MacDailyNews Note: Not true. The last time Apple had a higher market cap than Microsoft was December 19, 1989.
Nosowitz continues, “That Apple has, improbably and at long last, passed Microsoft in market value has everyone looking more closely at the two companies.”
“Rather than trying to examine the ever-changing facets of each business as a whole, let’s look at something more concrete — their products — as a measure of where the two tech giants stand right now,” Nosowitz writes. “Apple is startlingly narrow in their scope, at least in comparison. More focused on both hardware and the consumer (rather than enterprise) side of tech than Microsoft, Apple’s product lines are thus much easier to understand. You can take a glance at the homepages of the two companies to see the difference; Microsoft’s list of products runs to the dozens and includes several I’ve never heard of, while Apple has seven buttons corresponding to their products, all of which (MacBook, iPod, iMac, etc) are instantly distinctive and familiar. Despite a couple duds (I’m looking at you, Apple TV and Mac Mini [sic], Apple’s philosophy is both simple and focused on simplicity: ‘Get rid of the crappy stuff.'”
MacDailyNews Take: Apple TV has sold in excess of 8 million units (estimate) without any marketing to speak of. Apple TV is quite likely the best-selling device of its kind ever. Mac mini is not a “dud,” either. We have no idea why Nosowitz is calling those products “duds.”
Nosowitz opines, “Apple isn’t as big as Microsoft, and probably never will be. They don’t make or have as much money. But that the market has valued Apple higher is an affirmation that at the moment, Apple is leading the tech world.”
MacDailyNews Take: Nosowitz needs to do some research before scribbling. Debt-free Apple has more cash and short term investments on hand than Microsoft. Apple is within a billion of Microsoft’s revenue and will almost certainly make, not just “as much,” but much more money than Microsoft – and sooner, not later.
Full article here.
Geez, what a dingus.
What’s taken so long for people to actually look at the differences between the two companies? I know, it’s been years of the public drinking the MS kool-aid.
I’ve mentioned this accomplishment to many Microsoft fans this week. Most just stared off as if they didn’t comprehend. A few tried to explain it away.
There really is a difference between customer demographics.
Apple TV in its current state is a dud. And I do not know who in their right mind would buy a mini except for some with a very narrow application of a small form factor. i.e. in your trunk or under your seat or in your RV as a media server.
Then again maybe I’m all wet. I’m sure the fan boys will let me know.
MW: covered, as in this has all been covered before.
Why do so many people, especially journalists, take such a half-ass good-enough approach to what they do?
“Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
– Steve Jobs
My Mac mini is no dud…it’s been running 24/7 for more than 5 years now. 😀
@ bildad
Maybe someone who wanted a small home media server…? Like the one that’s powered my photo site for the last 5 years with almost zero maintenance.
Mac Mini a dud???? Tell that to my law office which hums along nicely running SL Server on a mini. Total initial cost $999 (hardware + software). Total support cost $0. Total licensing costs $0.
Do people like Dan Nosowitz ever pull their heads out of their ass long enough to look around at reality?
Am I the only one noticing that Apple is just about ready to extend computing beyond the desktop? Lawyers and education are huge markets where Apple can extend their presence. Not only has Apple exceeded Microsoft; this is just the beginning of that.
A fluff piece to reassure the cult of microsoft: no don’t worry Apple isn’t as big as you, you still have more revenue……gag me.
He gets paid to write this dribble? I definately need get a job like this or one at Los Angeles Water District!
The mini and Apple TV are only “duds” compared to the other Apple products. When you compare the sales to other similar products by other companies, Apple’s “duds” do as well (or better) than other companies’ successes.
“Why do so many people, especially journalists, take such a half-ass good-enough approach to what they do?”
Because they use the half-assed good-enough OS called Windows?
Built into the market valuation is future revenue and profits. Therefore, the market is saying that Apple will likely have more revenue and profit than MS. Market cap is a forward looking number, not a historical number. This guy needs to take some econ classes.
@chrissy
So true. Yet that still falls into a very narrow application, no? I don’t know of anyone, in my small world, that uses one as their daily “sit in front of and work” machine. Apple has so many better options for that, yeah?
And, I’ve read your comments here over time and know that you’re in your right mind so I guess I’ll just eat my words. Any suggestion for a good sauce?
“And I do not know who in their right mind would buy a mini except for some with a very narrow application of a small form factor..”
Paul Thurott, is that you?
Microsoft makes knockoff shit. That’s why.
“Despite a couple duds . . . .”
What’s a couple duds? Could he possibly mean “A couple OF duds”?
One cannot–nay, MUST NOT–lend any kind of credence whatsoever to a professional writer who knows only the sloppiness of the oral tradition! A couple duds, indeed.
As Bugs was wont to say . . . “WHAT A MOROON!”
When Apple releases a SW update to Apple TV that runs iPad apps he’s going to turn green
“Engadget reports that it has received detailed information on a forthcoming revamp of the Apple TV, … it resembling ‘an iPhone without a screen’. Based on the next-generation iPhone hardware and software and relying on cloud-based storage rather than an internal hard drive, the new Apple TV is said to be set to carry a price point of only $99.”
So, $99 gets you into a cloud based DVR server that is a BILLION DOLLAR SERVER FARM SERVER in North Carolina! Who could have seen that coming?
So, is a $99 AppleTV working with a cloud based DVR server account a dud? With internet WiFi, you could view all your media anytime anywhere on your computer, iPhones, iPads, iPods, and those old first generation AppleTV.
I’ve been using my Mac Mini as an AV server for years. Four TBs hooked up. Never a burp.
We all gather round the living room big screen for video iChat, and even whilst watching movies, the internet is a flick away.
Great machine.
@bildad
I can tell you that for me, the Mini and Apple TV are not duds. There have been some good examples of why they are not duds, but let me give you my reasons:
Apple TV:
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1. My kids will not destroy my DVD’s (Ripped them to my Mac Pro and stream all movies, music and shows wirelessly to my Apple TV.)
2. There are no late fees for rented movies. At the price of $3.99/$4.99 for renting movies, I usually pay double that when renting from a store because of my apparent debilitating disease called procrastination. It’s entirely my fault, no doubt, but this has been a nice solution to that
3. At an average price of $1.99 per TV show, I can now catch an episode if I miss it, usually the next day. I know, Tivo is a solution, or even a PVR, but here in Quebec you have to buy your own PVR and the cost is $499.00…..that’s a lot of TV shows I can buy on my Apple TV.
Mac Mini:
1. Home server (Someone mentioned this earlier)
2. Small business server (Again, previously mentioned)
3. My reason for a Mac Mini. Two of my kids LOVE their computer. They love their games. My daughter is now 3 1/2 and my son is 20 months. The Mini is safely tucked away, and I have a shitty Viewsonic monitor and a cheap Dell keyboard and mouse hooked up to it. They can turn on their monitor, pound the piss out of the keyboard (my son like’s to pretend he is Bam Bam from the Flintstones apparently) and guess what? If it breaks I’m out $5.00. If they for some reason drive a pencil through the screen, I’m not out that much. For them, it’s great and it keeps them from using my Mac Pro.
Of course those reasons are just mine, and we all have a different vision of what is useful and what is not. For me, they are very useful. As a matter of fact, I will buying a second Apple TV for my other TV in my basement, cause unplugging and moving my Apple TV from Tv to Tv is getting old. What can I say, I’m lazy LOL!
@ 88 Mac Guy
You must have a small law office. I wanted to do what you are doing in the prepress dept of printing company where I work. I called my Apple rep and tried to order the $999 OSX server on mini package. They asked me how many users would be connected. I told them seven. We wanted to do Mail, iCal, Address Book and Wiki. They said it was probably not up to the task.
Apple has a ton of cool products to sell to the general public this Christmas! They will dominate Christmas this year as a tech company!
What do you have coming out before Christmas that we can all look forward to Microshaft???
Pipeline a little empty eh… LOL!