The Twelve Most Tarnished Brands In Tech

harrymcc writes "Polaroid, Netscape, CompuServe, Westinghouse, Heathkit — these were once among the most respected names in the technology business. They're still around, but what's happened to them is just plain sad. I took a look at the tragic fates of a dozen mighty brands that have, in one way or another, fallen on hard times."

Comments

Apple!

[Tumbleweed]

Depending on your perspective, I'd put Apple on the list. As soon as Jobs' marketing ego took over the company from Woz' technical brilliance (see a pattern here?), this company went all screwy. This happened with the original Mac (a pattern which Jobs would repeat). Let's replace our monumentally successful, paradigm-shifting platform (Apple 2) with something that costs 2x as much, and doesn't even have color (or available software base)! Yeah, awesome idea. Oh, and seal up the box, we don't want users installing any pesky expansion cards or more memory.

Jobs later went on to make NeXT, where he doubled (or more) (again) the price of the machine, and again started with a monochrome display (not sure about the expandability of NeXT cubes). This dude is a bit weird.

I much prefer Apple from their 8-bit days. The //GS was delayed, then crippled by marketing decisions. Very sad.

Re:Personal Anecdote

[purpleraison]

I still use HP printers exclusively at home, and recommend them to customers as well.

Then you, sir, are a douche! HP printers can eat a bag of ass. Have you ever come across the 'expired ink' message (you know, where the ink has been in the printer 'too long', so it will not print until you replace the cartridges-- quite expensive even when you ARE out of ink!!). That was the last straw for me. I will never recommend or buy another HP product ever.

As for working best with linux, I'd have to disagree there too, I think Brother is far more supportive these days.

Regardless, I will chisel crap in stone before HP gets another penny of my money.