“The Mac, and Apple, have been counted out more times than Gabby Jay. Unlike Super Punch Out’s resident tomato can, the Mac keeps getting up off the mat. Credit the people who love the platform, or OS X for the machine’s resilience, but don’t count on the Mac being there forever. The era of the all-in-one hardware and software solution has been gone for at least the last ten years, even though Apple hasn’t quite caught on yet. Here are five reasons why Apple will catch on and abandon Mac hardware by the start of the next decade,” Chris Seibold writes for Apple Matters.
Seibold’s five reasons:
• Microsoft Windows Vista
• Viable Mac OS X “cat names” dwindling quickly
• The Intel switch
• The iPod
• Dollars and Cents
“When all this comes about, when Apple is seen not as a computer company but as an electronics giant, when you can install a shrink-wrapped copy of OS X on any computer that meets the specs, Mac users everywhere will howl and moan. Nevertheless, when those same users save the cost of OS X and iLife in their initial purchase of a computer a lot of the sting will be taken out. When people realize that they can now customize their purchase to their specific needs via any of a million generic PC makers the pain will further be dulled,” Seibold writes.
Full article here.
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Related MacDailyNews articles:
Dvorak: Steve Jobs eventually intends for Apple’s Mac OS X to run on any x86 PC – August 08, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ ultimate goal: ‘to take back the computer business from Microsoft’ – June 16, 2005
Michael Dell say’s he’d be happy to sell Apple’s Mac OS X if Steve Jobs decides to license – June 16, 2005
Dvorak predicts Mac OS X for generic x86, Apple ‘Office’ suite, dawn of Mac viruses and spyware – June 13, 2005
duurrrr
i dont see any real or convincing arguments in this article…
That was a good chuckle. Good tongue-in-cheeck mixed with some legit concerns.
I’m surprised Apple Matters doesn’t get quoted more often.
He just want hits. Don’t let him get his advertisement money people.
people will pay for quality.
people will pay for convenience.
people will pay for privacy.
you get all 3 things when you buy a Mac – which is why there will always be macs, because you can’t get any of those things from Micro Soft’s products + someone’s hardware.
I really wish people would stop talking about marketshare… sometimes, you have to give up marketshare to be better. Honestly, i’m starting to weary of the masses on the Mac – a lot of people are just really stupid, and i don’t care if they use Windows or Mac OS X.. if they can’t figure out to buy a Mac, then i can sell services making things like websites and videos for them using my expensive Mac.
Since they saved all that money buying a Windows box, and can’t really do much with it, they can then afford me to do things for them that they probably aren’t even smart enough to do on their own.
i have long since stopped caring what other people used – i only care about what tools i can use to create… and there will always be people like me like that… and we will buy Macs.
snore.
Seriously, AppleMatters matters not. Their articles are very pedestrian.
INTEL inside signaled the end of MAC hard ware. You dont need 5 reasons , you just need to listen to the intel inside jingle.
I think that the whole “better OS and bundled software” arguement as a reason for people to buy Macs has been oversold.
Yes, that is PART of the reason why Mac users like Macs. But it is only one half of the equation. The machines are, in fact, of higher quality then those made by any of the PC manufacturers. You can debate technical specifications all day, and Macs are often inferior to many PCs on technical merits.
However, the machines are just plain put together better, look better, feel better, and last longer. My 17″ Powerbook is 2 1/2 years old. It looks like new, the keyboard feels like new, and I haven’t had a single problem with it the whole time. Even the original battery is still good for 2 hours of run time.
Anyone who thinks that a real Mac user (not necessarily a switcher, who is used to cr@p quality) would be happpy with a mass market PC box obviously doesn’t get it.
Viable Mac OS X “cat names” dwindling quickly…
Apple Developer #1: “Hey there Apple Marketing, we have a new version of Mac OS X that blows everything else out of the water. It even cures cancer!”
Apple Marketeer #1: “Sorry, we’re out of cat names. We won’t be able to sell it. I know we could come up with another naming scheme for our operating systems, but how about we put OS X on Dells and Sony and just sell iPods.”
..er…What?
I would like to personally bet this Chris guy that there will still be Macs in 2010 (that’s only four years away smart guy).
first post and where do they come up with this
MDN,
Please update your calander with this information and in 2010, make this guy eat his words.
Hello, anybody home?
MW = fact
Every market has a segment that will pay more for a better product. PC’s are no different.
Running out of cat names? You’ve got to be kidding me.
I don’t follow the logic. Apple’s hardware is competitively priced and always works with Apple software.
Reliability is why you are wrong.
Apple hardware comes bundled with loads of software. I wouldn’t want to pay more for that software.
Total package is why you are wrong.
Most people buy OEM. Why would Apple give that business to someone else? It would kill their profits and profit margins.
This is just wrong.
Macs will outsell PCs in 2010 for all the reasons we are all well aware of. After that something BETTER will come along. Only then will the Mac fade away. Not because someone else is selling OS X on other hardware.
Just basically a little humor thrown at the same ole tired whining about Apple making the OS available to any box. He citres a HP for $400, but neglects the fact that the HP is a POS. Assuming he has his way, why in the world would I buy the best OS out there (OSX) and then try to install it on a cobbled together cr@ppy box like that and the thousands of others from 3rd party butchers?
What a whiner that article turned out to be.
Five reasons why Apple WILL still be around by 2010:
• MS Windows Vista (because it will still suck)
• Innovation
• Stellar Design
• loyal and dedicated users (MS can’t say the same thing about it’s users)
• Mac OS (no matter what letter, number, or animal name it may have)
MDN magic word: heart
“I HEART APPLE!”
Has vistew slipped to 2010?
If they run out of cat names, what about bird names or dog names? There are plenty more animals out there. Heck, name the OS after layers of the atmosphere (OS X Stratosphere) or after types of clouds (OS X Cirrus).
They pretty much forgot and misplaced a couple letters in their slogan; irreverent should have been irrelevant
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Is this guy on crack?
wow thats gotta be the latest ‘first post’ ive ever seen on MDN lol
Honestly speaking this is not the first stupid article which even make no sense, looks like someone was drunk yday, woke this morning and said ” Hay I had a dream about apple future, let me put it straight here..”
But I do not care about this anymore, the only realon why i still read is comments, and i dont know if its bad or good that people react on this things.
Because u dont go on the street and spot by every stupid and start trying to explain and prove that he is wrong and stupit right?
What a f*cking idiot!
Seven reason why Bill Gate’s will be whimpering in 2010:
1. Apple’s OS (regardless of the fauna)
2. Linux
3. iPod
4. Dollars and cents
5. Intel
6. No Longhorn, again
and,
7. Vista flops