Comments on: Why Are Apple's Designs So Damn Sexy?

By: GrandpaChris

GrandpaChris — Thu, 18 Jan 2007 03:15:56 +0000

Zune and iPhone have design similarities but the big difference is covered in he word “simple”. KISS is he consumers mantra. Simple, ease of use, clear functions, crisp, clean describes what I’ve seen in iPhone usage.

By: ufniahs

ufniahs — Wed, 17 Jan 2007 15:29:21 +0000

if you ask me, and noone has…
Aside from the Zune’s functionality, it’s basically (from a design standpoint) a hybrid bite off the iPod and Palm Pilot.

(While not defending either), the iPhone has a newer and fresher design all around, and it’s site reflects that (which was the entire point of this blog, no?) Patrick is right, the Zune uses an overly complex layout and lots of verbage to promote how cool it can be.

@jason and akshay – just cause someone pooped in your cereal this morning doesn’t mean ya gotta be condesending devil’s advocates.
evaluate your argument b4 you post – - sucka!

By: Erika

Erika — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 16:55:27 +0000

I agree with BREN, if the design is gonna cost me more than I already paid for my i-pod or Blackberry- I’m not getting the iPhone.

However, I do agree with Patrick on how they stuffed the space on ZUNE with too much of this and that, rather than really getting the visitors to focus on the features of the product, like Apple did for their iPhone. ZUNE has a really good commercial that makes you want to buy the product, and if it is less than the cost of the iPhone, design of the website ultimately won’t matter.

PS > AKSHAY- did you watch Borat? He was told the Hummer is some sort of magnet and I don’t think it had anything to do with small whatchamacallits.

By: Blake P.

Blake P. — Mon, 15 Jan 2007 04:07:22 +0000

I think the differences between the two are the most important. As more people adopt a similar look, that same look begins to lose its appeal. If Microsoft and Apple were just alike, someone else would have to be the anti-Microsoft.

By: John Amore

John Amore — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:41:44 +0000

I actually think that everyone should just take a step back and relax. This is one person’s opinion and I enjoyed the way he layed it out.

And Akshay, you say that it’s a stupid example and then you make a completely juvenile example yourself throwing your credibility out the window. Unless of course you have done significant hands-on research to back up your claims of men with small “equipment” who own Hummers.

By: Akshay

Akshay — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 22:26:12 +0000

Actually, Jason seems right after reading this. It is a load of rubbish. Patrick is conflating product design and web design principles. “Simply put, design solves problems in whatever medium it is pertaining to.” doesn’t really cut it. While the point he’s trying to make is valid, he’s using a really stupid example to make it.

Actually, more than one stupid example. If you think a Hummer is beautiful or sexy, chances are your are either (a) a man with a small penis, or (b) a woman with a man with a small penis.

By: bren

bren — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 19:16:41 +0000

@jason:
I completely agree (to a degree). This article was specifically about the design of the websites. I believe what you were getting at is why do most people assume that a website’s design reflects the product its displaying. The author of the article and the arrogant commentors were not saying this, however, I agree that this is most people’s perspective and I will take a stab that the author (and many readers) are without a doubt more excited about the iPhone than zune, 100% due to design and not functionality. On a completely unrelated note: I do not believe this phone will succeed because it doesn’t add enough value at the price and does not replace any serious business professionals phone. I wouldn’t give up my nokia e62 for this phone. I certainly wouldn’t pay the same as an e62, 30gb ipod, and wii for this phone.

By: Patrick

Patrick — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 16:42:15 +0000

Like troll says, this is purely an objective analysis of design concepts employed by two companies, not their products. I’ve taken a few interface design and graphic design classes and we use the same methods of critiquing to look at web pages, posters, magazines, etc. All fanboyism aside, you tend to look at Apple’s designs and their use of a variety of elements such as simplicity, whitespace, gridding, and visual organization amongst many others with a certain sense of satisfaction and pleasure.Ã‚Â Another characteristic that I noticed differing between the two is functionality. Apple’s iPhone page provides information in a less obtrusive way: “This is how you use the iPhone”, “These are some of its features”… Microsoft’s Zune page feels more like an ad with the pictures of people smiling, holding it in their hands, or what have you. This is true throughout their respective product pages and can sometimes alienate the web audience.

By: Mike Johnson

Mike Johnson — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 16:08:00 +0000

@jason – did you even read the article dude? troll is exactly right: “you need to larn tuh reed gooder than what you duz now!”

This guy is talking about the DESIGN of apple’s products, not how they operate/sell/etc.

Patrick, good post man, I liked the examples a lot and i also like that you didn’t just sit there and bash microsoft and just showed the differences from your perspective as a designer.

By: troll

troll — Sat, 13 Jan 2007 15:09:35 +0000

to jason:

wow. you obviously missed the entire point of this post. it’s not a defense of the product itself, just an analysis of the design language used by apple (and compared to m$). you need to larn tuh reed gooder than what you duz now!