Is an Apple Computers Resurgence Possible?

I've noticed lately that there's been a little bit of Apple iPod backlash in the press. It seems like everyone's been getting tired of writing about how wonderful their music player and music store is and now there are more stories warning that after the iPod craze cools off, Apple is going to go back to being a marginalized computer maker with an ever shrinking percentage of users.

When the iPod started booming, it was widely speculated that Apple would attempt to leverage its popularity to sell more Macs, but if there was any uptick in Mac ownership, it wasn't too noticable. Industry commentators kept predicting doom for anyone who'd believe that Apple Computers could get back on its feet as a computer maker. At MacWorld last week, the iPod shuffle raised a few eyebrows among analysts, but the Mac Mini was mostly panned as a too little too late move.

There was some recent research into iPod owners who said that because of their satisfaction with their iPods, they would seriously consider buying a Mac the next time around. I guess it's assumed that that Mac Mini is targeted as the ideal replacement computer for first time Mac owners since it's priced lower and comes without a keyboard, mouse, and monitor. Their previous entry level strategies all included a built in monitor, which is likely to ratchet the price up enough to discourage people who'd consider switching platforms.

Last week, I probably would have shared the skepticism that Apple had a moonshot's chance of reversing its fortunes as a computer maker. I'd have disagreed with anyone who'd say that Macs were going the way of extinction slowly, but at the same time I would have acknowledged that chances of the user base making serious strides forward was essentially zip.

Well, over the weekend I was at Valley Fair and I passed by the Apple Store and it was a really different scene there this time. It was packed. I had to wait to get a closer look at the Mac Mini and I had to wait to try out the iPod Shuffle. I've never seen a computer store buzzing with people like that much less a store selling Apples. There were so many people in the store that I had to leave because it was getting uncomfortably warm in there for me.

I think there's really some renewed interested in Apple these days. Granted, I'm only expecting small increases in Mac ownership, but for the first time in years, we may see the percentage of Mac users go upward.

Apple Maxed on Mini Orders
Apple: Introducing the Mac Mini

BTW, I wasn't expecting to be impressed with the Mac Mini, but really came away admiring it. It looks a lot more impressive in person.

Also, the iPod shuffle sounds great! I'm not sure if I like how small it is though. I have a hard enough time remembering where I put my keys. If I owned one of these things, I'd have to put a weight on it so I remember that I remember to take it out of my pocket before I toss my pants in the wash.

I don't have much need for a portable player these days, but if I ever did decide to buy a music player, I might buy the iPod shuffle if the price comes down a little more.

Apple's revenue is the only real indicator of how Apple's doing, and after the original iPod, it seems to be on fairly solid footing over the last 2-3 years.

The media have enjoyed writing trash about Apple since the very beginning. They just can't imagine people having computer experiences that are enjoyable and productive and creative and don't involve viruses or crashes or other causes of cursing at machines.

The miniMac is attracting the attention of some people who have considered other models with more bells and whistles too expensive, etc. etc. I think what is more telling is that BMW is designing cars to accomodate an iPod, the iPod is attracting the older client, not the college student offered educational discounts, and the ones with purchasing power for the their homes and offices and who might have been trained to be prejudiced about Macs, but might just decide that if their computer worked as well as their iPod, they would be happier.

We have 2 macs and a PC, and the only thing that causes issues is the PC, despite being the newest thing in the house, and despite being less-often used.

Don't listen to the media, they just enjoy trashing Macs and mac owners because it's a minority that isn't taboo to discuss! There haven't been too many discussions of Macworld shrinking a little every year, which to fans is a little more disconcerting.

It will be a cold day in hell before I, an Apple fan since the IIe, go pro-PC. It will also be a major climate change before the media (other than Mac-owning media) stop saying that everything Apple has ever done is "not enough," "still marginalized," "too overpriced," "too little too late."

Now here's a surprising interview that Steve Alexander, a journalist with the Minnesota Star Tribune had with Gene Munster, an analyst at Piper-Jaffray who believes the market-share for Macs could double within two years from 2.2% to 4.5%.

The iPod, Apple's Saving Grace

I went by the Apple Store a couple weeks ago just to see the Mac Mini but I didn't see it. I stand by my long held refusal to ever buy a PC! (Even though I am a Realtor and our company's software works only on PCs!) Ironic as both my parents worked for IBM for 25 years each, and my brother is a computer programmer. I have a year-old iBook, and my old G3 desktop, as well as my very first Mac, a PowerMac 6118, sit in an empty room, ready to go to computer heaven. I gave my second gen iMac (bondi blue, my fave color) to my parents. I even still have the matching shredder.

Some colleges used the clever marketing scheme of giving away "free" iPods (the cost was really included in tuition and fees), much like Prince upped sales of his last album by giving out a free CD to everyone who went to his concerts.

And the effects of Global Warming are already happening! I knew
the threats were very real, as I tend to be a big believer in science (vs. religion) but I had no idea that islands were disappearing and ice caps melting! The South Pacific Islands are in grave danger. I just watched a documentary from 2002 explaining all this.

There was also this article on global warming today. Pretty much sums it up for those who haven't been paying attention.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/science/01/24...e.ap/index.html

Apple will always be around. Technology moves way too fast -- gadgets are being constantly replaced. There is always the latest and greatest for technogeeks and Apple is innovative enough to catch enough market share to make a difference. They certainly have a niche that would be hard to replace.

This post has been edited by pamrealtor on Jan 26 2005, 02:08 AM

Apple is the haute couture of the computer world. After Apple first came out with computers in, gasp, colors (imagine that in a world of beige), knockoffs soon followed. The iPod is constantly being emulated as well. Apple not only made computers user-friendly with innovative interfaces, it also made the exterior cool. It is truly a designer's computer, something suitable for people who, to steal a campaign line of theirs, think different.

This post has been edited by pamrealtor on Jan 26 2005, 11:38 PM

Okay, you trumped me there but I see no reference to Xerox in the link. Am I missing something? Nevermind, I am very sleepy. <--- how do i do the strikeout tag? it's not working.

This post has been edited by pamrealtor on Jan 27 2005, 12:02 AM

Whoops, slightly inaccurate link. There's mention of the Xerox Alto in that page, but it's hard to catch.

Here, try this page about the Xerox Alto:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xerox_Alto

Sweet Dreams!

I think the key for many of us non-techie Apple fans is not only that they're innovative and cool-looking, but that they're just so easy to set-up and use. I bought my first Apple iMac because I couldn't be bothered to hire someone else to set-up and later repair a PC. I wanted to be an independent computer user, even though I don't have a lot of computer savvy. I love it that Apple's technology is so common-sense and user-friendly. I used a PC at work for 2 years, and I hated every minute of it. Apple is the computer world's haute couture, yet all the products are completely down-to-earth. I think this price shift downward with the mini-Mac is going to be a great thing for the company.

Well, it looks like the handful of yawners who were rolling their eyes just after the release of the Mac Mini have been pushed aside with great reviews of the Mini and news of the Mini's sales.

Best Buy Electronics is going to start carrying Macs again

Anandtech Full 18 Page Tech Review of the Mac Mini

Go Apple! Die, PCs, die!!!

I forgot to mention that one of my friends works at Cisco and hobnobs with the bigwigs. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that almost all of them use Macs! One of the reasons is because 99% of viruses are not written for PCs, not Macs. I'm sure another reason is because they are just cooler.

This post has been edited by pamrealtor on Jan 29 2005, 12:28 AM

Thanks for the link. Entertaining.