Why the computer industry doesn't work the way you think it should Donald A. Norman Thomas Edison was a great inventor, but a crappy businessman. Consider the phonograph. As a result, he built a technology-centered phonograph that failed to take into account his customer's needs. In the end, his several companies proved irrelevant and bankrupt. In the early part of a technology's life cycle, the customer segment is comprised of enthusiasts who nurture the fledgling early products and help them gain power and acceptability.
Technology rules the day, guided by feature-driven marketing.
Everything changes when products mature. The customers change, and they want different things from the product. Convenience and user experience dominate over technological superiority. This is a difficult transition for a technology-driven industry. This is where the personal computer industry stands today.