You're right that "fractal" is a bit sloppy here. It's always been a tawdry analogy when used like this that will annoy anyone who likes their words to have meaning.
But I think his underlying point is that Apple
consistently executes similar values and priorities in many different areas -- for a company of its size, it's amazingly coherent and consistent.
Compare them to HP, where the CEO kills an entire product division that their webpage is still breathlessly promoting for days afterwards, which makes it seem like no one knows what the hell is going on over there and that they don't really believe in anything they do. As soon as Apple announces something, its whole public persona is consistent with that. It's kind of amazing. At the very least, you can count on being consistently annoyed with their values.
Fractals have a property called self-similarity, where "a self-similar object is exactly or approximately similar to a part of itself."
John is saying that Apple's products have an "Apple-ness", as does each app on each product, each feature within each app, etc.
He is suggesting that the zen-like simplicity of Apple can be found at many different levels of the organization. I don't think it's overly biased dribble... it's an eloquent point that Apple Inc. is a culture (cult?) with a clearly identifiable philosophy that permeates every element of the org.
Gruber always makes a more compelling argument than the masses constantly slinging "fanboy" around innumerable internet forums. So you disagree with him, fine, why don't you post your own analysis instead of the incessant name calling.
Comments
How exactly is a company a fractal design? What the hell does that mean really?
Seriously how does this apple-ass-clown constantly make it to the front page?
Apple is not a person it is a company. Steve might be full of humility, Apple is not.
You're right that "fractal" is a bit sloppy here. It's always been a tawdry analogy when used like this that will annoy anyone who likes their words to have meaning.
But I think his underlying point is that Apple consistently executes similar values and priorities in many different areas -- for a company of its size, it's amazingly coherent and consistent.
Compare them to HP, where the CEO kills an entire product division that their webpage is still breathlessly promoting for days afterwards, which makes it seem like no one knows what the hell is going on over there and that they don't really believe in anything they do. As soon as Apple announces something, its whole public persona is consistent with that. It's kind of amazing. At the very least, you can count on being consistently annoyed with their values.
Completely agree. Why is this militant fanboy's posts always front page? It's overly biased dribble every time.
Fractals have a property called self-similarity, where "a self-similar object is exactly or approximately similar to a part of itself."
John is saying that Apple's products have an "Apple-ness", as does each app on each product, each feature within each app, etc.
He is suggesting that the zen-like simplicity of Apple can be found at many different levels of the organization. I don't think it's overly biased dribble... it's an eloquent point that Apple Inc. is a culture (cult?) with a clearly identifiable philosophy that permeates every element of the org.
Exactly.
"You write on your site; I write on mine." http://daringfireball.net/2010/06/whats_fair
It _still_ isn't clear whether the parent is Daring Fireball's author ( but I don't suppose I doubt it much )
Verified: http://twitter.com/#!/gruber/status/106762517526745089
Thank you!
Gruber always makes a more compelling argument than the masses constantly slinging "fanboy" around innumerable internet forums. So you disagree with him, fine, why don't you post your own analysis instead of the incessant name calling.