I was floored by how accurate this Venn Diagram was. It just goes to show that products can’t be everything to everybody. By each of these competitors focusing on a couple benefits they have a differentiated value.
As humorous as this graph is, it’s telling.
Also inaccurate. While the concept is correct that an OS cannot be everything to everyone, the specific groups of Linux, Mac OS and Windows does not look accurate. Windows is not very customizable, nor can you fully conclude that Linux is stable. What version? Who evaluate it and made these conclusions? There is clearly a political agenda in this picture.
Its also inaccurate. Basically, Mike hit it dead on.
I think the point of this really isn’t a political agenda but a humorous take on the fact that customers want the moon and really you can’t give it to them, its just not possible.
My reason for showing it had more to do with the idea that you can conceivably build a solid niche or supportable position against your competitors.
I think the statements conveyed above have a lot to do with how each product is perceived and I would argue that is true, even if perceptions are not valid. The important thing in product management is perception not truth, if people think your product is vulnerable to an attack then its 1 strike against them buying it. If they think your company routinely comes out with innovative and game changing products that’s a fast track to adoption.
Ah but you can…. I’ll assume you have heard of the 80 / 20 rule?
Microsoft Windows meets at least 80% of what the corporate world requires out of a desktop environment. While there are a few organzations who have tried the Linux route, it is more experimental and trendy then production ready and stable. Even if Windows will not meet one of my requirements, I can argue that it IS everything to everyone in this particular vertical.
I could show you another diagram that may be more applicable to the desktop world; however, this site does not seem to have the ability to post graphics.