I think there is another issue, other than whose is the best operating system and that is that Apple have attempted to tie people into the iPod, iTunes system with proprietary formats etc and I'm not sure any outside manufacturer would be that willing to take this up as they could find the tail wagging the dog. There has already been talk of an anti-trust suit in the same vein as Microsoft with their Explorer and media player software. My understanding of AAC (and mp4) is that they are an open standard developed by a consortium and adopted by Apple for use with iPods and iTunes, adapted to include their DRM. Neither are these formats tied particularly to the OSX system.

Whilst I agree we should drop the usual "my PC is better than yours" bickering the overall issue is worthy of discussion with Mr. Sørensen for a B&O perspective on digital audio/video formats open or closed - partners past, present and future.

Philippe,

You're well entitled to that Mark! I don't deny you that right at all

It's just that I don't see a sensible CEO jumping on one else's hands that easily! (externalizing a strategic software to a 3rd party company, be it Apple or someone else). Again, I think B&O clearly showed that they want to keep the software development "at home", but let's not turn it into an Apple/PC war please... cause there might be people then asking "Why B&O doesn't partner with Microsoft? Or Linux? Or virtually everyone's own favorite brand?".. Why not go with Hermes (instead of Vuitton)? These kinds of battles are useless in my view, but that's just my 2 cents.

If B&O definitely wants to keep software at home, one could ask "why not simply beefing up its team by hiring Apple developers?"

Philippe

 

To be fair to B&O, they have increased the ability of their systems to work with Macs - the BM-Link software commisioned from Anders being an excellent example. There is also the matter of whether Apple would be happy to share technology with B&O - they seem far more protective of their technology than most companies. I can't see them licensing a Mac based Beomedia myself and maybe this is the stumbling block.

I am perfectly sure that B&O recognise that a larger percentage of B&O owners have Macs than the general population - it fits into the customer profile - but we are still a minority - vociferous or otherwise! I think it perfectly fair to raise the issue of Mac compatability but would hate to see this dominate what will be a 15 minute 'interview'. I think it far more relevant that Lee should represent the Beoworld brand and what could be possible to engender closer relations between the fan base and the company rather than concentrate on the products of a third party. It may well be that closer relations can assist the Mac cause by showing the strength of feeling of the Beoworld fraternity but I think first contact should be more about building bridges than presenting a list of demands which seem at odds with present B&O policy.

A Powermac user!!

I think some of you are missing the point of this.  It is not about a Mac vs PC battle at all.  Rather it is to ask B & O how they are going to position their products in the future to accommodate both platforms.  To most people, it is irrelevant which computer they use.  The way media is accessed is rapidly changing to an internet based system.  Having spent a lot of money on a B & O system, people just want to access it from any computer they happen to have, easily and simply without having to buy third party add-ons or stuff around with complicated set-ups.  It is beholden on B & O as a quality brand to enable this to happen.  I personally think that Apple will be a leader in home media very soon as they provide a simple solution for both Macs and PCs that just works.  It would seem prudent for B & O to include Apple in their thinking.  Let the software companies do what they are good at and let B & O do what they are good at ie design.  So, perhaps, Lee you could ask how B & O see themselves fitting into the digital marketplace as a platform agnostic system.  After all, most B & O customers cannot afford a totally integrated Home Theatre set-up so many will inevitably be using third party computers and hardware such as EyeTv and AppleTv, TiVo etc and want them to work straight out of the box. Most of us aren't electronic whizzes to be able to hack together solutions to incompatability problems. Please don't let this thread degenerate into a Mac vs PC battle, rather concentrate on suitable questions for B & O. Clifft

Philippe,

Agree - but I think it would be interesting to get his view on formats/partners etc as I mentioned earlier

Peter,

Peter:

I think it far more relevant that Lee should represent the Beoworld brand and what could be possible to engender closer relations between the fan base and the company rather than concentrate on the products of a third party. It may well be that closer relations can assist the Mac cause by showing the strength of feeling of the Beoworld fraternity but I think first contact should be more about building bridges than presenting a list of demands which seem at odds with present B&O policy.

Hear! Hear! 

I did have a comment earlier in this thread but after reading later comments, I have thought about the subject more.

Lee...I think you should have a nice chat with Mr. Sorensen and not expect more.  You might want to give him a print out of this thread to give him an idea of how impassioned about Bang & Olufsen many Beoworlder are.

I am a longtime owner of B&O products and do like the design, build quality, and of course the sound quality of their products.  However I have come to the conclusion that B&O's implementation of digital media is mediocre.  The Beomedia 1 is a disappointment and other new products such as Beosound 6 are a mystery.  Beosound 6 may have been great 3 years ago but now there are many choices that are better.  I know it probably is built with high quality materials but it is woefully out of date even before introduction.

I am not going to join the operating system debate because so far B&O has not done as well as they should with software.

I do have a multi-room setup but have decided that I will use iTunes and iPod.  I am open to better products when they arrive.  I also have a Beogram 7000 turntable.  I have noticed that many other Beoworlders have turntables also.  Marantz which is not exactly a competitor of B&O recently introduced a turntable in their product line.

Finally the product suggestion that makes sense to me is B&O should add another AUX connection on systems like Beocenter 2 so that I can add an Airport express, or a turntable, or even a SACD player that some have suggested.  Thats all I would hope for is a second AUX connection.

 

Bill 

I too would also like to add that this opportunity should not be wasted for the sake of the Apple question, its a fantastic gesture from B&O and has been a long time coming for some with the work and effort that has gone into this site over the years but not to say it was something that was guaranteed and I am sure Lee will do us all proud and take on board what we all say and what we all would like to see and to talk about all thing B&O! constructively speaking of course! why have an opportunity like this to dwell on negatives when we can really open up a relationship with a brand that we all admire so much!

Regarding apple, I am not a huge fan of a collabaration with apple.. bear in mind that apple is king of "throwaway consumerisim" with its constant high churn of disposable products and technology and imo could damage B&O.. there are complaints or noises about how dated current technology is over costs, imagine if a new BV9 was rolled out every year or 6 months in line with say the ipod? new software, new features? this could be very damaging for B&O as longevity is or was key to most of its product range.

The 80s range of B&O is a great reflection of this.

 

 

Maybe we should take the Apple discussion in another thread?

 

Here are my questions for Mr. Sørensen:

 

Do you think that high-end prices will make Bang & Olufsen a high-end ONLY brand?

Beloab 2 was priced at DKK 12.000 when released in 2001, today the price is DKK 22.000 – almost the double, and a price increase of 10% since last year. To my knowledge there has been no technical improvement justifying this price increase. Does this new price reflect the actual production price, or just the new company high-end pricing?

 

Being one of the first brands to introduce 16:9 screens, it’s very disappointing to see how slow you have been with HDMI and digital TV tuners to name a few. Fair to wait to see whom the winner is, when there are competing formats like HD-DVD or blu-ray, but that was never the case with the above. Why the long wait?

 

DR:

Do you think that high-end prices will make Bang & Olufsen a high-end ONLY brand?

Beloab 2 was priced at DKK 12.000 when released in 2001, today the price is DKK 22.000 – almost the double, and a price increase of 10% since last year. To my knowledge there has been no technical improvement justifying this price increase. Does this new price reflect the actual production price, or just the new company high-end pricing?

Good question... maybe its a model that B&O work to?? they sell at a loss at the start and then increase over x years to compensate once established? rather risky if you ask me but an "acceptable" answer than what many think?? 

My questions, similar to some already mentioned I think:

- Will B&O be offering more products which are even cheaper than BL4s and BV8. i.e. is the current B&O business plan going to continue targetting a new and less wealthy target audience?

- Did he grow up with B&O in the family home?

- Who is the new high-end car manufacturer that will have the B&O sound system option, as mentioned on the B&O official site? If he refuses to answer or hesitates, say: 'it's Bentley isn't it?' Then be sure to check his body language incase he decides not to answer.

You got all that Lee? No under performing mate!

Henry:

My questions, similar to some already mentioned I think:

- Will B&O be offering more products which are even cheaper than BL4s and BV8. i.e. is the current B&O business plan going to continue targetting a new and less wealthy target audience?

- Did he grow up with B&O in the family home?

- Who is the new high-end car manufacturer that will have the B&O sound system option, as mentioned on the B&O official site? If he refuses to answer or hesitates, say: 'it's Bentley isn't it?' Then be sure to check his body language incase he decides not to answer.

You got all that Lee? No under performing mate!

Corect me if I am wrong, but isn't Bentley, Audi related?
Both owned by VW, or is that Rolls Rorce?

Andy T.

Yes Andy, Lee is completely wrong. Bentley, Lamborghini and Audi are all part of the VW group. It just seems very suiting of Bentley to want and have B&O as an option in their cars.

Rolls Royce is owned by BMW.

I share sentiments with Bieele and DR.

B&O's reputation is not just "quality" but "world-leading quality".  This quality is what has allowed B&O's premium price and fame.  The problem I see at the moment is that B&O's margin of superiority is eroding at a not insignificant pace.  In my opinion, B&O products are only slightly better, both in individual technical aspects, and as overall packages, than other products, not vastly better.  Yet their products are 4-5 times the cost.  I could perhaps swallow a 100-200% markup for the B&O name.  But 400 percent!

Not only that but in some aspects "competitors'" (I use the word loosely) products are clearly technologically superior, with highly pleasing designs to match (witness, for example, some of Apple's latest mp3 players).  As I see it the only area where B&O is still far ahead is in loudspeaker technology.

Furthermore AV integration is clearly heading towards PC/Media based solutions which feature wireless streaming and other technologies.  This is one of B&O's weak areas as can be attested many on the BeoMedia 1 forum on B&O's own website.  So here's my question:

"In the face of these clear changes in the market, where B&O's traditional strengths (technology and design) are no longer so overwhelming that there are no comparable products, how is B&O going to adapt its strategy in order to remain a truly worldwide brand?  Can its policy of not passing on cost savings as technology gets cheaper remain viable as market penetration of new technologies takes hold?  How can B&O assure that it remains a real force in AV and not relegated to some esoteric realm where only the richest of the rich own B&O while many other discerning customers choose other brands?"

 Along with this is a secondary question relating to product integration.

"In the current market, it would appear that B&O is in need of a robust, integrated digital platform for its products.  There are two ways to approach this: adapt an established solution (for example iTunes) and work with its developer as a partner, or develop an independent digital solution (exclusively tied, of course, to B&O.)  What is B&O's thinking along these lines, and, if it decides to develop its integration in-house, how will it overcome the fact that B&O is not strong in digital technology? (as evidenced by some glaring deficiencies of BeoPlayer/BeoPort e.g drag and drop, can't add new radio stations.)

These are fairly sharp and pointy questions, but I feel important as they address the future of B&O.

L.

I've not been able to follow the discussion, so if this is repetitive, please disregard. I have only one request from a loyal American Beophile: When if ever can we expect a small TV (BV 6/8  26" or 32") on this side of the world.

Just one little American question?

Thanks Lee and good luck. I'm envious.