Chevy Volt and the Apple Macintosh

larry4pyro · May 1, 2012

Ross Pomeroy discusses the Chevy Volt and the Apple Macintosh on the Real Clear Science website. He points to the difficulties both products had, or is having, at their inception. While both were incredibly innovative, public acceptance was slow, but in the end the technology used in these products had, or will have, major impact on our lives.

"A mere 16 months after the Chevy Volt's U.S. release, the manic fanfare surrounding the vehicle has fizzled. Critics are now arraigning the car from all angles, and many regard it as a flop. But amidst this onslaught of criticism and bad press, a different, less apparent comparison comes to mind. The Chevy Volt is very much like Apple's original Macintosh. Here's how:"

- Hype, Hype and More Hype
- A Price Too High
- Sales Short of Expectations
- A Dedicated Customer Base
- Forerunners of Innovation

"Yes, in part thanks to the Volt, technology is moving forward. And as Steve Jobs quoted Bob Dylan at the launch of the original Macintosh, "The times, they are a-changin'.""

Interesting article. While this was writted for the Volt, I think it might apply as well for the Leaf.

http://www.realclearscience.com/articles/2012/04/30/chevy_volt_is_like_apples_macintosh_106267.html

dmwvolt · May 1, 2012

As someone who bought one of the original 128k Macs (as well as just about every Apple product since) and who now owns a Volt, I think the comparison with the original Mac is exaggerated. The original Mac was more of a proof of concept than a usable product. It had barely enough memory to run any programs, of which there were only a handful. It had no hard disk. It had limited printing capabilities. It had no multitasking. Also, it crashed and needed to be rebooted several times a day. In short, it was really only a toy and would take many generations and iterations to become suitable for its intended use.

The Volt, on the other hand, is a fully functional, refined automobile that meets or exceeds its intended purpose in every respect. While it has been compared to the Chevy Cruze, a more apt comparison is to upscale sedans like Audis, Lexuses, BMWs and Audis. I have owned my Volt for almost 2 months and it has performed exactly as advertised. On most days it has exceeded the EPA estimated electric range, enabling me to commute to work round trip without using any gas. And it is a joy to drive.

Yes, as battery and charging technology improves, electric range will probably improve. But I consider the Volt to be a perfectly suitable vehicle for someone who typically drives 30-50 miles per day. They will have a vehicle that compares favorably with the latest upscale sedans in the same price range, is loaded with the latest technology, is fun to drive, and will use virtually no gas.

More like an iPhone than a Mac!

saghost · May 1, 2012

We already have a thread on this article...

http://gm-volt.com/forum/showthread.php?13504-Volt-is-like-the-Macintosh

I didn't get a Mac until 2006, but I won't be going back to windows. Similarly, I doubt I'll be going back to an ICE car, so there is some parallel, in the game changing aspect at least.

Chevy Volt and the Apple Macintosh

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