“I’ve been watching Apple a really long time and I’ve lost track of the number of industry folks who’ve said Apple should ship a Mac for under $500. Some said they thought doing so would detract from the appeal of its higher end products,” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld. “The demarcation is much clearer now — at the higher end you have Macs with 5K displays, amazing processors, lightweight and portable… Mac mini doesn’t compete, instead it’s a nice robust and affordable box that runs OS X Yosemite. Millions will buy these and I’d be very, very surprised if we don’t see Apple take a permanent place in the top 5 PC makers as a result.”
“Have you noticed what Apple is doing as it introduces new products? It is keeping some older models available and dropping entry-level and the high-end prices. This means Apple is widening its addressable market year-by-year, while never tarnishing the value of its brand,” Evans writes. “Think about the iPad range, which now starts at $249. What you get at that price isn’t just some wannabe second-rate product that tries to emulate what’s at the top of the market for a cut price; what you get is a product that was the high end just 18-24 months ago and still offers more than most of what’s available from anyone else, except Apple.”
“Don’t be blind to the potential significance of Apple telling us it can ship a 5K display (with a free computer attached) today at less than the price of a 4K monitor,” Evans writes. “It seems inevitable Apple’s one-time ‘hobby’ Apple TV will morph either into (a) a full fledged solution the world wants, or (b) a small accessory device the world wants. Apple’s ecosystem will take its rightful place across your connected lives.”
Read more in the full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Fred Mertz” for the heads up.]
You bet!
Yeah, I like this perspective. Indeed, a 5k display with a free, invisible computer attached. The broadening of the market pyramid and the complete ecosystem is a huge evolution for Apple. I was also struck by the total number of iPads sold versus all the cheap PCs out there. Apple did ship a sub-500 Mac……to a lot of people.
anyone think the iPod line will get their own apple event before black friday?
What would be the point? It’s not like there will be a new 4.7 inch or 5.5 inch iPod touch because Apple doesn’t have the resources to spare in building them when they’re struggling to make iPhones.
Apple completely ignored the iPod for a reason. Did you see that graphic of their product lineup they repeatedly displayed? Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Mac. Showed it over and over. They’ve sent the world the message that the iPod is dead.
They also didn’t show the: Apple TV, Mac Pro, Mac Mini, etc. in their graphic. According to your logic, all of those should be dead as well…
The Apple TV is still a “hobby,” remember? It’s not an official leg on the stool, as in a heavy revenue and profit generator that could be spun off as a separate and successful company (at least that’s how I think of it). It did get a shout out during the presentation, however. The iMac in the graphic was obviously representative of the entire Mac lineup.
Dude the iPod as a standalone media player is dead. You can’t seriously entertain the thought of another media event centered around iPods.
No I agree that the iPod wont get its own event. But I disagree it is dead. There are many android and window fans who dislike the iPhones/iPads yet still use iPods. I believe if Apple added TouchID and NFC to the next gen iPod touch, they would create a huge revenue. For those who want an Apple Watch but not an iPhone, the iPod would be the logical choose to use as a replacement that can store all credit card info.
Yes seems to be a logical player in that market. Perhaps it will get that sort od update post Christmas when capacity can cope and Apple Pay is more established and people can see the logic of a non phone device to do that job. Would be much more sellable in that scenario especially at an event (nots its own event) than it would be today when people still haven’t got the idea fully not their brains so wouldn’t be so tempted to but an iPod with that capability as a big sell.
No. That’s a dead-end product line.
Their own event? No, but I disagree the iPod is dead. As mentioned there are still people who love the iPod and it is still the 1st Apple product for plenty of kids. Not every 8 year old walks around with an iPhone. I don’t see an iPod with NFC for Apple Pay though; what’s the point? I can’t imagine there are that many people using a non Apple phone who want to carry around another device just for Apple Pay. You might just as well use the actual card if you have to carry around an extra device.
The iPad mini 1 is just an iPad 2… And under iOS 8, it compels me to want the iPad Air 2.
Eddy Cue: “Best Product Pipeline in 25 Years Coming Later This Year From Apple”
POTUS: “If you want to keep your doctor, you can keep your doctor”
Hard not to see the similarities in those statements…. hmmm….
It’s takes a certain level of psychosis to turn every… single… conversation into a political shit sandwich.
That comment is idiotic on so many levels.
Finally someone who makes sense. The Apple ecosystem is at it’s best, by a long shot. Anyone in it is not going anywhere, and expect marketshare to grow…big time…over the next few years. What can their competitors do? Drop their prices even more?!? Google glass? Good luck!!!
Am I the only one getting shit for audio? clapping CLEAR, Speaker volume LOW.
Downloading straight from Apple.
I speak from personal experience when I say this… The original iPad mini runs like crap on iOS 8. It is very irresponsible for Apple to keep it available for sale if it can’t run iOS 8 properly. While I like iOS 8 a lot, I have hated it on my iPad mini that I have had for just less then two years. It pisses me off that Apple has relegated my iPad mini to only occaisional use. Before this, I used it a lot every day.
Maybe 8.1 will surprise you…
I hope so, but I won’t hold my breath in anticipation.
I am a spoiled first world brat and I want everything for free and twice as good as the rest of you get. I rant and rave at the slightest little thing including being stuck here in my mother’s basement without a meaningful job. You would think that after just celebrating my 34th birthday, my dead beat father would buy me a Porsche.
I don’t know where that’s coming from, but I PAY for everything that I have. My mother doesn’t have a basement, and I work for myself running my own business. What do you do?
Bullshit. Again, incremental increase with limited low-end product (no base 32gig iPad drives average user to mid range model with better profit margin – bait and switch). Drop prices to meet 20% margins and apple could change the world by helping people kick the Windbloz habit.
Volume volume volume!
A writer that understands.
Look who’s back!
If it ain’t short selling investment know it all FUD meister and dick head himself GM. Coming back for more befote you’re banished again?
Suddenly a Tim Cook fan huh GM?
You led the chorus of “Fire Tim Cook”, do you really think people here forgot?
Do a Google search for ‘GM Bad News’ and see the number of recent hits you get. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/is-the-bad-news-in-the-rear-view-mirror-for-gm-2014-10-01
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/more-bad-news-gm-china-112632416.html
etc.
An exceptionnaly good analysis of a core strategy of Apple.
“Have you noticed what Apple is doing as it introduces new products? It is keeping some older models available and dropping entry-level and the high-end prices. This means Apple is widening its addressable market year-by-year, while never tarnishing the value of its brand,” Evans writes.
My gut reaction to Apple’s (a) kick-ass product enhancements, (b) aggressive pricing of these new products, and (c) substantial price cuts on its established products was this: Apple is sticking it to Samsung! (Google, too.) Apple is gonna see to it that there is not much money to be made by anyone in these segments. hahaha.
Sales may be up, down, or sideways — doesn’t matter. Apple is gonna get most of it !
This was supposed to be the most amazing product pipeline announcement in 25 years?!! Are you really kidding me Cook? This product announcement was above average at best! The Retna iMac is nearly a year past it’s expected due date. Nothing on the Apple TV being refreshed! Seriously? This “hobby” needs to be worked on seriously if Apple want’s to gain a real foot hold in the Media market!
It is so sad that TV can’t gain a foothold in the Media market? How much does it need to have a hold (in your mind)?
http://fortune.com/2013/05/29/apple-tvs-market-share/
The iPod touch will hang around for Xmas. But seriously why would you buy one when you can get an iPad Mini for 249.
The cheapest iPod touch is 199 for the same memory. 32GB is 249.
I guess if you don’t have a phone then the iPod Nano and Shuffle have some utility. But for me the extra hundred bucks is well worth it to have more flexibility.
I will pay close attention to how much revenue Apple get from the iPod. They won’t discontinue it by it will get less R&D effort and fewer refreshes with minimal advertising from now on.
Why will it hang around? Simple, unlike a tablet it fits in you pocket. There is very low development cost of the iPod touch so unless it starts loosing money it’s a great introductory device.
So where is the 5K display for the MacPro?
Indeed, can you run the MacPro through the new 27″iMac ?
That would be a useful attribute.
Also an HDMI in would allow you to hook it up to a PS4 etc.
In small spaces, bedrooms etc. there is no place for multiple screens and therefore a hook up to be able to use the panel for other devices would have been a real game changer.
Good thinking. Also a power take-off and a hitch on a Porsche would allow it to be used to mow lawns to make money for the payments.
Perhaps it is time to move out of your mother’s basement and get a job. Give up the PS4.
Ha bloody Ha. You clearly need to get out more.
I currently use my 27″ iMac with Eye Tv hooked up to it for use as a TV screen/DVR for what little TV I watch or record. It means I don’t need 2 screens in the room.
If this screen is so brilliant it would be even more useful if it could be used by the kids for games.
Apple DOES have a Mac for under $500. The base price of the Mac mini was lowered to $499 on 2013-10-16.