The Mac Observer

Skip navigational links

You're viewing an article in TMO's historic archive vault. Here, we've preserved the comments and how the site looked along with the article. Use this link to view the article on our current site:
Fortune: Apple's Hottest Product is Computers

Fortune: Apple's Hottest Product is Computers

by , 2:00 PM EDT, August 22nd, 2007

Apple's computers are emerging as the hottest part of the company's product profile, according to Fortune Magazine on Wednesday. That comes as many had previously worried that when Apple dropped the word "computer" from its official name at Macworld 2007 that it signaled a reduction in Apple's commitment to computers.

In fact, the company name change seemed to offer somewhat of a concession. For over a decade, Apple couldn't seem to crack the 5 percent mark of computer sales in the U.S., or 3 percent world wide.

Recent data from IDC, however, has shown a remarkable turn around recently. In the quarter ending in June, Macs accounted for the majority of Apple's revenue, and their share of the U.S. computer sales is now above 5 percent thanks to sales growth triple the rest of the PC industry since last fall.

Supporting that, according to NPD data, Apple is now in third place overall amongst PC makers, behind only Dell and HP, with 5.9 percent market share. A year ago, it was 4.8 percent. Apple's notebook market share is much higher, 17.6 percent, compared to 15.4 percent a year ago.

Apple has done this by focusing on their strength: the personal personal computer, an emerging tool in the modern, mobile, entertainment driven technology market.

The effect of Apple's retail stores, their music business, and the iPhone seems to have propelled Apple's awareness and business amongst those with sole purchase authority, in contrast to corporate IT departments which buy computers for their employees and dictate use. That's always been true, but when Apple only sold niche computers, the public awareness of the company was not there to propel sales.

Other factors have come into play, especially the Intel transition which makes running Windows almost a no-brainer for Macintosh customers. Perhaps most important of all, is the energy within Mac OS X.

"Apple's software could turn the Mac into a phenomenon again, perhaps even in corporations. Apple is arguably the best software company on the planet, regularly releasing basic operating system software and application programs that reveal the greater potential of computers as devices for communication, creativity and entertainment. Most of Apple's software gets an overhaul every few years and is constantly freshened with free, easy, online upgrades that improve performance," concluded Brent Schlender.

The lesson: improve your hardware and software faster than the competition and focus on the consumer market where people are free to chose the best. That seems like a good idea, but it might never have paid off unless Apple had developed the iPod, iTunes and the iPhone.

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:mhikl Posts: 15 Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Subject: Fortune: Apple's Hottest Product is Computers

"Apple's software could turn the Mac into a phenomenon again, perhaps even in corporations. Apple is arguably the best software company on the planet, regularly releasing basic operating system software and application programs that reveal the greater potential of computers as devices for communication, creativity and entertainment. Most of Apple's software gets an overhaul every few years and is constantly freshened with free, easy, online upgrades that improve performance," concluded Brent Schlender.

Sounds more like "inarguably" the best software company on the planet to me.

Cheers,
mhikl

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Arguable

Quote
mhikl wrote:


Sounds more like "inarguably" the best software company on the planet to me.

Cheers,
mhikl


Not necessarily. Go look up "arguably" at Dictionary.com. Here's the second definition:

"2. susceptible to being supported by convincing or persuasive argument: Admirers agree that it is arguable he is the finest pianist of his generation."

From The American Heritage Dictionary:

"2. That can be argued plausibly; defensible in argument: three arguable points of law."

From WordNet:

"as can be shown by argument; she is arguably the best"

Inarguable, on the other hand, can mean obvious and does not require argument or evidence.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Another nitpick: "no brainer"

I have always seen "no brainer" used to mean "obvious choice", rather than "minimal effort". I don't see installing some form of Windows as an "obvious choice" for many users.

Close Name:gslusher Posts: 2088 Joined: 13 Nov 2002
Subject: Re: Another nitpick: "no brainer"

Quote
Anonymous wrote:
I have always seen "no brainer" used to mean "obvious choice", rather than "minimal effort". I don't see installing some form of Windows as an "obvious choice" for many users.


It may be for some people who must use Windows. In a discussion on another site, a university professor said that he has to use Windows for the math software he needs. He just got a MacBook Pro, which allows him to have a Mac, but use Parallels to run the scientific software. Others need to run narrow-market business software (e.g., body shop estimating) that isn't available for OS X. Others want to play games that aren't on the Mac, yet.

Some years ago, I managed a forum on CompuServe, before the Internet became popular. (I started on CompuServe in late 1984 with an Apple //c and a 1200-baud modem.) In order to run the forum, I had to use a CompuServe product that only ran under Windows. I bought Virtual PC with Windows 95 just to do that task.

Close Name:mhikl Posts: 15 Joined: 20 Aug 2003
Subject: Inarguable

I’m not wanting to be a pedant, but the explanation of “inarguable” you gave was the intent of my point, albeit a bit tongue-in-cheek.

Nice to know there’s a good wordsmith about to help keep one’s lexicon precise.

Cheers,
mhikl

Close Name:coaten Posts: 3071 Joined: 10 Oct 2001
Subject:

Heads-up for you. Journalists often use "arguably" as it is so deliciously inconclusive. On the one hand, it says "this is my point of view based on the evidence before us" while on the other it says "but I'm willing to accept that there may be something better of which I am as yet unaware".

Close Name:Guest
Subject: iPhone?? too soon to include

I would change the last line of "That seems like a good idea, but it might never have paid off unless Apple had developed the iPod, iTunes and the iPhone." to

"...developed the iMac, iPod and iTunes."

The iPhone was released like what 1 month ago so the change that it may potential make hasn't been realized yet while the world all ready knows of the success of the iMac, iPod and i Tunes.

Comment on this Article


You cannot edit your comments.   You cannot delete your comments.

Comments are currently closed. Please email the author instead.


Recent Headlines - Updated November 10th

Tue, 8:16 AM
News - Apple Releases Security Update 2009-006 for Leopard, Snow Leopard
Mon, 7:20 PM
Rumor - Apple May Update iPod touch in December
6:45 PM
Product News - MacUpdate Desktop Updated to 5.0.1 with New Features, Bug Fixes
5:16 PM
Apple Releases Mac OS X 10.6.2 - Guest Account Bug Fixed, Much More
4:12 PM
Games - New For iPhone: Star Rangers, Air Force Supremacy, Blood Beach, More
2:51 PM
Apple Stock Watch - Radio Shack Jumps 14% on iPhone Deal, Apple Up 3%
2:25 PM
Games - EA Scoops Up Social Games Publisher Playfish
1:51 PM
Deal Brothers - Western Digital 1TB SATA Intellipower Hard Drive:  $84.99
10:58 AM
News - StarHub Signs Singapore iPhone Deal
10:36 AM
Hot Forum Topic - Reader Speculation: What’s in Apple’s Tablet?
10:08 AM
News - Apple Kicks Off New Credit Program
9:26 AM
News - Apple Launches Reserve and Pick Up Program

The Mac Observer Reader Specials

  • TypeStyler For Mac OS X is Now Shipping! Download The Free Fully Functional 60 Day Tryout at www.typestyler.com
  • RamJet Memory: Mac Pro 8-core 8GB Kit $199.99, 4GB Kits $109.99! Sale on MacBook and MacBook Pro 8GB kits $549.99! New MacBook DDR3 2GB for $49.99. iMac and Mac mini 4GB Kits for $79.99! 1TB SATA Hard Drives for $109.99! Click here
  • OWC: Plug & Play Hardware RAID up to 8.0TB. High Performance, Data Redundant Solutions. FireWire 800, FireWire 400, USB2, or eSATA. Hot Swappable Bays, Data Rates over 200MB/s. Click here
  • Poker Mac If you're using a Mac, then you've gotta check out Full Tilt Poker for Mac. This Full Tilt Poker bonus code does the unthinkable, it actually rewards!
  • For the latest Apple products use Ciao, a price comparison website, to find laptops like MacBook Air. Then find the best prices on MP3 players and use our comparison tool to evaluate mobile phones like the Apple iPhone.

  • Laptop Hardware Provided by TechRestore - Overnight Mac & iPod Repairs.
  • __________
  • Buy Stuff, Support TMO!
  • Podcast: Mac Geek Gab
  • Podcast: Apple Weekly Report
  • TMO on Twitter!