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Daring to Dream: Apple & IBM
Anonymous writes "The Register has
a comment piece of the marriage (speculative) between IBM and Apple. Although wildly speculative, it is not improbable. With IBM already supplying PowerPCs to Apple and Apple having not signed up to IBM's PowerPC consortia, there are hints in this get-together. Apple would also supply IBM with the "lifestyle" side of things. If it does happen, it would be most interesting."
IBM makes far more money selling POWER-based machines and their other non-Intel hardware than they do selling PCs.
Apple computers now use chips made by IBM; the PowerPC CPU was a joint venture by IBM, Apple, and Motorola.
They actually do have a sub-$1000 computer - it's called the eMac.
Basically though I agree with the point you are making.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I am going to refute this quote:
* Apple's product designs are created with no input (as far as anyone can tell) from customers.
This is a problem. Business computers have different needs than personal computers. They don't need a monitor,and need management tool integration (ARD is nice, but it needs integration with at least Tivoli, CA, and BMC).
I have met with many product managers, marketing managers, etc. and have been asked very specific questions about existing products, such as suggested improvements to existing products (down to, is it worth $100 to have X integrated, $50, $etc.) or known issues keeping us from achieving our goals (such as advanced IT training). In most cases, the majority of our requests were actually met, albeit in later products, or non-free "upgrades" to products (the same case with most proprietary software, unless you have a maintenance contract).
So, to say that they don't listen is overblown. True, Apple is focused on the consumer/prosumer markets. But, I have been flown in to Cupertino twice to specifically address our needs. The first time, I was not expecting much. But when I saw most of our needs met by the next invitation, I was really pleased with the changes. Having just met with their Pro Apps product manager and sales director, I'm confident that they hear our message and might even do something with it.
Apple has sucked in the past, but they suck less now...
There exists no way of exchanging information without making judgments. --Bene Gesserit Axiom
Well, I can say that your wrong on that point. I purchased an xServe from apple for my company, and I also got a 3 year support contract with it. lets see what it covers:
Yes, i have had to have my xServe serviced, and they were there in the allotted time, And I also get excellent detected phone support. That was all for my own personal business. I also work for a school:
Maybe you have not had the opportunity to work directly with Apple's education channel, but it's a little more then ok, and far from whacked. For the last 5 years, I have been purchasing computers for my program directly through the education channel and am pleased with thier service. I have an education sales agent assigned to me that helps me coordinate all my purchases, and an educational consultant to help me build solutions to work in my special environment. They've even provided me with possible funding sources for certain purchases.
-= Who are The Headlocks? =-