I think Apple should rebrand their computer line..

[amazingdm]

they've been using the mac for 25 years and in some ways it has a negative stigma around it.

I think they should make the Apple IV, or Apple ////

[Zyniker]

And this is one reason, I suspect among a great many, that you do not currently sit on the Apple board.

[iBookG4user]

Why would the want to rebrand their computer line if the name is already very well known throughout the world?

[eawmp1]

Yeah. And while we're on the topic Coke should consider changing its name to avoid confusion with the illegal white powder.

You should stop "thinking".

[AlphaDogg]

Why would the want to rebrand their computer line if the name is already very well known throughout the world?

Exactly what I was going to say.

[amazingdm]

And this is one reason, I suspect among a great many, that you do not currently sit on the Apple board.

I don't think there are a "Great many" reasons.

Why would the want to rebrand their computer line if the name is already very well known throughout the world?

Well isn't that kind of the point?

It's so well known it's got people that are totally against it no matter what. A name change, a new product, would bring all the original fans plus new ones. Basic marketing...

[iBookG4user]

Well isn't that kind of the point?

It's so well known it's got people that are totally against it no matter what. A name change, a new product, would bring all the original fans plus new ones. Basic marketing...

I think that you're forgetting that people also purchase based on name recognition. If they change their name they're going to have to work to build up the reputation of the new name. The Mac already has that reputation built up, why would they want to abandon that?

[Mac-Michael]

Well isn't that kind of the point?

It's so well known it's got people that are totally against it no matter what. A name change, a new product, would bring all the original fans plus new ones. Basic marketing...

Just stop. I'm seriously concerned about you and your worldview.

[leftywamumonkey]

If you changed George W Bush's name, people who did not like him are not just going to start liking him because he would be a "new" man.

[randomerratum]

I do think they might change the convention a little. They won't lose "Mac" since it's their legacy and it's working for them... 25 years of a line of computers adhering to the namesake says more good about a computer company then bad...

if anything, they'll lose or rebrand iMacs because "i" is becoming synonymous with satellite, mobile devices. OSX is a powerful, capable operating system which runs a fully fledged personal computer experience, not an iPod.

It's getting to the point where I don't really love the idea of my MacPro running the same OS as an "i" device, even if it's an "i" device in name only.

My guess is that iMacs will evolve into a more "i" style version of a home computer... or be rebranded as some other variation of "Mac"

And MacPros will be rebranded as Lisa IIIs

[tooz]

If it aint broke...

[amazingdm]

I think that you're forgetting that people also purchase based on name recognition. If they change their name they're going to have to work to build up the reputation of the new name. The Mac already has that reputation built up, why would they want to abandon that?

Right now don't you think that the Apple name is bigger than the Mac name? It MUST be.

I'm an outsider in a way, a PC guy, that likes Apple products. Take my point of view for example, There IS a difference between the Apple brand and the Mac brand.

And on a superficial note, and I'm serious about it, "mac" and "macintosh" are ugly names. People DO think about things like that. It may be subconscious.

[amazingdm]

If you changed George W Bush's name, people who did not like him are not just going to start liking him because he would be a "new" man.

That's not the same. Why try and compare things to something else when it can't be compared.. to a person??

[AlphaDogg]

I think that you're forgetting that people also purchase based on name recognition.

EXACTLY!!! At my school, we had a discussion... We were asked if we went to a foreign country (like Italy or Spain for example), would we go to a local coffee shop or would we go to a well-known coffee shop, like StarBucks? Most of my classes answers were "starbucks."

[Gregintosh]

I can see the wisdom in saying that a new name could bring new people on board. There are many PC users who reflexively say they "hate macs" which presumably you could now reach with a new brand of computer (since its no longer a "mac").

The problem is that the experiment probably wouldn't be very successful at achieving that objective because the media and word of mouth would TRANSFER the brand equity of "Mac" to whatever the new name would be.

In other words, with people knowing its the same product just different name, they would not really think differently about it.

[AlphaDogg]

I can see the wisdom in saying that a new name could bring new people on board. There are many PC users who reflexively say they "hate macs" which presumably you could now reach with a new brand of computer (since its no longer a "mac").

The problem is that the experiment probably wouldn't be very successful at achieving that objective because the media and word of mouth would TRANSFER the brand equity of "Mac" to whatever the new name would be.

In other words, with people knowing its the same product just different name, they would not really think differently about it.

Most of them "hate macs" because of the price-point. Knowing Apple, they will never produce a cheap computer, even under a different brand name.

[iBookG4user]

Right now don't you think that the Apple name is bigger than the Mac name? It MUST be.

Alright, let's take a look at this thought for a moment. I've met many people who say that they hate Macs, but also many people who say that they hate Apple. Does that mean that Apple should not only change the name of their computer line, but also change their company name?

[amazingdm]

Alright, let's take a look at this thought for a moment. I've met many people who say that they hate Macs, but also many people who say that they hate Apple. Does that mean that Apple should not only change the name of their computer line, but also change their company name?

Ah this is simple.

If they hate apple they MUST hate macs. If they hate macs that doesn't mean they hate Apples.

I have bought iPods for a long time, my first computer was an Apple in 1996... love my iPhone.. but I've never wanted a mac. But the more and more I'm into Apple the more I'm interested in their computers.

[mickbab]

While we are on the topic of name changes, I think that Microsoft should rebrand their operating system. Windows has been around since 1985, so I think it is time for a change of branding. How about something like "MicrOS"?

:rolleyes:

[amazingdm]

While we are on the topic of name changes, I think that Microsoft should rebrand their operating system. Windows has been around since 1985, so I think it is time for a change of branding. How about something like "MicrOS"?

:rolleyes:

Don't rolleyes smiley.

They DID change the name. A lot. Windows is a perfect example of where name came into play.
Windows is essentially a second brand name (not a product name, which mac is).
Look at Windows Vista. Bad word of mouth made it hated. Windows 7 comes out, practically the same OS on the surface, and people LOVE it.

[WeegieMac]

Right now don't you think that the Apple name is bigger than the Mac name? It MUST be.

I'm an outsider in a way, a PC guy, that likes Apple products. Take my point of view for example, There IS a difference between the Apple brand and the Mac brand.

And on a superficial note, and I'm serious about it, "mac" and "macintosh" are ugly names. People DO think about things like that. It may be subconscious.

Would you please just stop before you embarrass yourself even more.

Mac sales are constantly on the rise, which you would see if you read the stories here and will see when Apple announce their end of quarter results today.

The people who are "against" the Mac are so because they don't like Apple. I've never met one PC user who hates Macs who owns an iPod or iPhone ... it's Apple they hate, period.

Of all the "haters" I speak to, it's not the Mac brand they dislike, some even acknowledge the role the Mac played in personal computing, it's the "overly cool" and "celebrity" Apple brand they detest.

[maril1111]

Look at Windows Vista. Bad word of mouth made it hated. Windows 7 comes out, practically the same OS on the surface, and people LOVE it.

I disagree with your Statement on Windows 7 it is based on Vista but like 100times smoother and better working it's not 100% because of the name but because it's working.

And it's difficult enough with so many Brand names already y should a well known company wanna change their name?

[arcade99]

Mac sales are constantly on the rise

Thats exactly the point. The increase of Mac sales (~+30%) is so much above the industry (below 10%) right now. Apple would be totally stupid to change the name. It had to take so many years to reach this point.

[amazingdm]

Would you please just stop before you embarrass yourself even more.

Mac sales are constantly on the rise, which you would see if you read the stories here and will see when Apple announce their end of quarter results today.

The people who are "against" the Mac are so because they don't like Apple. I've never met one PC user who hates Macs who owns an iPod or iPhone ... it's Apple they hate, period.

Of all the "haters" I speak to, it's not the Mac brand they dislike, some even acknowledge the role the Mac played in personal computing, it's the "overly cool" and "celebrity" Apple brand they detest.

haha I'm only "embarrassing myself" to YOU because YOU think I'm wrong. So I'm not exactly embarrassing "myself."

You are so wrong. So so wrong. About the people who hate mac hate apple thing. I have a lot of Apple products but no macs.. hmmm guess you're wrong.
iPods are different products than iPhones are different products than macs etc.

[arcade99]

YOU don't represent the majority. Btw me neither. It's as simple as that.

[iGuardian]

You know, when people think of Canada they think of moose and igloos. We should really rebrand. I know Canada is a well known name and all, but "America Lite" would be a nice change. :rolleyes:

[arcade99]

And one morew thing: There is only one product made by Apple with the word Apple in the name of the product and that is Apple TV. So why should Apple leave this way?

iPod, iPad, iPhone, iMac ...

[amazingdm]

And one morew thing: There is only one product made by Apple with the word Apple in the name of the product and that is Apple TV. So why should Apple leave this way?

iPod, iPad, iPhone, iMac ...

Well that's fine rename it something else I don't care.

I was just partial to the Apple IV because my first computer was an Apple IIgs

And the Windows "7" and iPhone "4" are attracting people

[iBookG4user]

And one morew thing: There is only one product made by Apple with the word Apple in the name of the product and that is Apple TV. So why should Apple leave this way?

iPod, iPad, iPhone, iMac ...

Apple was originally going to call it the iTV, but they changed the name when they released it. When they first announced and demoed it, the product was called the iTV.

[amazingdm]

Name it the Apple Galaxy cuz it does everything not just internet
Name it the Apple Nexus
The Apple Tree
The Apple Seed

I don't care. Something different.

Mac was an arbitrary name anyway.

[iGuardian]

Name it the Apple Galaxy cuz it does everything not just internet
Name it the Apple Nexus
The Apple Tree
The Apple Seed

I don't care. Something different.

Mac was an arbitrary name anyway.

Changing the name of an established product just for the sake of changing the name is asinine. Besides, it's not like the Mac brand has been doing poorly, they've been doing very well (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/10/07/19/apples_us_mac_sales_grow_11_in_june_forecasting_strong_quarter.html).

Apple's not going to rebrand its products because you're tired of the name "Mac."

[Bernard SG]

Name it the Apple Galaxy cuz it does everything not just internet
Name it the Apple Nexus
The Apple Tree
The Apple Seed

I don't care. Something different.

Mac was an arbitrary name anyway.

I seem to remember MacIntosh is related to variety of apples, like Lisa. And Newton was named after Newton's legendary falling apple.

[AlexisV]

You're trying to fix something that ain't broke.

[bolen]

I seem to remember MacIntosh is related to variety of apples, like Lisa. And Newton was named after Newton's legendary falling apple.


McIntosh
Parentage / Origin: Ontario, Canada 1798
Description: Fruit beautiful deep red color, size variable. Flesh white, firm, tender, very juicy, flavor characteristically aromatic, perfumed, subacid.

http://www.allaboutapples.com/varieties/var_m1.htm#mcintosh

There's also a variety called Newtown Pippin (or Yellow Newtown). Don't know about Lisa though.

[dudeofblokes]

If you changed George W Bush's name, people who did not like him are not just going to start liking him because he would be a "new" man.

lmao great example

[niuniu]

Well I think it's right to always consider and reconsider options from time to time. But at the moment Macs are gaining market share and doing very well, and it doesn't look like that's about to stop anytime soon.

Should that trend nosedive, then I think you're right, we should have a look at possible ways to break through whatever wall the Mac hits, including branding options, advertising etc

Maybe now just isn't the right moment for that :)

[dudeofblokes]

they've been using the mac for 25 years and in some ways it has a negative stigma around it.

I think they should make the Apple IV, or Apple ////

maybe it was a good idea in some way in your head but even smaller amount of people negative toward apple would not justify a name change.

the mac name is way to known and with such a huge increase in sales from a logic point of view will not happen anytime soon theres just no need for it.

[aedraste]

They DID change the name. A lot. Windows is a perfect example of where name came into play.
Windows is essentially a second brand name (not a product name, which mac is).
Look at Windows Vista. Bad word of mouth made it hated. Windows 7 comes out, practically the same OS on the surface, and people LOVE it.

I can't believe I'm even posting in this thread. How embarrassing.

Windows 7 is not based on Vista. Windows 7 was built from scratch--that was one of its many selling points. Word of mouth didn't destroy Vista; Vista destroyed Vista... because it was awful.

Also, how is "Windows" any different from "Mac/Macintosh?"

People are just as aware of Microsoft, the company, as they are of Apple, the company. Historically, if anything, I would say that Macintosh has been more synonymous with Apple than Windows has been with Microsoft.

And finally, no. Mac is one of the most valuable brand names in the world. It would be a hugely expensive endeavor to change it, just for the sake of changing it. It cost AT&T billions of dollars to rebrand Cingular as AT&T Wireless/AT&T, and that was a name without nearly the recognition of Mac.

Sorry, it's just not a good idea.

[amazingdm]

I can't believe I'm even posting in this thread. How embarrassing.

Windows 7 is not based on Vista. Windows 7 was built from scratch--that was one of its many selling points. Word of mouth didn't destroy Vista; Vista destroyed Vista... because it was awful.

Also, how is "Windows" any different from "Mac/Macintosh?"

People are just as aware of Microsoft, the company, as they are of Apple, the company. Historically, if anything, I would say that Macintosh has been more synonymous with Apple than Windows has been with Microsoft.

And finally, no. Mac is one of the most valuable brand names in the world. It would be a hugely expensive endeavor to change it, just for the sake of changing it. It cost AT&T billions of dollars to rebrand Cingular as AT&T Wireless/AT&T, and that was a name without nearly the recognition of Mac.

Sorry, it's just not a good idea.

Lol please tell me you are joking.
Windows 7 IS based on Windows Vista. It's practically the same OS but they cut out all the fat.
Wow.

[spinnerlys]

Windows 7 is not based on Vista. Windows 7 was built from scratch-


Windows 2000 was Windows 5.0 internally, Windows XP was Windows 5.1 internally, Windows Vista was Windows 6.0 internally, Windows Seven is Windows 6.1 internally.

[rufus247]

Okay, I'm sorry, but the fact that you don't have a problem with Microsoft and Windows, but do have a problem with Apple and Mac show that you are biassed. I'll admit, many people on here will simply argue based on their loyalty to Apple/Mac, but your argument is still unfounded. Windows has a much worse name than Mac. Windows is a product just as much as Mac is. Macs have not proven themselves to be problematic, yet Windows has proven time after time to havve significant issues. If you don't like the way Macs work, I don't see how it is the hardware's fault. The only argument you can make against the hardware, is the lack of certain features such as Blu Ray and other such technologies, but even in this case, rebranding would not help. If you are wanting a computer with Blu Ray support, rebranding will not help you. I'm sorry, but I don't see your argument.

[leftywamumonkey]

That's not the same. Why try and compare things to something else when it can't be compared.. to a person??

You use way too many pronouns.

[dudeofblokes]

everyone knows that windows 7 is what vista should have been and is buit on the same foundation.

previous poster hit the nail on the head windows 7 is vista with the fat trimmed off.

only difference is windows 7 is built on windows 6.1 opposed to 6.0 vista was, besides a change of .1 they are effectively the same thing just wondows 7 a bit tidier.

[Sayer]

Someone using the same name "AmazingDM" has been banned on forums across the internet, going back several years.


Don't feed the trolls, please.

[yadmonkey]

This thread is hilarious. The original post was almost as funny as the number of people who took it seriously. It reads like something from a Bad Idea Jeans (http://www.hulu.com/watch/10310/saturday-night-live-bad-idea-jeans) commercial!

[Yamcha]

Lol please tell me you are joking.
Windows 7 IS based on Windows Vista. It's practically the same OS but they cut out all the fat.
Wow.

Well I think the same applies to Snow Leopard. Its pretty much exactly like Leopard, obviously a lot refinements, and performance improvements and some new features... And I know the finder is rebuilt with cocoa..

Same goes for Windows 7, well actually there are many more new features on Windows 7 I would say compared to Vista. Infact I would say Windows 7 is a mixture of Snow Leopard + Windows.. Windows 7 is like a faster Windows Vista with new features..

Snow Leopard is a faster Leopard with some new features..

[Yamcha]

As for rebranding I actually like "Mac", I think they should loose the i infront of everything.. Its stupid :P

[amazingdm]

Okay, I'm sorry, but the fact that you don't have a problem with Microsoft and Windows, but do have a problem with Apple and Mac show that you are biassed. I'll admit, many people on here will simply argue based on their loyalty to Apple/Mac, but your argument is still unfounded. Windows has a much worse name than Mac. Windows is a product just as much as Mac is. Macs have not proven themselves to be problematic, yet Windows has proven time after time to havve significant issues. If you don't like the way Macs work, I don't see how it is the hardware's fault. The only argument you can make against the hardware, is the lack of certain features such as Blu Ray and other such technologies, but even in this case, rebranding would not help. If you are wanting a computer with Blu Ray support, rebranding will not help you. I'm sorry, but I don't see your argument.

What? I don't have any problems with Apple.

[amazingdm]

I guess a major difference is that windows is software and Mac is hardware. Oh well.. It was just a thought.

[Aldaris]

Check out the OP's join date... c'mon people...

[amazingdm]

Check out the OP's join date... c'mon people...

You're right, I was only born a month ago and have no experience to form an opinion :rolleyes:

[SiMBa37]

please just let this thread die.

[luffytubby]

To add to discussion; They changed the name of the laptops, from Powerbook to Macbook Pro. This was specifically to have Mac in their name.

Now many of their brands run on "i" in their names. Ipod, Itunes, Ibook, Ipad, and so on...


It's a very powerful and prospectful thing to have such a significant brand. Apple has backslash. As has Google, Coca-Cola, Microsoft and any other major company.

In fact, if we look at the logo design of Coca-Cola, many people think that one of the reasons for Coca-Cola's success is due to them having never changed their logo design(unlike Pepsi, which has changed a lot).

When Coca-Cola came out in the late 19th century, the Coca-Cola font was basically the standard store font that everyone used. It was, what Arial is today as a font now on computers. But Coca-Cola never changed it. For over a 100 years it has remaind consistent.

Coca-Cola tried rebranding themselves a few years ago, and it had a catestrophic effect, as people were upset of them changing. It hurt their sales and revenue and they had to change it back.




There is a saying that bad publicity, is better than no publicity. When you are dealing with culture sized companies like Apple, and Coca-Cola that help define and influence pop culture and the era we live in, backslash and anti-Apple/Anti-any-other-big-company are sure to pop up.



Mac means a lot of thing now. It's associated with lots of thing. For millions of people it's a symbol of stylish computing, solid engineering, minimalistic design. for others it's a warning signal of pretentiousness, expenssive, elitistic userbase, problematic, arrogance, steve jobs. But even bad sides can sometimes be used as a sales term.


I don't think rebranding is the main thing here. I think it's more to communicate what they want to change. As a PC Gamer, I see that subject as one of the big ones, in any device that is a home computer.