Apple offers free installs of Mac OS X Tiger; IDC analyst Kay thinks Google Desktop equals Spotlight
Friday, April 29, 2005 - 07:54 AM EST"To woo customers to pay $129 to upgrade to its new Tiger operating system, Apple Computer (AAPL) is testing an offer that may be a first in computer retailing: free installation or a one-on-one training session with a Macintosh specialist showing personalized tips and tricks," Jefferson Graham reports for USA Today.
"The offer — beginning today at 6 p.m. — is available only at Apple's fast-growing retail stores, where traffic has nearly doubled from a year ago to 9,800 visitors a week. Many other retailers are discounting Tiger aggressively at about $99, without the personalized service," Graham reports.
"'Many people get nervous about upgrading their operating systems and worry about potential conflicts,' says Apple Senior Vice President Ron Johnson. 'Fine, we'll do it for them.' Apple's installation offer 'is a really interesting way to introduce an operating system and get people to buy it,' says Mike McGuire, an analyst at research firm GartnerG2," Graham reports. "Microsoft's long-delayed new version of Windows, code-named Longhorn, is slated for December 2006. If Apple's hand-holding program is successful, says McGuire, 'You'll see something very similar' then with retailers offering to install and teach consumers."
MacDailyNews Take: Yeah, that would go smoothly. A Windows install compared to a Mac OS X install? Get real. About ten Windows customers per CompUSA could grind each place to even more of a halt for a year or so.
Graham reports, "IDC analyst Roger Kay notes that the Mac Mini helped Apple slightly increase market share from 2% in the fourth quarter to 2.3% in the first quarter. He thinks Apple is on track to keep sales moving upward but doubts it will return to its onetime position as serious challenger to Microsoft. 'I don't see the great exodus,' he says. 'I use Google desktop, and it works great in a Windows environment. I don't need to switch platforms for desktop search, and I know corporate customers aren't about to switch either.'"
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: IDC analyst Roger Kay is as clueless as usual. If Kay and Rob Enderle ever locked vacant eyes, the resulting vacuum would destroy the universe.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Whoops! IDC 'left out a chunk' of Apple Mac shipments, quietly adds 115,000 Mac units to tally - April 20, 2005
IDC VP Roger Kay sees no evidence of Apple 'iPod Halo Effect' based on 'Apple's desktop share' - January 10, 2005
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How fast is Google Desktop?