Slashdot Mirror
Apple Reports Q1 Loss
Amsterdam Vallon writes "Apple recently reported an $8 million loss, its second straight loss, compared with a $38 million profit a year ago. It seems that upbeat laptop sales weren't enough to get this company out of the Wall Street basement. Hopefully, with increasing Mac OS X and wireless-related sales, we'll see a nice increase come next quarter and after that, perhaps a jaunt toward profitability!" The back was apparently tipped into the red with one-time restructuring losses, else there would have been a modest profit; Apple expects stagnant revenues for the near future.
Fair enough, they've spent a lot of money to get where they are. But from here on in, they should be able to save a fair bit. While having BSD as the core of MacOSX won't give them billion-dollar profits, it surely helps reduce OS-related software development costs.
And with these savings, they can spend time developing better, easier-to-use-for-the-whole-family apps. For example, their Powerpoint killer (whose name I have momentarily forgotten - argh!) and their iLife range (I think that was the name - I'm not a Mac user (can you tell?)).
Hopefully they can improve even further on the quality of their programs, because that's what the "Apple Experience" is all about.
Hell, I'd buy one except that in Australia, it costs me at least $2,500 to get the Mac-equivalent of my $1,200 home-built rig. Not to mention all of the PC games and stuff. But I digress.
Also, if Apple can work on the X-Windows side of things, perhaps they'll be used by big IT spenders to replace aging *NIX systems - another boon of the BSD lineage. Go MacOSX and go Apple!
This sig intentionally left bla... dammit!
Who's got the whiteout?
Why aren't more people buying Macs (especially the slashdot crowd)?
Well, they are. Buying more Macs, that is. However, what you are essentially looking at is a split in the Slashdot crowd. Apple has created a rift in the *nix community - not a bad thing, IMHO, as rifts are encouraged in this kind of social dynamic.
This is a bit simplistic (and I'm sure some will let me know just how simplistic...) but here's how I see it:
Slashdot Reader #0 has been using UNIX for a while. Apple releases OS X. Reader #0 likes:
- *nix-like distro with BSD personality
- groovy interface
- the Support Fairy (i.e. having some)
- Mainstream apps (Photoshop, Office, a few big-name games, etc.)
- Apple's Open Source initiatives
- hi-quality integrated hardware that works seamlessly with OS
Slashdot Reader #1 has been using *nix or Windows for awhile. Apple releases OS X. Reader #1 hates:
- proprietary software (OSS be damned; if its 0wn3d by anyone, its bad. This is an arguable position)
- pseudo-proprietary hardware that is behind the bleeding edge of what you can build
- goofy interface
- premium pricing
- lack of games (because that's what they really want a 3.0Ghz PC for. Oh, you have a legitimate use? good for you. You are rare.)
- Apple, in general (possibly for past transgressions against them, possibly 'just 'cause)
(Of course, then there's me, Slashdot Reader #2: always used Macs, still use Macs, have a technical bent despite being a graphic designer, yet hangs out on Slashdot...)
If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
I don't know. It really seems like IDC has a bone to pick with apple. Read this cnet article and see. I'm not trusting IDC numbers when they seem that biased in interviews.
Also, that same IDC guy is predicting tablets to replace ultraportables in general, which will not happen.
Also according to IDC: "Apple Computer, the fifth-largest manufacturer in the United States, saw its U.S. market share rise from 2.9 percent to 3 percent in the fourth quarter."
Lies, damn lies, and statistics, I suppose.
NetInfo connection failed for server 127.0.0.1/local
Yes, that is a lot. where the money goes probably depends on where the restructuring is. I know they laid off close to 50% of the PowerSchool division, many of them executives. All of these people are getting 2 months severance pay. It wouldn't surprise me if a large chunk of that $20mil came just from the PowerSchool layoffs.
Time for some tasty Shiner Bock!
They've got 4.4 BILLION (that's Billion, with a B) in the bank.
Somehow, I fail to be able to dredge up anything resembling panic for Apple's future.
When it comes to spending $1,500, people (at least me) don't enter the decision lightly -- I had to be sure that I knew what I was getting, and retail outlets are a good way for a non-dominant product to get its name out/make people feel more comfortable with the entire idea.
Frankly, I thought the iMacs (lamp-looking macs) looked pretty damn stupid online, but when I actually saw one, I was quite impressed.
Also, although I don't live in the states, the switch ads had a positive impact on my decision, as well -- reading the stories online encouraged me to give it a shot. (I program Solaris/Linux for a living).
Lastly, I'm pretty impressed with the system so far -- I haven't spent much time under the hood, but that's because I haven't really had to.
there is no thing
what else could you want?
I think all of these numbers may be wrong.
Recently, I read an interesting article about Apple's market share. A reporter kept seeing different numbers, so decided to do the calculations for himself.
Turns out it's more like 11.6%.
Don't believe me? You can read his analysis here.
That's more than 10 times the market share that Linux has.