“In recent years, many pros have started feeling like Apple’s jilted girlfriend. Through no fault of their own, the love just seemed to fade,” Ken Segall writes for Observatory.Apple might claim otherwise when confronted, but the telltale signs have been hard to ignore: Mac Pro; 17-inch MacBook Pro; Final Cut Pro X; Aperture.”
“Could it possibly be? Would Apple ever even think about saying goodbye to the pro market?” Segall writes. “I hope you’re sitting down for this, but Steve Jobs did in fact once consider that very option.”
Segall writes, “This was back in the days when iMac had established itself as a global bestseller. During one of the agency’s regular meetings with Steve, he shared that he was considering killing the pro products. His rationale was as you might expect: consumer products have an unlimited upside, while pro products are aimed at a niche market that eats up major resources.”
“Obviously, the pro market has value for Apple, even if its numbers are relatively small. Pros are opinion leaders, influencers and evangelists. Their love of Apple shows up in the purchase decisions of friends, family and colleagues,” Segall writes. “So Steve ultimately renewed his commitment to the pros—but he never said that this commitment wouldn’t evolve. Clearly Apple has changed its thinking about the pro market, and how it can best serve its pro users.”
Much more in the full article – recommended – here.
