“Fears that a Microsoft digital music player and service could imperil the iPod’s market dominance are overblown, according to Shaw Wu, an analyst for American Technology Research in a report on Monday,” R.M. Schneiderman reports for Forbes.
“’Apple’s vertical model is tough to execute with not many companies (if any) succeeding. Apple has a large installed base of about 50 million iPods and 300 million iTunes users,’ Wu wrote. ‘[Their] competitive advantages are largely defendable including its familiar and easy-to-use user interface, industrial design, brand name and world-class supply chain.’ He added that he believes Apple is pursuing a longer term broader strategy beyond iPods, which means that Microsoft may need to enter other hardware segments, such as PCs, cell phones and home entertainment,” Schneiderman reports.
“As a result, Microsoft is more likely to compete with companies it has partnered with for the past three to four years including Creative Technology, Sony, Samsung, Archos, Toshiba, iRiver, Philips, MTV Networks and others,” Schneiderman reports.
Full article here.
In other news: liquid water is wet, the earth orbits the sun, and Macs are superior to Windows PCs.
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Related articles:
Microsoft preps iPod+iTunes killer – June 19, 2006
Report: Microsoft readying Apple iPod+iTunes rival – June 16, 2006
Microsoft: No iPod killer planned – June 05, 2006
Microsoft, Toshiba, DoCoMo, Victor to develop Japan iPod+iTunes killer – June 02, 2006
Who cares if they enter? They will screw it up like they do everything else they do. Too many cooks at Microsoft.
If M$ starts to make its own computers, the anti-trust lawyers everyone will simultaneously squirt. Then, tose former M$ partners will embrace and enhance Linux. I can see small personal electronics, but computers for M$, I doubt.
How much does he get paid and how can I get his mentally taxing job??
As microsoft knows once one has a monopoly it is tought to beat it…until new technology or other third party intervention.
Wow, talk about going out on a limb with that prediction. Here’s another: the Kansas City Royals will not win the World Series this year. You heard it here first!
Macs are superior to Windows PCs? Intel Macs can run Windows so in essense they are Windows PCs. So Macs are superior to themselves? I guess even G-d can create a boulder that even He cannot lift.
Jim, you’re forgetting the secret sauce that is Mac OS X and iLife. That’s what sets Macs apart from the “common” Windows PC.
For some reason this has left me laughing for 15 minutes:
“In other news: liquid water is wet, the earth orbits the sun, and Macs are superior to Windows PCs.”
Good schtick!!!!!
The more that enter, the more it makes Apple stronger.
People want stability when it comes to their music choices and Apple is the biggest and the best.
These jonny come latelies will fall by the wayside.
I’m thinking of quitting my job and becoming a tech writer. Evidently, you don’t have to say much beyond the obvious and often you don’t even have to be right. It’s kinda like being a weatherman…
While Shaw Wu is dead-on with his analysis, MDN, you guys really need to avoid antagonizing people who are essentially “Friends of the Mac!”
I mean, come on – Wu put out a positive report when the conventional wisdom is that there must be something wrong with Apple. Yes, it’s obvious. Yes, water is wet. But being snarky to the people who are positive about the Mac and Apple is a BAD editorial strategy.
Give credit where credit is do. Save the attitude for the real idiots who deserve it. MDN’s take on this one does nothing to serve the cause of the Mac.
Maybe they’ll give MS Bob a goatee and Bob will say cool things like “That song’s radical!” and “Your bifocals and pocket protector make me HOT, DUDE!”. Or maybe “DUDE! You’re getting a DELL DJ with a MS logo on it!”?
I’ll bitch-slap the damn thing if I see a talking paperclip.
Whoever writes the “Mac Daily News” commentary should receive an award…clever, succinct, and witty. Today’s is especially good!