Why are Apple and Naim so good at what they do?

Your link isn't working Tony.

Both excellent products that I use exclusively. Oh, except for the best source in the world. 

Sorry, Steve.

Please copy and paste this onto google:

Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action | Talk Video |

It thought it was an interesting talk. Others may not agree.

Thanks

Are Apple still at that level, I'm not so sure if they have either the leadership or the innovation anymore

I think what tell Apple and Naim apart from other companies is an aspiration and desire to be innovative and create a means to where people interaction with technology is not a mere metaphysical  purchase of goods  but ultimately a semiotic sensorial experience.

Both conpanies started out with the simplest premise of "creating" an "experience" within which they could share their vision: innovation!

Tony

I totally agree with you. Naim maintain their position because they strive like hell to be the best in every aspect of their business.

Naim are still at the top for quality of product, quality of sound, longevity of product, value for money and customer care.

It has simply got to the stage where they are my product of obvious choice.

Regards

Mick

May need to consider what the human cost is on the people who make them, to understand why they're cheaper.

Chris

As a customer I see don't really see too many similarities.

For me Naim have pursued performance over style/fashion and fad. In recent years they have been innovative not for innovations sake but to remain abreast of changing music listening and owning. I also expect and get excellent customer support-even for very old models

Apple upgrade and update remoreselssly for the sake of it it seems. Not sure about customer service either.

Bruce

I agree with Bruce,

I respect Naim because they engineer products that offer state of the art performance for the price level and back that up with superb customer service and longevity.

Apple have pursued a policy of in-built obsolescence (non-replaceable batteries, non-upgradeable memory) allied to superb form factor and design.  I think Bang and Olufsen are closer to Apple although even they don't change models so often.

I have an iphone and my wife has an ipad but so far none of their laptops have convinced me that they offer either state of the art performance for the price or future proof flexibility.  I agree that Apple do make incredibly sexy kit as Bang and Olufsen do - but like B&O I don't think they offer value for money i.e. their performance is rarely commensurate with the price.

Apple's greatest achievements I feel are in recognising the importance of user interface and form factor and in seeing the potential for new devices like the ipod that people didn't know they needed.  Steve Jobs had great skill as a visionary and remains one of the century's great innovators though he didn't strike me as the most likeable individual!

Apple however are in my view somewhat contradictory in terms of their philosophy.  On the one hand they espouse simplicity and clarity and yet on the other they persist in using proprietary interface cables and protocols.  As an example most of my previous phones could be charged (along with other devices) by taking a mini USB and plugging it into a laptop but I have to take a separate cable for my iphone and the ipad takes yet another type of cable - it's ridiculous and cumbersome and is not customer focused.

It will be interesting to see if Apple are forced to eliminate their non-replaceable batteries and their proprietary cables in the face of rising competition.

I'm someone who loves products that offer an open ecosystem - it's why I own a Kobo not a Kindle, an Alienware not an Apple.

Each to their own though.

Jonathan

Hmm, I think the companies are quite different. Apple is mass consumer organisation that does truly innovate product.. They develop patents and acquire then from elsewhere to support the development of their products. They are a mass market product manufacturer.

Naim are tiny by comparison even when considered as the Naim Focal Group. By comparison Naim are a niche player, and not mass market. They need to nurture their specialist consumers. If I am honest I also question Naim being state of the art.. I don't see to much in terms of patent development or involvement in organisations such as the AES where a lot of state of the art development in audio engineering is discussed, critiqued, reviewed etc.

Undoubtly Naim are extremely good and successful and what they do and excel at their attention to detail, optimisation and tuning of their products, but to me that is different from state of the art.

Now Focal seems to have a more heavy weight R&D  in Saint Etienne, and that does boast a string of technical innovation and firsts in loudspeaker design.

Both companies have loyal following and strong brand value in their respective sectors, but that is probably the limit of their similarities In my opinion. I guess from a philosophy both wish for excellence at what they do and the product they make.. But I think that applies to a lot of companies.

Simon

Why are Apple and Naim so good at what they do?

Do you mean the fact that they like to make announcements that there is going to be a future announcement? Or the smug self-aggrandizing?

Simon

Where Naim score is that although they are number one in their field, they are not the publicity seeking sluts that Apple are. With Steve Jobs, it was always a case of "all publicity is good publicity".

Naim have always put their time and energy in doing the important thing and that is constantly improving their product  and the way it communicates music.

The end result is a brilliant relationship with a very loyal customer base who trust them to get it right.

Regards

Mick

Truly great leaders - Churchill, MLK, FDR, Lincoln, Cicero, etc - would never dream of resorting to this kind of MBA management-speak which is just vacuous, platitudinous crap. Most so-called "business leaders" are just overpaid, self-regarding and talentless buffoons who forget the first and most important principles of leadership, which are to lead by example; and to ensure your people are paid a fair day's pay for a fair day's work.

I actually think a much closer parallel would be Naim and Leica. Both company's products are very high quality, hand-built by craftsmen and backed up with exceptional customer service. Both also have very passionate "user bases".

Just add IWC and you have all my vices in one!

G