“Tim Hanrahan and Jason Fry write for The Wall Street Journal’s “Real Time Exchange” every Thursday, posting responses from readers to their Real Time column, published Mondays. Their latest article:
“Readers weigh in on Apple and possibility of ‘Halo Effect'”
“In Monday’s column, we predicted that the combination of the iPod’s popularity and the increasing worry over viruses, security holes and spyware in Windows PCs will lead to the second coming of Apple Computer as a home-computing power,” Tim Hanrahan and Jason Fry report for The Wall Street Journal. “To say that struck a chord would be putting it mildly. Boy, did we ever get mail — including a significant number of people who said that the iPod, Windows security concerns or a combination of the two had made them switch to a Mac or plan to do so. We also got letters from readers who disagreed with our hypothesis.
One letter goes like this, “For 20 years I have purchased countless PCs for our family of four, each of whom wanted each successive wave of Intel and Windows innovations. We knew there were Macs out there, but they never were much of a consideration, because we were connected to a PC world at work, at school and with friends and family. In the last few weeks, three of us have switched to a Mac, and the fourth will do so soon. In the blink of an eye we have gone from all-Redmond to all-Cupertino, and we are not looking back.”
Full article with the letters here.
Still just anecdotal evidence. It will be nice when some real numbers come out to prove or disprove the assertion.
This is not surprising.
That is the best use of newspaper article space I’ve seen in a long time. Albeit slowly to those of us who already know, maybe the paradigm is shifting. Sometimes people just need to suffer their own personal limit of self-punishment before they figure it out. It’s light the magic light bulb going off over someone’s head… but it’s fun to watch!
At least people are waking up to the fact that there is a whole new computing experience out there, something that many of us have known for years. The major problem for any potential switchers are getting over the fact that, on first look, Macs appear more expensive than PCs. When you have Dell advertising a comp with a 15″ LCD monitor for �379, it’s hard to show why Macs represent a cost saving over the long term. Also one has to get over the “just good enough” mentality.
I recently spent several hours talking to someone who wanted to buy two laptops. From his criteria, I recommended the 15″ 1.33GHz PowerBook as perfect for his requirements – photo management and manipulation, video editing etc., etc. Despite my earnest warnings as to the problems with Windows, he still went and bought two Dells – within two days, both machines were infested. Maybe he’ll switch now
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All talk, but you don�t see Apple or Jobs boasting about it – so it ain�t happening in big numbers.
(How many people are switching from Apple to Pc? I know a couple – tried to talk them out of it, but the price and games switched them.)
Considering all the apprehension most Windows users probably feel about switching, it’s not too suprising that it is a slow movement. Many Mac users were slow to move to OS X.
Maybe now these switchers will tell their friends that they switched and it wasn’t so scary�maybe they will tell them how great it is to compute without having to worry about the computer all the time.
Welcome to the community!
People prefer to remain in known places or environments because they feel they can control on emergencies. Sometimes, they dare to unknown places or decided not to do it, but reasons are diverse.
One of my best friends lives real far away from me, I use to contact her through MSN Messenger because they have a Compaq at home. For the past two months she was not on line and, when her daughter finally got on-line, I asked her the cause of the absence and she told me that it was because of viruses. I then told her to consider a Mac. Here it is a little conversation with her: ��Macs sucks� se said. ��Why do they suck?� ��Because they have not MSN Messenger 6.1� ��But Macs do not have viruses� ��But it is much more important MSN 6.1� ��Even if you are off-line for 2 months� ��Yes, even with that. There are things that are not logical.�
I cannot deal with that, really.
It’s good to see Apple doing well. But I don’t really care about how well the Company does versus Microsoft. All I want is that Apple remains strong and independent and continues to innovate and evolve high quality, easy to use software. I have used Apple since 1986 and could not now conceive of using a Wintel machine.
The biggest threat to Apple is from within the company itself; if those running it start getting a bit bored. Apple will prosper as long as the principals within the Company remain committed and enthusiastic.
And a few Wintel switchers, whilst pleasing, really won’t make much of a difference.
Biggest problem with Apple right now is lack of new, faster computers.
You buy one ipod and its good for life – how many people need to buy a new ipod every two3 years? (I still have a 12-year old Sony walkman that the family uses.)
However, a computer is different. One needs to get a faster one just to keep up with things.
Apple and it�s not being able to bring out faster computers (yes, blame IBM) is detrimental to the long term advancement of Apple.
Amazing the lack of rumors for the upcoming MacWorld in SanFran. Ain�t nothing new coming out except in ipods…
Candy Striper:
To be fair, Intel hasn’t really brought out any faster chips this year, either.
Rick… tell your friend about Adium or Fire. They can IM anyone of the major services.
Arm yourselves with info people… there is always a solution to get your friends and family off the vile PC.
Yeah… Listen up..
I sent this to Paul Thurrott, saying he should take solace in the non-switchers at the bottom of the page..
His response, firstly .. that the bottom of the page stuff was unfair, and I shouldn’t label him a mac-hater..
but in the same breath..
“I don’t care what any reader opinions are”
I wonder if he knows.. THOSE ARE THE SAME READERS WHO HE CLAIMS TO UNDERSTAND INSIDE AND OUT.. The same readers who he thinks will drop their ipods for the 8lb PMCs in 6 months..
(No.. the reader opinion was not directed at me..)
Candy Striper,
While it is important to always be creating and releasing faster and more powerful/capable computers, I wouldn’t say this is exactly a huge problem for Apple. My 700 Mhz iMac has been able to tackle everything I’ve thrown at it over the past couple years. I’ve been able to do all the things I want on it, including making movies and burning them to DVDs. The processor seems fast enough, and with 512 MB of ram, my only limitation right now is harddrive space (which can easily be fixed).
Many consumers still seem caught up in the processor speed wars of Intel and AMD. Sadly, their perception of the quality and capableness of a computer is often based on how “fast” the computer is, even though they could still do all the things they want to on a machine that is half as “fast”. Except for perhaps intense gamers and those that routinely use powerful business applications, I think having the fastest processor is not going to be too important for most people.
This was the best article I have read thus far on MDN. Oh yeah FYI for everyone, I got my girl to get a PB instead of a Dull(Dell).
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For the few sceptics among the posters, I can fully understand your point of view. After all, dreams so seldom come true …
but I think you’re going to be changing your tunes after the sales results for this quarter at the beginning of January, and I don’t mean just the iPod results.
Actually Reality Boy, this is on Apple site under Hot News. So I guess they are boasting about it, as well they should. Articles like this are great and will convince more and more people to come into the light.
Wow… I luv reading stories like that! (Excuse me… I’ve got something in my eye…)
{This post is brought to you by the magic word “business”}
candy striper
the only reason you’d need to upgrade is to play games (well on a pc anyway) when your happy with your mac spec you can keep with it for years
Just a Fact in my Realm
3 of my friends, one a previous Apple owner and 2 previous PC owners have been converted in the last 3 months.
All because the ipod made them rethink about apple as a alternative and the constant problems of the PC’s pushed them in to the Apple world, and they have not looked back, They all now own imac G5’s
Working on one more convert by next year.
mattyg…
Doesn’t it makes sense that Intel would WANT the games industry to push forward with better graphics and bigger games.. Just an idea..
If the games didn’t get bigger, no one would see a need for a new computer.. MS word will never need 4 Ghz
Dell wants you to play games cuz you have to keep upgrading..
Beyond games.. MOST ppl can keep their PC’s for like, 4-5 years..
Provided they don’t die.
It’s worth noting that speed bumps are NOT important to most people. Don’t buy into it.. the prices are low for the requirements most people need…
king_alvarez says: “I wouldn’t say this is exactly a huge problem for Apple. My 700 Mhz iMac has been able to tackle everything I’ve thrown at it over the past couple years.”
If that�s how all Apple buyers think then Apple is in big trouble. You are only important to Apple as a new computer (or other Apple product) customer. If Apple owners aren�t buying replacement computers regularly then who is going to support Apple??? It ain�t PC owners.
‘not_king alvarez’
It’s not the job of the consumer to ‘support Apple’. They’re a business, not a religion. They make computers, not karma. If his 700MHz iMac does all he wants it to, that’s his business. He shouldn’t be made to feel bad about this by Apple zealots making inane points on Mac advocacy sites.
One of the things I always read about Macs is that they have amazing longevity – and this guy has a near three year old iMac model which he’s found perfect for his needs over that period. Perfect example of the extra outlay being well worth it on yet another level.
Assess your attitude man, it sucks.
Given that Apple are having a very difficult time meeting demand right now (and for the next several quarters), then it is probably better for Apple computer buys to not upgrade for every 200 Mhz bump in CPU performance, I know that many people in the midwest tend to get a new/er car every 2-3 years, and they have become accustomed to this cycle because of crap roads, harsh weather, and such, and so the transition to buying a new PC every 2-3 years fits ith this buying cycle mentality. Apple computer users tend to keep their computers around longer, either because of the disruption / problems that transfering files & installing programs causes ( many macs are not just in the home but several different creative industries find them vital to their workflows), so they upgrade gradually. But this isn’t always true for every one.
Obviously Mike has a real old Mac, too.
Apple�s market share is based on current sales, not your 5 year old iMac, Mike. If no one buys, market share and sales go down. Real obvious Mike.
Since most Macs are bought by Mac owners and Mac owners buy every 5 years and there are around 20,000,000 Mac owners out there,that means Apple sells about 4 million a year. Plus some percentage extra to newbies.
Unless Apple owners speed up their cycle of purchasing how do you think Apple will ever increase market share?
And don�t say it will be from ipod PC owners switching to Macs. That number of people is miniscule.
The whole point of OSX from a marketer�s point of view was to get people that own old Macs to dump them and buy a new one.
And you don�t think Apple is a religion? Then why do you come give praise at the MDN alter mulitple times a day???
not Mike
And you don�t think Apple is a religion? Then why do you come give praise at the MDN alter mulitple times a day???
I bow to your logic and wisdom.
Where’s the line for the Koolaid?