I Want To Be A Mac Media Pundit. It’s Easy.

By Jeffrey Mincey • Wednesday, December 27, 2006 • Home » Forum Topics »

Future - Jeffrey As Macworld 2007 nears, so do the media pundits and prognosticators—the world’s easiest job.

After reading what some of the more popular writers write, I’m sure I can do at least as good because it’s just too easy.

I read the latest blurb from the popular-in-his-own-family Rob Enderle and decided I’d had enough literary rubbish for one day.

How hard can it be to become a media pundit and prognosticator like Rob?

About all that’s necessary is a cheap soapbox to stand on and an opinion on everything. Facts or relevance are not important.

Rob’s latest was an article of 100-percent pure fluff, and I think I can do that with my eyes closed. If you’ve read my articles to date on Mac360, you might think I’ve already started.

For example, Rob asks the question, “Is Microsoft’s Problem Apple Envy?” I think it is, but this can’t be considered news worthy or even a new idea.

“Today, more people touch Apple through the iPod than through its PCs. As a result of focusing on what it does best, Apple is stronger than it has ever been before—but still has nowhere near the strength or influence of Microsoft.”

That’s called the basic premise that’s hard to argue against. It’s what comes next that’s science fictionalizing the future.

“Without Zune, there is even a possibility—granted, a very slim one—that Apple might license from Microsoft. With Zune, there is none. The music and movie industries would love to just have one standard—see how much they like the whole Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD thing.”

Deep in the darkest recesses of your mind do you have any idea what that means? Me neither. But someone is paying the guy to write it.

Worse, Rob goes into a hyperbolic chamber to soak up oxygen so he can unleash another anti-Apple diatribe, defending research that’s already been refuted by everyone—except the researchers and Rob, who once worked with said researchers.

“The Mac folks made their usual mature response, and they and several other folks pointed to a ComScore study that supposedly refuted the Forrester work. As some of you know, I’m an ex-Forrester research fellow myself, and while I didn’t work on the numbers side, I know the firm’s methodology is solid. More important, I know Josh, the author—he was sort of my opposite number on that side of the house—and he typically does excellent work.”

What we know is that the work was poorly devised, poorly defended, and easily refuted, sans any other research sponsored by anyone. Wrong is wrong.

I’m beginning to understand that many tech media pundits simply write crapola in such a way as to antagonize readers, which results in more web site hits, and an enchanced reputation among the Windows folks who love to snicker at Mac users.

While wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, the anti-Apple pundit throws out a loving potshot for readers of Mac news.

“So that’s my holiday gift to you. Have a wonderful time off, enjoy your family, and stay safe. If you want something to read to the kids, here is a gift the Mac folks gave me a few years ago, and it is truly precious—and very well done.”

Snicker. The link points to a wonderful rhyme from Your Mac Life—The Enderle Who Stole Macworld.

Based on Rob’s The Pursuit of Wimpyness articles, I’ve decided I can be a techno media pundit, Apple and Microsoft prognosticator, too. First up, Rob’s reputation among his ilk will remain the same color of brown as always.

If I’m wrong, let me know.

Click Here to see reader comments on this article in the Mac360 Forums.

Classy Mac360 Photo By Jeffrey Mincey | I work as a PC System Administrator (Windows, Macs, Linux) for the state government in Atlanta, Georgia and have used Macs for more than 20 years. Most of it late at night.

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