Wednesday, August 3

What Google, Apple, Palm and Blackberry have in common.

The word I hear most commonly to attempt to describe the success of the Mac, the Palm Pilot, Google, and the Blackberry is "simplicity". But I think there is a lot more to it than that. The word I would use is elegance. You will not hear this word used too often to describe technology. Simplicity is usually a necessary, but not sufficient condition for elegance. Elegance also implies a couple of other things. One is that the technology works. The other is that there is a deep, hidden complexity and power. So in your next design meeting, say "How can we make this product elegant?" And see if you get laughed out of the room.

Blackberry is in the process of blowing it. My 7100t crashes all the time.