The Future Of Mac

i'm sure some of you might have read this already in Slashdot:

MacNN quotes an article from Money Magazine titled Why iPod can't save Apple, which says 'the buzz on the digital music player and "swank" storefronts are masking an ebbing bottom line, noting reduced CPU sales (resulting a shrinking marketshare), decreased profits (in part due to the lower-margin iPod and little-to-no profit at the iTunes Music Store), failure of the iPod to drive CPU sales, failure of the retail stores to increase marketshare, hidden retail store costs, no operational income, and little value in the stock.'

even more disconcerting is an article/interview from Harvard Business School:

Read the article here

here's a pretty scary quote:

The third strategy is very different from the second, which is to (concede) we lost the operating system war, and instead leverage our brand, our industrial design skills, and our application base. This strategy would suggest that Apple give up on the Mac OS, become a Microsoft customer, and go after the consumer PC in a very big way.

WINDOWS ON APPLE? To quote Charlston Heston; You can have OSX when you 'PRY IT FROM MY COLD DEAD HANDS'.

But, rest assured Mac lubbers, I think to summarize the article, Apple isn't going for market share. It's a niche market; you'll notice in the article they refer to BMW and Gucci. I think Apple will be able to stay afloat thru profitability of its loyal consumer base. That being said, I'm still getting a Powerbook as my next computer! *fingers crossed*

#131995

LOL

i give them a strategy:

adapt the prices to a acceptable, justified level.

B²

#132009

As has already been mentioned, Apple is a niche market - unless something drastically changes in the next few years (which I somehow doubt), Windows will remain the dominant platform (at least, for home users). Yes, Apple may get a few more switchers, as will *nix, but they will be a paltry few compared to the number of people who'll buy Windows boxes.

That said, (and again, repeating something that's gone before) Apple will continue to succeed as a niche player - it will always have the "wow" factor over Windows boxes, purely because they are different. Until the day comes when Windows boxes can be designed as centrally as Apple machines, Apple will always have the originality and design factor to seperate it from the Windows machines.

Of course, people could also go into reams of detail about comparisons of OSes, but I'm talking strictly in terms of "wow" factor.

#132014

linux will some day start to take away MS's OS marketshare.

However, if apple would just get off their high horse, and say screw hardware, and start selling OS X for PC, microsoft would fall in a matter of a few years. Mac OSX and Linux would do a 1,2 combo to windows. I think within 5 years you could see the desktop marketshare of Windows go from 99% to 40-50%

The reason I say OSX *and* linux is the fact that programs are extremely easy to port between OS X and linux. They've both got the same foundation (i know X is bsd). Customers could pick between 2 operating systems, and still have the same programs. Thus making windows the minority.

#132016

Stevie, that's a good point. Apple will have a small share of the market for those "exclusive" users just because their machines are so different from Windows machines.

I also feel that you should keep a watch on this thread, because it might end up as a "Why don't you just get a Mac" (coming from Mac elitists) or "Apple could survive if they port OS X to a PC" thread. If that happens please close it. We do not need anymore of those.

#132021

Would anyone here buy a Microsoft PC? I rather like there current accessories but I would be a little scared of a whole pc from them. Mostly from a DRM/privacy standpoint. I think Ide buy a *nix pc 1st.

#132108

Frankly I think Steve Jobs is too much of an elitist snob to ever make a really sound business decision that could turn Apple into a super player. Look how much it grated on him to port itunes to Windows. He's too arrogant for his own (and his busines's) good. After all, how hip and trendy can you be as a PC supplier. <_

#132113

Originally posted by MetalMusicAddict@Mar 19 2004, 08:40 PM
Would anyone here buy a Microsoft PC? I rather like there current accessories but I would be a little scared of a whole pc from them. Mostly from a DRM/privacy standpoint. I think Ide buy a *nix pc 1st.

But don't forget, your average consumer doesn't understand DRM, or even want to understand it. Most people don't know or care about the difference between windows *nix OSs other than by their appearance.

#132114

well i know that their sales would proably double if they just made mac os x compatible with pc hardware. I have friends that use xp cause of games and well pc's have better and faster hardware that would buy os x in a heart beat if it was compatible with pc.

#132206

Originally posted by Deleted@Mar 19 2004, 05:45 PM
linux will some day start to take away MS's OS marketshare.

[...]

It already is, but I think you're overestimating the extent to which it will.

Whilst I'll be the first (okay, maybe second to Contra) the virtues of Linux, the problem is (and probably will be, for a few years now) that Microsoft has a huge stranglehold over the industry. Linux will be hard-pressed to break this, because far too few people care about whose OS they're using. Don't forget we're talking about people who refer to "my internet" and so forth. Not only do they not know, but they don't care, and likely never will.

If it does just what they need, they're happy.

@Sid: I must say, I prefer your attitude since you "decided" to be helpful and so forth

As for watching the thread, I'll be watching it like a hawk. Okay, maybe not like a hawk. Maybe like a bat :blink:

#132211

Originally posted by smeggy@Mar 19 2004, 12:43 PM
Frankly I think Steve Jobs is too much of an elitist snob to ever make a really sound business decision that could turn Apple into a super player. Look how much it grated on him to port itunes to Windows. He's too arrogant for his own (and his busines's) good. After all, how hip and trendy can you be as a PC supplier. <_<

Agree but thats for his own good.

Got any problem with it mother****er? :canadian:

mods/admins, chill

#132217

Originally posted by Stevie BM@Mar 19 2004, 07:32 PM
@Sid: I must say, I prefer your attitude since you "decided" to be helpful and so forth

As for watching the thread, I'll be watching it like a hawk. Okay, maybe not like a hawk. Maybe like a bat

Thank you. It's nice to know that someone is trying to keep the forums organized and orderly.

Respect for you my English friend.