How Apple is like an Eagles song (music video)

An old lyric takes on a different meaning with new subscription models in the wings.

From Will Gomez’ “Join Apple’s Ecosystem And Pay Forever,” posted Friday on Mac360:

Yes, you can wander through any of earth’s deserts, but you do so with a greater degree of risk than members of Apple’s ecosystem. Of course, membership has its privileges, but it also has a price tag that is not at all unlike Hotel California.

“Relax,” said the night man
“We are programmed to receive,
You can check out any time you like
But you can never leave!”

What’s the price of living in Apple’s ecosystem? Loyalty and money. What do you get in return? Good products (usually) that work well together (mostly), and the understanding that life is worse elsewhere, and you’re better off if you never leave.

My take: One of my favorites.

Click for live at the Forum, Inglewood, Ca, 4th March 1980.

See also:

• Peter Kafka: What Apple’s got up its sleeve
• Laura Martin: There are 13 kinds of network effects