Why Apple can’t afford to make a mistake

“The tide is turning; Apple’s been on the rise for quite some time now. Everything they’ve done and are currently doing has been working for them. They’ve even managed to grow the Mac’s market share,” Tommy Thomas writes for Apple Matters.

“That’s the crux of why Apple can’t afford to make a mistake. The world’s eyes are on Apple now, due in part to the halo effect the iPod and the iPhone have created,” Thomas writes.

“Microsoft Vista has been nothing short of disastrous, and Apple has taken advantage, becoming the darling of the computer industry. How long the upswing continues is dependent upon Apple not making mistakes,” Thomas writes.

Full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “RadDoc” for the heads up.]

55 Comments

  1. The mistakes are few and far between. I think the stock would take a hit if there was and issue, but would recover quickly after the fix of next successful release of a product.

    BTW: OS X on a flat panel HD Samsung Rocks!

  2. Stupid all the way. Man where do get those crazy article ideas?

    Those who do not try do not make mistakes.

    Apple is strong by the confidence level of its consumer base. That confidence level would IMHO survive a mistake or two.

  3. “When has apple ever made a mistake since Steve Jobs came back into power?”

    The only one that comes to mind is the PowerMac Cube. It was not a successful product, but was a successful display of technology. Much of what Apple learned in building the Cube went into the iMac G4 and Mac mini, so it wasn’t a total loss.

  4. apple has to be caution on the stock because when we fly high more damaged is caused,i guess apple should do a little break and only released new products that are all rumours of the past and then we will see the stock going fly again like the iphone day now thats giving to the world a apple.

  5. I have never owned a Mac. All of the computers I’ve used at school, at home, at the library, and at work have all operated with the Windows OS.

    However, I am looking forward to ordering my first Mac as soon as Leopard is released (probably a Modbook, or else a Mac Pro). I am counting down these last 7 to 11 weeks. I wish I knew the day, so I could be counting down the days.

    MDN magic word: “added,” as in “another Mac user to be added soon.”

  6. From the article:

    Apple has the potential to unseat Microsoft from atop the mountain that once could not be climbed.

    For Apple to continue the charge to dethrone Microsoft, they cannot afford to slip in terms of quality and wow factor.

    Sorry, but I don’t even think it would be a good idea to “dethrone” MSFT. I would be extremely happy with 20-25% market share. Less than 15% isn’t all too bad, but I think crossing that margin would require wider adoption of macs in the corporate/server market, which would be sweet!

    Becoming the majority, or even a 1-in-3, will probably reduce the sense of pride and increase the sense of entitlement, both leading to a greater chance for dissatisfaction.

    I’m so satisfied right now, and quite enjoy the envy I see in the eyes of others. But that’s just my humble opinion.

  7. The above reader noted failures can’t be denied. The key, though, was that Apple didn’t horribly over produce these mistakes. They weren’t filling up huge warehouses with these products, as they had in previous years. If you have tight distribution / production models, these follies aren’t as costly.

  8. The biggest mistake in Apple history has already been committed, it’s too late to prevent this from happening.

    iMovie 08 is a colossal failure! It will cost Apple dearly as iMovie users all over the world look for alternatives and find them in PC world.

  9. Because Apple is fairly restrictive in it’s product offerings, their decisions become more important. It’s a two-headed coin, and because Apple makes such consistently GREAT decisions, it works well for them. But it does bring with it inherent risk which translates to volatility.

  10. Dudes, I don’t even know anyone who uses iMovie regularly. If you’re upgrading to iLife ’08 because of that one program, what are you thinking anyway? And if you’re upgrading without trying it out, why do you expect any sort of sympathy?

    I do know a few people – including myself – who are interested to see if iMovie ’08 can make digital movies as simple as digital photography.

  11. Apple Matters are a bit mindless, clearly.

    Apple IS quality, so mistakes are unlikely and a few won’t matter anyway.

    Compare that to Microsoft, where it and everything it does is just one big mistake.

    Apple is the leader and will be for many years to come.

  12. “Three come to mind..

    The hockey puck mouse.

    The G4 Cube.

    The glossy only new iMac.”

    Wrong, try again. The new iMac is obviously such a huge mistake that it’s only getting 4 & 5 star reviews and Editors Choice awards from virtually every publication that reviews it.

  13. What is with all of this endless and idiotic bitching over iMovie anyway. When you buy iLife ’08 you get TWO versions of iMovie included, iMovie HD 6 and iMovie ’08. If you don’t like one, just use the other one then. Idiots.

  14. I think iMovie 08 will be the most popular iMovie yet. Simplified and cleaned up for users like me who really just want to quickly import movies and post them up on the web or burn DVDs.

    I found 06 and prior too confusing and convoluted with options and features I just didn’t need. That is why Apple released FinalCut Express, for the amateurs who want a more powerful tool.

  15. The problem of course is there is always so much outright dislike and ridicule of Apple <italics>even when they are absolutely at the top of thier game</italics> that any actual major misstep (not the mindless garbage currently spewed by the Enderl’es and Thurrot’s of the world) will be siezed upon with a fury and fervor that will astonish even the jaded, and the legions of more reserved naysayers currently cowed by Apple’s success will waste no time whatsoever in making sure that a Real True misstep will be known by absolutely anyone who ever so much as feels the heat from a computer.

    Anyone who doubts that this will be the case is merely has to revisit the hallucinatory coverage of the iPhone to this point. If the so-called tech press can’t help fabricating out right lies to feed their anti_Apple bias, just imagine the feeding frenzy if Apple truly does fvck up anytime in the next 2 years.

  16. “Sorry, but I don’t even think it would be a good idea to “dethrone” MSFT. I would be extremely happy with 20-25% “

    i too feel that is a good thing. in fact i think it may be near the sweet spot for Apple. enough share that nobody can afford to over look them, not so much to get lost in the tech support or so much to not hold on to a special status.

    i would love to see 20%, and in about 3-5 years, and then hold….

  17. @Macman… “That is why Apple released FinalCut Express, for the amateurs who want a more powerful tool.”

    The problem is that there are some nice features in iMovie 6 that are not available in FCE.

    Still, I’m in agreement with the majority on this one. iMovie 08 is a simplified digital movie program, iMovie 06 still works and does everything the new version doesn’t. Everyone should just use both and get on with it.

  18. My three year old uses the hockey puck mouse. People who are hollering about iMovie are those too cheap to upgrade to FCExpress. Simplicity on the low end caters to new users and new purchasers of new computers.
    The cube is still to date one of the most revolutionary computers ever created. The mistake was the price. Look at all the people who were screaming for a headless Mac a few years ago…now the Mac mini is almost stagnant and unthoughtof. You have to please the majority to get a majority.
    Most people should just shaddup.

  19. Well, thank God that we got around to the real issue here: glossy screens. It was really starting to piss me off that nobody had brought it up. I’ve really been disappointed at how little discussion we’ve had on this frightening subject!

    Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a new roll of tinfoil that needs attention…

  20. imovie 8 is a great move by apple

    imovie 6 users are having a party with the os 9 club see you there ..lol

    anyway there is a see saw in this industry

    on one side is sticking pile of sh*t that is so heavy it is near flat on the ground

    on the other side high in the air is a bowl of fruit ( a bowl of apples maybe lol )

    I think that it is obvious to the world that doesn’t sell sh*t for a living which way is up

    deal with it
    \
    hahahahahahah

  21. I love iMovie 8, having never used any previous iMovie. It’s a tremendous new approach to editing video, the first breakthrough since the Avid approach took hold in the early 90’s.

    But I can see how people doing extensive projects with the previous iMovie would be disappointed. But many of those projects should’ve been on Final Cut anyhow, so it’s time to either learn a better way.

  22. Well I see we got our jerkoffs who like to give rim glow jobs bitchin about the new iMovie 08 even though they never used it but bitchin because their old G3 iMac can’t run it and they are too cheap to buy a new one…. and then their are the cheap cry babies who just hate it when a new computer comes out and makes theirs look old, oh wait, I’ll bitch that it has a glossy screen.
    Nobody gives a F*** what you think, ok? You are in the minority, look at the reviews, look at the stock price.

    Oh, and, by the way, the new iMovie is one sweet piece of software!

  23. We should all wait for a while before condemning iMovie 8. Usually such events turn into killer apps or products. I’m more bummed cos both my macs are g4s and I can’t try it out.

    Apple can always add in features that were present in the earlier versions if there is a huge demand.

    For me the big news with iLife was:
    1. Clip management in iMovie
    2. Improvement photo management
    3. Web 2.0 compatible web publishing
    4. Photo sharing even with PC heads

  24. You know, I was actually saying something like this to my dad in order to defend the iPhone when it was first announced, because he thought it wouldn’t be very good. I told him it HAD to be good, because Apple can’t make mistakes, because of the position they’ve put themselves in, which is a good position, but it does have that drawback of being in the public eye, and not being able to make a mistake.

  25. This so-called analysis is just lame. I’m sure the writer was impressed that he spent a whole article saying nothing at all, but I’m a little bit less impressed.

    Apple is a corporation. Corporations (usually but in this case, definitely) consist of human beings. Human beings are flawed. Mistakes will happen. It’s the nature of life.

    Get over it; get over yourself; move on.

  26. Hey everyone… I’ve been following the comments about my recent article for AppleMatters. I also write the Welcome To Macintosh column for Low End Mac, and I’ve just started writing a new column for MyMac.com called Think Different.

    I just wanted to say that I agree with the poster who said they would be comfortable with 20-25% market share. Although I stand by my opinion in the article, I feel it would be better for Apple to not get as dominant as Microsoft. At their current level, they can concentrate on bringing insanely great products to market.

    I was only stating my take on what could happen should Apple “choose” to try to dethrone Microsoft. They may not be interested in overtaking Microsoft in the OS market. Time will tell I suppose…

    Thanks for the comments and for reading. ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

    Tommy Thomas
    tommy@applematters.com

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