Speaking of bad experiences, Tim Cook has recently gone on record talking about how Apple treats specification checklists and why people buy products:

“In the PC industry over the years, the way that companies competed were in two things: specs and price. People would say, 'I've got the largest drive,' or 'I've got the most megapixels.' The truth is that customers want a great experience and quality—they want that 'a-ha' moment,” Cook said. “These [specifications] are things that technology companies invent because they can't have a great experience, so they talk about the specs of something. […] The customer experience is always broader than that which can be defined by a simple number.”

Jacqui Cheng wrote that article and it’s all worth a read. She covers everything Tim said at the Goldman Sachs Technology Conference last week.

Wise words from Tim Cook:

“In terms of cannibalization, I think cannibalization is a huge opportunity for us. Our base philosophy is to never fear cannibalization. If we do, somebody else will just cannibalize it. We never fear it. We know iPhone has cannibalized some iPod business, we know iPad has cannibalized some Macs, and that doesn't worry us.”

—Tim Cook, on the future of Apple.

Whilst we’re on the topic of Tim Cook, here’s an excellent interview with the man himself.

If you have any doubts about the mindset behind the CEO of Apple, this article may well set you at ease. A fascinating read, Tim appears honest, humble and forthcoming.

Apple Insider reports that some of Apple’s new iMacs are marked as having been “Assembled in USA”.

How many iMacs does this apply to? We don’t know. But what does it mean, exactly? More than you might think. The requirements for a product to sport this statement are rather strict:

Assembled in USA Claims

A product that includes foreign components may be called “Assembled in USA” without qualification when its principal assembly takes place in the U.S. and the assembly is substantial. For the “assembly” claim to be valid, the product’s last “substantial transformation” also should have occurred in the U.S. That’s why a “screwdriver” assembly in the U.S. of foreign components into a final product at the end of the manufacturing process doesn’t usually qualify for the “Assembled in USA” claim.

Example: A lawn mower, composed of all domestic parts except for the cable sheathing, flywheel, wheel rims and air filter (15 to 20 percent foreign content) is assembled in the U.S. An “Assembled in USA” claim is appropriate.

Example: All the major components of a computer, including the motherboard and hard drive, are imported. The computer’s components then are put together in a simple “screwdriver” operation in the U.S., are not substantially transformed under the Customs Standard, and must be marked with a foreign country of origin. An “Assembled in U.S.” claim without further qualification is deceptive.

[Emphasis mine.]

This suggests that a moderate to large amount of assembly is taking place in the US.

Tim Cook has talked in the past about his desire to have more Apple products made in America. From a transcription of Cook’s interview at the All Things Digital conference earlier this year:

Walt Mossberg: “There’s been a lot of talk recently about reviving manufacturing here in the US. […] You’re probably the most influential company in technology, and you’re an operations expert — will there be an Apple product ever made again in America?”

Tim Cook: “I want there to be! I want there to be!” [T]here’s an intense focus on the final assembly. Could that be done in the U.S.? I sure hope so. But look, how many tool-and-die makers do you know in America?”

”We will do as many of these things [in the US] as we can do, and you can bet that we’ll use the whole of our influence to do this.”

Looks like his wishes are coming true. He certainly has the influence.