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Why Microsoft Should Fear Apple
jcatcw writes "Computerworld's Scot Finnie says that Microsoft should be afraid because Apple has gotten smarter about how it competes. He says that it's the Parallels Desktop software that has been truly transformational for the Mac. Finnie did a simple three-month trial of the Mac last in the fall and realized four months later that he wasn't going back. Since then he's received hundreds of messages from readers who've also made the switch. 'In the end, this is about perception. It isn't about Apple's market share or even its quarterly sales numbers. (Apple's notebook computer sales for the fourth quarter were 4.1% of all portable computer sales, according to DisplaySearch.) What this is about is that Apple is reaching the right people with its product, winning new converts, Windows user by Windows user -- and creating buzz. How do you measure buzz? You don't. It's something that experienced people in this industry can just feel. And that's the condition Microsoft should fear. Because buzz can turn into something much harder to combat than sheer numbers.'"
'Buzz' means squat. Sales and market penetration are everything.
Sure there's buzz, and buzz can lead to sales, but when it's contained in a niche market...
Apple is dominant in a particular market segment, the 'too cool for you' market segment. Just about no one else cares at all, and rather, a lot of people see Apple and die hard Apple users as elitist techno snobs.
Apple doesn't sell hardware, they sell an image, and most people couldn't be bothered.
Don't get me wrong, they've got some slick shit, but again, that just doesn't matter. Besides, my shit is slick, extendable, reconfigurable, and cost me one piss of a lot less than anything comparably from Apple. And I'm talking home computer, laptop, mp3, and cell phone. (Not that the iPhone is out yet, but for the stated reasons, I'll never buy one)
Image is nothing, unless you care about that sort of thing, then by all the means, step right up and spend your money.
No Comment.
I wish I still had mod points, this is a rather good point. EVERY time I've come across articles praising how well Apple is doing in the market, the author inevitably says something stupid like "you can just FEEL the energy Apple is putting in the market."
I'm with you, I call bullshit. Give me evidence that Apple is 'pwning' Microsoft in any measurable way. Just because people hate using Windows doesn't mean OSX wins by default. My father is STILL pissed how he blew 3000 bucks on an Apple ][ and 6 months later Jobs announces they have this thing called a Macintosh and how they were going to screw supporting anyone who had an Apple. He will NEVER own another Apple product. Look, I have hokey anecdotes too!
One of my professors told me once, long ago: "In God we trust, all others bring data."
+5 funny. Unless you were being serious, in which case -1 sad.
steampunk web design
Don't argue as in you should take it up with the people who are actually expressing these opinions. Convincing me or them that everything we perceive to be an advantage is really not, is, from your point of view a colossal waste of your time. Sorry.
"First, unless you're some sort of a Mac-ophobe, there isn't a real reason why you can't buy a Mac if you want to run OSX."
Sure there is. For desktops, Apple offers three macs: one that is too big, one that is too small, and one that has an integrated monitor. There are a thousand reasons why one might not want to purchase a desktop from Apple---all the form factors that Apple chooses not to offer. The argument for notebooks is similar with the addition that Apple chooses not to offer displays with >115 dpi. Anyone who wants a high resolution notebook has to look elsewhere as well. I would like a small desktop mac with a 3.5" drive, single processor and dual DVI. Where am I gonna get that?