Absolutely great article by Seth Godin on hardware/software perspectives.
Looking at the giants, like Apple. Here are some of points from the article:
- Software can change faster than hardware, which means that in changing markets, bet on software. * It’s tempting to treat the user interface as a piece of fashion, some bling, a sort of jewelry. It’s not. It’s the way your user controls the tool you build. Change it when it stops working, not when you’re bored with it. Every time you change the interface, you better have a really good reason. * Hardware always gets cheaper. If you can’t win that race, don’t run it. * Getting users is far more expensive than keeping users, which means that investing in keeping users is the smartest way to maintain your position and then grow. * Software can create connection, and connection is the engine of our future economy.