"What is Sony Now?", Bryan Gruley and Cliff Edwards

In my circle of acquaintances, Sony has had a crummy reputation for decades. I was one of the last to give up on it, and that was only after I had blown good money on a dual cassette deck and a multi-CD changer, both of which developed problems within six months of purchase. As the hardware suggests, this was way back in '92 or so.

Almost from the moment competition showed up for Sony's Walkman, the company was said to overcharge for its merchandise. The quality justified the cost, though -- at first. Then companies like Aiwa started making high-quality electronics for slightly less. Simultaneously, Sony's quality control nosedived.

I have heard no indications that Sony's quality-control or pricing problems have turned around in the years since I started reflexively ignoring the company's products. Bryan Gruley's and Cliff Edwards' article for BusinessWeek gives a pretty good idea why. Although the company's problems certainly predate CEO Howard Stringer's tenure, he hasn't helped.

It’s not lack of sleep, though, that irritates him when it’s suggested that Sony is not thought of as the innovator it once was. “Oh, f–k, we make so much more than we used to,” he says. He ticks off some of the products coming out this year, including binoculars that can record video and goggles for watching 3D video games and movies. “Don’t tell me that Sony technology isn’t great.”

Hey Howard: Sony technology isn't great. Get your head out of your ass, and/or stop blowing smoke up ours.

Making more crappy products isn't the answer: making better products is. But as long as management won't acknowledge the mediocrity of what it makes, Sony is screwed.

(Thanks to LongReads for the link.)