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A comment on Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage.

Re:Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage by mortenjorck on Sunday October 11, 2015 @03:26PM (#10370568)
This is a fascinating perspective, but I can't help but wonder if it cuts both ways: In the same way that current auto makers may underestimate their dependence on commodity chips in EVs and autonomous cars, the author may be underestimating Apple's potential dependence on commodity mechanical systems.

Of course, there's no reason Apple couldn't suddenly pick up one of Delphi's smaller competitors next week.

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Re:Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage by stevedc3 on Sunday October 11, 2015 @03:32PM (#10370587)
Author of the piece here. Thanks for the perspective. Note it's interesting that Tesla was able to start out (with a fraction of Apple's resources) by building their first car on the Lotus platform. The mechanical stuff is interestingly not expensive compared to technology R&D at all. Which makes sense when you think about modern manufacturing and materials.
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Re:Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage by jasode on Sunday October 11, 2015 @03:53PM (#10370665)
>Tesla was able to start out [...] by building their first car on the Lotus platform.

Well, Tesla Roadster used the Lotus body (shape) but not the engine and drivetrain.

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Re:Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage by Mikeb85 on Sunday October 11, 2015 @08:58PM (#10371925)
Lotus didn't make the engine for the Elise. The 'platform' is the chassis/suspension.
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Re:Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage by sn0v on Sunday October 11, 2015 @04:54PM (#10370970)
Interesting read, thanks for the write up.

Only time will tell how this plays out.

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Re:Apple’s Insurmountable Platform Advantage by _pmf_ on Sunday October 11, 2015 @03:58PM (#10370683)
> Of course, there's no reason Apple couldn't suddenly pick up one of Delphi's smaller competitors next week.

With the fallout from VW's shenanigans and its expected effect on Tier 1s in Germany, there should be plenty of suppliers to buy out.

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