The photos of the new Meizu M8 got me thinking. We have all seen a few iPod copycats here and there, and we will surely see more iPhone lookalikes. What is it that drives people to make them? And does it work?

There’s probably only one thing that drives people to copy popular gadgets like the iPod and the iPhone: greed. It’s not the will to create something new and exciting but the desire for money that gives them the idea. Businesses that lack innovation and creative spirit want to ride the waves of popularity, so they copy a successful gadget.

Sure, they might initially fool someone. At a lower price than Apple’s products, one can find visually identical ones that are cheaper. Of course it will sell. But they have seriously overlooked the most interesting and important aspect of Apple. I’m talking about the main reason why we buy Apple products: the user experience.

You see, Apple are not just about computers, phones, media players and other gadgets. They don’t just create products and sell them. No, what they do is they create lifestyle and sell user experience.

A copycat will never give you the satisfaction and user experience of a true Apple product. You will never get the same feeling. Looks can be copied but you can never copy the whole big picture that makes an Apple product great.

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