Why Clinton vs. Obama seems like iPods vs. Windows

[TeamJordan23]

http://www.suntimes.com/news/bevan/478129,CST-EDT-BEVAN21.article

Why Clinton vs. Obama seems like iPods vs. Windows
July 21, 2007
TOM BEVAN

Hillary Clinton, of course, is like Microsoft. Her campaign is a disciplined corporate behemoth that is based almost entirely around a rational offer (in this case, experience) but has very limited emotional appeal. That's not to say Democrats don't view her favorably -- they do -- but she does not excite the kind of emotions in voters that make her a compelling choice.

Even Clinton's strategy is based on a model similar to the one that fueled Microsoft's rise: Gobble up enough money, talent and endorsements (i.e., market share) to squeeze out smaller competitors and become the ''inevitable'' choice.

Microsoft achieved dominance not necessarily because people felt any joy in buying its products but because at the end of the day, thanks to ruthless tactics and execution, it became impractical for most people to choose anything else. Clinton hopes to achieve the same.

Barack Obama, on the other hand, is like Apple. His brand is driven primarily by its emotional appeal: He is exciting and fresh to some, hip and cool to others. Most important, his brand inspires hope and optimism, two exceedingly powerful emotions that allow people to make a statement about themselves by casting a vote for him.

Apple achieved a great deal of success -- though not parity with Microsoft -- in much the same way by cultivating its image as hip, cool, and anti-authoritarian. For many people, buying a Mac has been as much about making a statement about who they are as it has been about buying a piece of electronics.

Incorporated in 1980, Apple caught the public imagination in 1984 with a visually arresting ad that perfectly captured the essence of its brand and juxtaposed it with that of Microsoft, and so it's fitting that one of the first real intriguing moments of this year's campaign was a re-creation of that ad on YouTube pitting the upstart Obama against the front-runner Clinton.

Seven months into the campaign, that imagery has lasted much longer and developed more fully than most expected. Clinton remains the front-runner, but Obama has shown that his brand has staying power while Clinton's now looks less dominant than it once did.

[William769]

1. And yet Windows is used by 95%of the world! Thanks for the compliment TeamJordan23.

[Colobo]

2. The world dances to the beat of the IPod

[msongs]

3. thanks to monopolistic business practices and file theft nt

[NYCGirl]

8. Monopolistic business practices = Microsoft NT

[TeamJordan23]

4. I don't understand why you thought the point of this article was supposed to be a hit againt HRC.

Very self-conscious I guess. I just thought it was a fun read.

[William769]

5. Did I say it was a hit?

All I said was thanks for the Compliment. :)

[Like It Is]

6. However

Joe Biden is by far the most qualified and well versed candidate!

[NoPasaran]

23. So that would make him, what? Linux?

Mike Gravel, on the other hand, is the wacky old guy still using punch cards.

[Blue_In_AK]

7. I hope neither one of these people is the candidate

personally.

[Jillian]

9. And that is why I am voting for the corvette

Been around the block a few times, but still pretty cool.
Dependable. I know what I am getting.

[rucky]

10. Clinton's like bagels, Obama's like cream cheese.

Clinton's like Cory Haim, Obama's like Corey Feldman


Clinton is Mo, Obama is Mentum

[illinoisprogressive]

11. I've always liked Apple better. I like cool and innovative.

[illinoisprogressive]

12. It's like Clinton is a buick and Obama is the ferarri

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

19. and red hat, ubuntu, & fedora are spaceships..

[wyldwolf]

13. I don't disagree with the Clinton/Microsoft comparison, but I do with the Obama/Apple one

Obama is more like knock-off of windows, trying to be like Windows, succeeding in some cases, but ultimately falling short. All the while, though, consumers are trying to sell him as the hip PC choice.

[Ethelk2044]

14. I agree with your comparison of Obama

He is new Fresh. His campaign is trying things no other campaign has tried before. It is a ground breaking campaign.

[calteacherguy]

15. Well, I'm typing this on my ibook, so what more can I say? nt

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

16. For NBA Fans

Hillary = Kobe Bryant
Obama = Greg Oden

Just to drive home the point
Bill Clinton = Shaq

[illinoisprogressive]

17. Obama is jazz and Clinton is pop

[Ethelk2044]

20. For BasketBall

Hillary = Kobe Bryant
Obama = Michael Jordan

[Indy_Dem_Defender]

21. Another

Hillary = Sam Bowie
Obama = Michael Jordan

[BrokenBeyondRepair]

18. ms and apple are both inferior to open source

only obstacle w/ open source is you have to have a basic understanding of the device when using..

[Perry Logan]

22. Who's the Unix candidate?