Apple Control Mechanisms

Cost control refers to the way Apple Computers Inc. standardizes the allocation of financial resources. Cheng (2006), “When Apple's first generation of Intel-based laptops started rolling out, first with the MacBook Pro and then the MacBook a few months later, initial user reports seemed almost too good to be true. “Faster than a speeding bullet!”   “More powerful than a locomotive!” (para. 1).   Initially, the transition to Intel microchips was largely viewed as a success, at least in terms of product reviews.   Despite the fact that the company was transitioning to a new architecture, Apple chose to stick with the general appearance and design of their popular PowerBook line because it was more cost effective.
Feedback acknowledges people’s actions and assures them that processing is occurring. People expect immediate feedback when they operate a control, and they appreciate status updates during lengthy operations.   The built-in iOS applications respond to every user action with some discernible change.   For example, list items highlight briefly when people tap them.   In addition, during lengthy operations, a feedback control mechanism shows elapsing progress, and if appropriate, the app displays an explanatory message.   Furthermore, subtle animation can give people meaningful feedback that helps clarify the results of their actions.   For example, lists can animate the addition of a new row to help people track the change visually.
In terms of hardware, Apple's success is overloading its own quality control. With manufacturers that need to produce a record number of Macs, iPods, iPhones, and accessories, it is without a doubt that some testers overlook several tests in order to ship out as many Apple products as possible to the world.   By appealing to business, education and the general consumer, Apple's products reach a larger target audience than other computer manufacturers, requiring more units to be produced and shipped as soon as possible.   With the...