computing.
First comparison, Apple and Nintendo are both dismissed and people are ignorant of both companies. Somebody could equally have exaggerated that Nintendo has just a tiny faction of the home console market. Besides the general consensus is that Apple has round 3% of the computer market in general (because windows dominates enterprize market) and even bigger in the home market and is now increasing.
Heh. I don’t like the Apple/Nintendo comparisons because I don’t really like Apple (though I do love Nintendo). Give me a PC and a Zen over a Mac and an iPod anyday.
I bet somebody, somewhere, sometime, said “Give me a PS2 and a PSP over a GameCube and DS anyday.” See, no matter how people see it, Nintendo and Apple are equally loafed. But if it makes you any happier there are just as many Apple fans who are dismissive of Nintendo, you lot ought to yet up an anti-Apple/Nintendo comparison website.
Ah well, I think someday I’m definitely going to have to make my own Apple/Nitnendo fansite for us cross breed fanboys and girls! 😛
Wai-Tung Leung
And to add further to the issue (not that anybody is reading this), Apple are not only increasing their home computer market but analysis expect it to accelerate with the unvailing of bootcamp. So there! :p