Traveling to new places sparks the imagination, recalibrates one’s view of what’s possible, and allows for the association of seemingly unrelated ideas to illuminate our future outlook. My recent travels made me think about Apple’s ambitions for the new year. The introduction of Vision Pro, at the 4th decade of the Macintosh, signals a significant change.
When Apple debuted the first Mac, there were no flagship Apple Stores and no track record of building great development tools. However, today’s kids have only known a world where Apple hardware is desirable, elegant, and updated for free every year for many years after purchase. Vision Pro, unlike the Macintosh in 1984, does not face a threat comparable to what IBM posed. Apple has a massive user base and a familiar developer network. It isn’t your father’s introduction to the Mac.
After taking a vacation to Bangkok, I can’t help but reflect on the past and the future of Apple. My younger self was always good at quickly figuring out what to do in new places, with only a minimal idea of the options. My first trip to Thailand was back before the iPhone arrived. The experience of my trip taught me that there’s no way to perfectly prepare oneself for the future, and you have to rely on those willing to help.
As I get older, I find myself getting overwhelmed with concerns about theoretical problems that likely won’t even materialize. Balancing the voracious ambition of youth with the thoughtfulness of acquired experience is key. This is something that Apple, and its Vision Pro, also needs to consider. Criticizing where the puck is and reflecting on aspects of traveling can provide valuable insights as Apple moves forward with Vision Pro.
