Apple CEO Likens Surface To Car That Flies, Floats

theodp writes "Conceding that he hadn't actually played with one, Apple CEO Tim Cook told Wall Street that Microsoft's Surface tablet is 'a fairly compromised, confusing product' in the company's 4Q earnings call. Cook joked, 'I supposed you could design a car that flies and floats, but it wouldn't do those things very well.' In Apple's 2Q earnings call, Cook also mocked the idea of touch on a laptop or desktop, quipping, 'You can converge a toaster and a refrigerator, but those things are probably not going be pleasing to the user.' Cook added, 'We've done tons of user testing on this, and it turns out it doesn't work. Touch surfaces don't want to be vertical.' So, is Cook just pulling a page from Steve Jobs' people-don't-read-anymore playbook, or is he unaware that children happily used vertical touch screens forty years ago on UIUC's PLATO System (more PLATO History)?"

Compromised and Confusing

[tokencode]

The only compromised and confusing thing is Tim Cook.

Makes me want it

[Anonymous Coward]

A car that flies and floats? Sign me up.

Re:They need to ignore MS

[PopeRatzo]

Once you let them into the conversation about a product, you're granting them an equivalence in many people's eyes.

Especially don't mention a company that pummeled you in the OS wars for a decade.

But Apple shouldn't worry about Microsoft, because technology companies never have resurgences.

He didn't have the time?

[accessbob]

"Conceding that he hadn't actually played with one..." He was too busy trying to navigate from home using Apple Maps perhaps?

Re:DOA..

[Anonymous Coward]

Children are our future, after all.

Re:Oops

[Anonymous Coward]

You'll probably lose your warranty for holding it wrong.

Flying Car Manufacturer

[Big Hairy Ian]

Sues Tim Cook for defamation. :)

Re:Nice

[Paradise Pete]

What exactly is news worthy about this?

You didn't see the part about flying cars?