Apple Gaining Marketshare, Mindshare

[WannaGoMac]

I don't understand why you would have to buy a 2nd Windows computer because your cheap $1500 computer is in for repairs. If you are trying to convince someone to do something just call them cheap, ya that works. I think if a 2nd computer was called for why not just get a mac. As you well know they just work.

The point was that one can get something cheap, like a $300 Windows computer, so you can still be working in case they can't afford a 2nd $1500 iMac. Unless Apple has released new $300 Mac computers?

Anyway, point taken. Then get a used off eBay Mac for as cheap as you can as your backup rather than windows...

 

[Roderick Usher]

Would offering a gaming-suitable Mac (the fabled xMac) mean eliminating those qualitives? That is, Apple could offer a gaming-machine or "simple machines that look great and work well", but not both? I maintain that the current positive values of Mac (design, quality etc.) would not have to be sacrificed in the xMac.

Agreed. The idea of "Mac-ness" (however one defines that) and the requirements for a gaming computer are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I'd say that to suggest otherwise is to underestimate Apple's design capabilities.

The company that can best capitalize on a potential Mac gaming market is Apple - it's theirs if they want it. The idea that doing so would somehow injure them is slippery-slope nonsense; we're talking about one product here, not the bewildering array of oddly designed machines that contributed to their mid-90s fall from grace. And to all those who think the gaming market isn't freaking huge, think again... take a look at the revenues for Blizzard, Activision, or Electronic Arts, and then think of all the computer hardware sold to run their games. The question of market growth/decline is somewhat irrelevant, because computer gaming is an established, mature industry with a perpetual userbase willing to spend its money. Given the opportunities present, "It's Just Apple's Choice!" is not a satisfactory answer.

 

[uraniumwilly]

For Logic Pro people Apple is gaining Frustrationshare.

Do any of you rumorists have a crumb for the lowly Logic Pro audio types?

 

[Kugo]

Great to see the marketshare gaining. Hopefully Apple can keep up with rising demand and consumer expectations.

Apple: the king of Lilliput.

There are also potential QA issues due to production scale which hopefully Apple remains on top of.

Uh - I think they slipped down off that years ago. But what do I know? I only read Consumer Reports and Consumer Affairs and they're not officially Apple approved sites so what do they know?

They say some pretty terrible things too. Just like Apple Defects. Potential QA issues? Visit Apple Defects and get drowned in "potential QA issues". LOLZ

Hey anyone got any Kool-Aid? All this talk about taking over the world's got me ferociously thirsty!

Pathetic is what it is: bloody pathetic. Losers.

 

[Kugo]

As apple's % in the market goes up developers will start producing more software

Uh - more developers. Better developers. You won't have to settle for BBEdit and Panic any longer. You can actually get good tools - really good tools!

That was just a dream
That was just a dream
You heard me laughing
- M Stype

 

[Kugo]

This is great news. But I don't think it's good to get too much marketshare. I don't want everybody using my Mac!

 

[Rom Rim]

Mac OS X is the most secure operating system in the world. Plus it has the classic Apple interface. This is too much for people to resist.

 

[Rom Rim]

I love to see Apple growing. It will still take many years, but now people can visually see the demand for Apple is going up. I look for Apple to eventually be the leader in laptops and for them to have a much larger share of desktops.

Someday everyone might be using an Apple computer. Because they're forced to admit Apple computers are BEST. But I don't know if I like that - who can we pick on if all the PC users with Windows start using Mac OS X too? Are we supposed to be nice to them? Where's the fun in that?

 

[WannaGoMac]

Someday everyone might be using an Apple computer. Because they're forced to admit Apple computers are BEST. But I don't know if I like that - who can we pick on if all the PC users with Windows start using Mac OS X too? Are we supposed to be nice to them? Where's the fun in that?

Let's hope we don't go from a Windows monopoly to an Apple monopoly. competition is VITAL to keep innovation up and prices down.

 

[MikeTheC]

1/5 of an industry that is bigger than the movie industry. Do you know many people who don't play games on their pc?

*sticks hand in the air*

 

[businezguy]

Agreed. The idea of "Mac-ness" (however one defines that) and the requirements for a gaming computer are not mutually exclusive. In fact, I'd say that to suggest otherwise is to underestimate Apple's design capabilities.

The company that can best capitalize on a potential Mac gaming market is Apple - it's theirs if they want it. The idea that doing so would somehow injure them is slippery-slope nonsense; we're talking about one product here, not the bewildering array of oddly designed machines that contributed to their mid-90s fall from grace. And to all those who think the gaming market isn't freaking huge, think again... take a look at the revenues for Blizzard, Activision, or Electronic Arts, and then think of all the computer hardware sold to run their games. The question of market growth/decline is somewhat irrelevant, because computer gaming is an established, mature industry with a perpetual userbase willing to spend its money. Given the opportunities present, "It's Just Apple's Choice!" is not a satisfactory answer.

I completely agree with this statement. Apple really needs to focus far more on gaming. I am a professional who uses a computer extensively, and I'm looking for a computer that can perform my business tasks, and will also work well for gaming. I envision Apple designing a simply desktop that is easy to upgrade for more RAM, new video card, etc, and is sleek and small. It may not be the *best* gaming solution, but a *good* gaming solution out of the box. It could also be a good mid-end for those who don't need the Mac Pro.

 

[MikeTheC]

Well, what with EA committing to doing their new (and also high-end) games for Leopard/Intel, it's pretty clear Apple's going to have to put out when it comes to ALL of the many factors which go into a top-tier gaming experience. Naturally, it's a bit too soon to try and gauge the situation, since we've yet to see any of this stuff actually manifest, but it should be interesting. Hopefully Apple will be able to ride the crest of this next wave.

I mean, if/when Apple can win over the hearts and minds of the high-tech gamer crowd, this should serve as a bellwether for other potential market successes. C'mon, Apple!

Unfortunately, this will all pass me by because:

1. I don't game.
2. I don't own any x86-based Macs.

C 'est la vie...

 

[Evangelion]

I completely agree with this statement. Apple really needs to focus far more on gaming. I am a professional who uses a computer extensively, and I'm looking for a computer that can perform my business tasks, and will also work well for gaming. I envision Apple designing a simply desktop that is easy to upgrade for more RAM, new video card, etc, and is sleek and small. It may not be the *best* gaming solution, but a *good* gaming solution out of the box. It could also be a good mid-end for those who don't need the Mac Pro.

If I were asked what the "xMac" would be like, I would have a simple answer: Cube.

Take a look at the G4 Cube. It had an expansion-slot and 3.5" HD. Take the Cube (more or less), put a dual/quad-core Conroe in it (with a large, slow-moving fan). By default, the machine would be using Intel X3100 integrated graphics, but it would have a PCI-E x16-slot, so the user could add a separate hi-power 3D-card to it. The HD would be 3.5" HD.

Specs could be something like this:

2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 1GB RAM, SuperDrive, 250GB HD: $999
2.67GHz C2D: 2GB RAM, Superdrive, 320GB HD: $1399
3.0GHz C2D: 2GB RAM, Superdrive, 500GB HD: $1699

Something along those lines. Of course there would be BTO-options to go around (3D-cards...). It would fill the hole between the iMac and Mac Pro quite nicely, when capabilities are concerned. I would call that machine "Mac Pro Mini", to differentiate it further from the consumer-oriented iMac.

It might not be as cheap as generic PC-boxes, but it would plug the hole in Apple's lineup. If you do not want an AIO, you have two choices: Mac Mini with slowish laptop-components, or quad-core workstation that uses server-specced hardware. Between those two is a HUGE hole. And if you want expandable machine, your only choice is that forementioned workstation.

 

[gregorsamsa]

Let's hope we don't go from a Windows monopoly to an Apple monopoly. competition is VITAL to keep innovation up and prices down.

I agree, but to some degree Apple already have a monopoly with OS X. Hence they give us weaker graphics, less RAM, less hardware choice, etc. & still continue to achieve excellent retail success.

Well, what with EA committing to doing their new (and also high-end) games for Leopard/Intel, it's pretty clear Apple's going to have to put out when it comes to ALL of the many factors which go into a top-tier gaming experience.

If I were asked what the "xmac" would look like, I would have a simple answer: Cube.

I like to think so too, but the current indicators aren't very promising. A short while back AppleInsider's so-called "reliable sources" correctly predicted new aluminium iMacs, demise of 17" iMac & stated that the Mini would receive one more minor upgrade, before it too went the way of the 17" iMac. Then there's SJ's recent comment that he can see a time when Mac sales will be "80-to-90 per cent notebooks." I assume he meant during his time at Apple which, realistically, can't be too long now.

Of course nothing can be ruled out, but this tells me we'll probably see at least one new Mac added to the laptop range, an improvement to the MacBooks GMA950 graphics, but we're unlikely to see a new midi desktop Mac. This also makes sense financially, as Apple's laptops (unlike their desktops) continue to achieve record sales. - Hope I'm wrong about no new Mac midi.

 

[agreenster]

CONGRATULATIONS APPLE!

Wow, that's huge news! I dont post much here anymore, but this one made me have to log in and give a shout out.

Wow, 17%. That's a really nice place to be. Big enough to be legit, small enough to still be boutique. Keep rockin it Steve