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Jan. 10th, 2006 09:34 pmI'm struggling with what to write about the new Macs. I care because Apple is better positioned now than it has ever been to be influential in the computer field. Everyone in the industry is looking at Apple because they do things differently. And if they can push the industry in new directions, that's a good thing.
But I don't think this is it. Apple has huge mindshare right now with the iPod. But most people don't know about much else Apple. New computers aren't going to change this. It's going to be very hard to convince people that iLife and iWork and the like are worth $1000 more than a $999 Dell laptop to get an iPod-like user experience. And I've heard a few diehards grumble about being concerned about Rosetta, so these machines may not be for the faithful, not yet, anyway. So who are they going to sell these too?
Apple is at a crossroads. They have new hardware, a different OS, and a phenomenally popular gadget. One of the three may have to go. They could dump the OS, make high-end Windows boxen and laptops and churn out iPods. But I don't think there's much in being the luxury manufacturer in an industry where low price rules. They could drop the hardware and just sell the OS and iPods. But losing control of the hardware would sacrifice most of the ease of user experience. Dropping the iPod would be dumb.
I think Apple's future is as a gadget company. Develop a few more great devices that work the way they're supposed to and are easy to use. Maybe try a handheld, a real Apple cell phone (not the ROKR), etc. But for these devices to succeed, they'll need to work with a majority of the computers out there. And with the gadgets running the show, how much sense will it make to devote lots of resources to making niche systems that have their own software demands? I dont' think Apple will (or should) drop the hardware line completely, but I think it's unrealistic to think that it will ever pick up much market share.
But I don't think this is it. Apple has huge mindshare right now with the iPod. But most people don't know about much else Apple. New computers aren't going to change this. It's going to be very hard to convince people that iLife and iWork and the like are worth $1000 more than a $999 Dell laptop to get an iPod-like user experience. And I've heard a few diehards grumble about being concerned about Rosetta, so these machines may not be for the faithful, not yet, anyway. So who are they going to sell these too?
Apple is at a crossroads. They have new hardware, a different OS, and a phenomenally popular gadget. One of the three may have to go. They could dump the OS, make high-end Windows boxen and laptops and churn out iPods. But I don't think there's much in being the luxury manufacturer in an industry where low price rules. They could drop the hardware and just sell the OS and iPods. But losing control of the hardware would sacrifice most of the ease of user experience. Dropping the iPod would be dumb.
I think Apple's future is as a gadget company. Develop a few more great devices that work the way they're supposed to and are easy to use. Maybe try a handheld, a real Apple cell phone (not the ROKR), etc. But for these devices to succeed, they'll need to work with a majority of the computers out there. And with the gadgets running the show, how much sense will it make to devote lots of resources to making niche systems that have their own software demands? I dont' think Apple will (or should) drop the hardware line completely, but I think it's unrealistic to think that it will ever pick up much market share.
