I am posting this here since it did not get reflected in HBS blog
----
Hi Umair,

I agree about the arguments about Google made here but saying that they also match with Apple hmmm ! I am not sure.

As once before I would venture to say that either what you are saying is wrong or maybe I have not understood the point well enough as this post is very sketchy.

Btw every time I read a post of yours this is what rings in my head "Umair's posts are like 'mini skirts' - What they reveal is tantalizing, but what they hide is crucial." - adapted from a very popular sidduism(http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Navjot_Singh_Sidhu) :D


But anyway getting back to the topic.Building products by acing across all the dimension of functionality, form/aesthetics & emotional appeal apple has many times established its supremacy but you have yourself have made arguments ( and have taken a lot of heat for it) in bubblegen circa 2004 - 2006-7 that apple does not understand platform strategy at all

Indirect network effects, establishing platform value chain and acting a platform coordinator is alien to Apple/Jobs crew.

If I understand the thesis of the edge competencies (essential strand of new DNA) right then they rest on the foundation of network economics and strategy ( next generation of it rather than the old version of Val Harian).

One thing I agree is that Jobs always tries to redefine value chain by creating huge value for the consumers but it has not been so far in tune with network econ so I am not sure how much what is argued in this post is correct.

- Rajan