Apple Tops Microsoft in Third Quarter Revenue

[ericinboston]

Soon as Apple goes into the Game console market

Apple never has, and never will, enter the gaming market. Apple, for whatever reason, is completely clueless about games.

The iPod Touch and iPad has been advertised for 7+ months now (if not longer for the Touch) about all the wonderful games you can play on the devices but alas, nobody uses these 2 devices for gaming (compared to a PSP for example). Someday it may be possible that these 2 devices are widely used for games. But for Apple to enter the console market will result like MS's Zune.

I think Apple should start selling more Mac choices/lines as well as price drops for the Macs. Bring back the traditional desktop that Apple had in the 90s and PC vendors have been using since 1981...a box you tuck in a corner but have a beautiful monitor on your desk. Sure, folks will chime in that Apple's recent selling of Macs proves it's worth it's price...but that's not the entire story...it simply proves that there are 10% of people out there (which is fine) that are willing to pay a much higher premium for a (my view: simply stylish) computer for some kind of perceived value. If Apple wants to obtain 20%-50% personal computer marketshare, the prices have to drop because the majority of people are not going to spend 2-3 times the price for an Apple branded "personal computer" than a traditional Wintel PC...especially since sub $600 PCs have been available for almost 12 years now. That's like convincing folks that they should throw out their $10 hammer and buy the $25 version. Both hammers (and computers these days with web content being a very high percentage of time using said computer) equally fit the needs for the average consumer. Yeah, I'll run Firefox or Safari on my $600 pc thank you very much. Oh, and both Apple and Windows support PDF, MS Office, digital pix, USB hard drives, standard movie/music formats...so what's the perceived value for the average Joe to buy a Mac?...it's white (instead of black or beige or a multitude of PC colors) and it has to be opened with a putty knife?

 

[Bernard SG]

For me, this information tells more about Microsoft than it does about Apple. Apple is demonstrating the huge growth potential in tech products, despite tormented economic times.
Such potential is up for grabs for everyone, and especially Microsoft, but they fail at taking relevant benefit from it.
The information does not mean the demise of Microsoft as a company but it definitely confirms Microsoft is no longer a leader in the tech world, something that a lot of people have guessed for a long time.
What saves Microsoft from a total meltdown is Apple being reluctant to make a push into the corporate market; Apple knows it's a market that pulls prices down, which goes against Apple's "DNA".

On a side note, those who come to the conclusion that Microsoft spending much much more in R&D than Apple goes to the credit of Microsoft are deluded. It actually means that Apple is infinitely more efficient at developing new stuff that Microsoft is. Typically, Apple uses less people and less budget to work on fewer projects; but those are projects that actually are relevant and lead to successful products. Microsoft Surface is a fascinating project, but it ends up being basically irrelevant. At the end of the day it delivers no value for Microsoft and its shareholders; in other words, it's wasted money.

 

[Mike225]

If you haven't use Windows 7 yet, then please keep your mouth shut. Windows 7 is just awesome. Yea, Apple managed to selling more Macs, so does Microsoft. Microsoft managed to sell 240 millions copies of Windows 7. AND i have seen countless people buying a Apple computers and ended up using Windows 7 all the time. So do you really think Apple are that successful? One thing can certain true is that Apple is a good hardware company. If their Mac OS X is just so superior than Windows, then how come Microsoft managed keep Windows market share over 90% over past few years? And why Mac OS X's market share haven't increased dramatically? If Windows and Microsoft's product are so bad, so that people don't even want touch it, then why Microsoft still sells more Windows 7 than Mac OS X? If Windows is so bad, then why would Steven Jobs even allow this piece of **** install on the "beautiful, shiny" mac? Good for Apple have so many people blindly follow Apple and keeping buying their overpriced product over and over again. I have seen countless idiotic Apple fanboys, i just couldn't say anything at all. They have absolutely no idea about technology and they just believe "Mac Is BETTER" like a blindly religious people. Sigh... I always feel bad about those people. BY the way, Apple sales team did good job on fooling people.

I laughed when I found out the biggest MSFT trash talker on the internet didn't know anything about Windows which he bashes all the time.

 

[Bernard SG]

Apple never has, and never will, enter the gaming market. Apple, for whatever reason, is completely clueless about games.

That might be a VERY good reason for Apple to acquire SONY.

 

[Avalontor]

<snip> Microsoft Surface is a fascinating project, but it ends up being basically irrelevant. At the end of the day it delivers no value for Microsoft and its shareholders; in other words, it's wasted money.

you mean just like the white iPhone4?

 

[Nanasaki]

I laughed when I found out the biggest MSFT trash talker on the internet didn't know anything about Windows which he bashes all the time.

Seriously, i have seen countless Mac idiots. They have on clue on current technology. One of my friend even claimed that iLife can be installed on Windows and they seriously believe Apple user high end stuffs compare with PC. I mean, Apple use Intel (Core 2 Duo, Core i5, Core i7) so does PC.

 

[clank72]

What most people (especially on this forum) fail to understand is that Microsoft does not make or sell computers. MS simply makes the OS and some of the applications. The PC ecosystem is entirely open and any vendor can write software and/or make hardware that supports Windows. Apple, on the other hand, controls 100% of the computing experience...the hardware, the OS, many of the core software apps on the Mac (if MS controlled this much they would be sued...oh wait...they were sued...and LOST). Apple also owns 100% of the support (unless you really really want to call some 3rd party bozo). Remember, Apple sells to consumers.

Over the next few years we'll see what happens with Apple and MS (and it's really not about Apple vs. MS...it's Apple vs. the entire PC industry...1 company vs. hundreds

I agree on some. But there is only one mainstream computer industry other then Apple. Those Hundreds of "companies" make computers designed for Windows. No Windows, no PC industry. Kill hundreds with one stone. But it wont happen. They will still be there.

Designing a PC to run a program you have no control over is very old school computers. The tight integration that Apple has is the way it should be and it allows them to make better products.

<<Remember, Apple sells to consumers.>>

Well... they DO yes. But they also have millions of business accounts. I agree Microsoft is better for designing custom software for grocery stores and government. Probably will be like this for a long time. But in the long run, Mom & Dad and grandma will have Macs, instead of PC's like they do now. God that is flustering. "I can buy a $500 HP laptop with Windows, then call my son when it doesn't work. Thanks Dad! uuggghh!

 

[ericinboston]

Apple must be be doing much better than most people would have expected.

I agree...but this was true for a few years in the 80's when Apple was a household name. Man did I love my //e. Then everything went to hell and Apple was days away from going out of business...quite literally. 13+ years later, here we are with some nice milestones like Apple cracking the 10% consumer marketshare barrier...and Apple having record Quarterly results...or having record Mac units shipped.

I certainly hope that Apple doesn't screw up their good times in the upcoming 5-10 years. My bet is that once Jobs is entirely out of the picture (he's 55 now), the company will quickly dissolve from innovation and just churn stuff out like their famous 1984 Superbowl Mac tv ad. Folks here seem to think Apple is going to dominate the world by 2012...far far far from reality. Great enthusiasm but the whole "let's beat the PC world" won't come true until at least 2020 assuming Apple plays its cards right. Remember, it's Apple (1 company) vs. an entire industry (the PC industry).

 

[C. Alan]

I think Apple has a better long term outlook than Microsoft. Microsoft may end up hurting very badly if cloud computing takes off. Google has a huge lead on them in this field, and I think it is just a matter of time until we see thin clients from Google that can take advantage of the cloud. Microsoft doesn't have much to fall back on if the software side starts to dry up. Apple on the other hand has a hardware side that goes hand in hand with the software side. This may end up preserving the company in the long run.

 

[Nanasaki]

you mean just like the white iPhone4?

Microsoft Surface is already in the market. It just not target toward consumer market. You can see one in AT&T store and Sheraton Hotels (5 locations). AND Microsoft start this project long before Apple even thought about iPhone.

 

[Bernard SG]

you mean just like the white iPhone4?

 

[Mike225]

I think Apple has a better long term outlook than Microsoft. Microsoft may end up hurting very badly if cloud computing takes off. Google has a huge lead on them in this field, and I think it is just a matter of time until we see thin clients from Google that can take advantage of the cloud. Microsoft doesn't have much to fall back on if the software side starts to dry up. Apple on the other hand has a hardware side that goes hand in hand with the software side. This may end up preserving the company in the long run.

Apple is the one that will fail if cloud computing takes off. It's what Microsoft and Google have invested heavily in.

Shoot, Microsoft is even pushing "To the cloud!" TV ads right now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lel3...3979136-4156-47E1-97A1-7C5212C20817&WT.srch=1

Windows.com/cloud

 

[AidenShaw]

Damn right!And their CEO weighs more!

Steve Jobs' weight losses are rather worrisome - you should be hoping that he looked more like Ballmer and less like Twiggy.

 

[*LTD*]

If you haven't use Windows 7 yet, then please keep your mouth shut. Windows 7 is just awesome. Yea, Apple managed to selling more Macs, so does Microsoft. Microsoft managed to sell 240 millions copies of Windows 7. AND i have seen countless people buying a Apple computers and ended up using Windows 7 all the time. So do you really think Apple are that successful? One thing can certain true is that Apple is a good hardware company. If their Mac OS X is just so superior than Windows, then how come Microsoft managed keep Windows market share over 90% over past few years? And why Mac OS X's market share haven't increased dramatically? If Windows and Microsoft's product are so bad, so that people don't even want touch it, then why Microsoft still sells more Windows 7 than Mac OS X? If Windows is so bad, then why would Steven Jobs even allow this piece of **** install on the "beautiful, shiny" mac? Good for Apple have so many people blindly follow Apple and keeping buying their overpriced product over and over again. I have seen countless idiotic Apple fanboys, i just couldn't say anything at all. They have absolutely no idea about technology and they just believe "Mac Is BETTER" like a blindly religious people. Sigh... I always feel bad about those people. BY the way, Apple sales team did good job on fooling people.

Apple sells mainly stunning physical products while Microsoft mainly sells licenses for bloatware and badly-made game consoles.

How soon until Microsoft can't match Apple's quarterly net profit, either? Maybe the one coming up? After all, MS can't release a new Office every quarter.

 

[kalsta]

Microsoft can keep it's huge Windows and Office market share as far as I'm concerned. It's kind of comforting to know they're there—big enough to keep Apple on its toes, but not quite competent enough to threaten the Mac.

BUT… Oh how I wish Internet Explorer would just die!! That alone is holding the web back by years and making many a web developer go prematurely grey. This sums it up quite nicely…

http://www.deepbluesky.com/blog/-/browser-support-for-css3-and-html5_72/

I really wouldn't wish so much ill on Microsoft if they would just give up on IE, or make it another WebKit based browser. I don't see that happening somehow, so it's up to Windows users to boycott the beast. I don't see that happening either, since most people have no idea just how backwards IE is… because developers go to such lengths to make things work in it.

If only someone could strike IE a deathblow, like Apple have almost done to Flash by not supporting it on iOS devices…

 

[Mike225]

Microsoft can keep it's huge Windows and Office market share as far as I'm concerned. It's kind of comforting to know they're there—big enough to keep Apple on its toes, but not quite competent enough to threaten the Mac.

BUT… Oh how I wish Internet Explorer would just die!! That alone is holding the web back by years and making many a web developer go prematurely grey. This sums it up quite nicely…

http://www.deepbluesky.com/blog/-/browser-support-for-css3-and-html5_72/

I really wouldn't wish so much ill on Microsoft if they would just give up on IE, or make it another WebKit based browser. I don't see that happening somehow, so it's up to Windows users to boycott the beast. I don't see that happening either, since most people have no idea just how backwards IE is… because developers go to such lengths to make things work in it.

If only someone could strike IE a deathblow, like Apple have almost done to Flash by not supporting it on iOS devices…

Tell me what you know about IE9. If its nothing, go look into it.

 

[Nanasaki]

Apple sells mainly stunning physical products while Microsoft mainly sells licenses for bloatware and badly-made game consoles.

How soon until Microsoft can't match Apple's quarterly net profit, either? Maybe the one coming up? After all, MS can't release a new Office every quarter.

LOL... Apple sells mainly stunning physical product? That's is really laughable. Sure, Apple's product might looks better than some PC. BUT there is just NO WAY Apple's product ANY better than PC in ANY way. Remember, Apple charge your premium price for product that generally one generation behind PC. Windows 7 is just awesome. It is fast, secure and stable. Go ahead and give a try. IF you just blindly believe whatever Apple said and believe is bloatware, then i wouldn't even want waste my time to argue with you. Sigh... it is always hard to speak with Apple fanboys.

 

[*LTD*]

Microsoft Surface is already in the market. It just not target toward consumer market. You can see one in AT&T store and Sheraton Hotels (5 locations). AND Microsoft start this project long before Apple even thought about iPhone.

So it's useless to consumers. Can I buy one for myself? Will it fit in my pocket? Can I install apps on it? I'll just visit one of the Sheraton hotels each time I want to use one or edit photos on it. If it''l even allow me to do that. Awesome!!

Microsoft's Big Ass Table is a joke. Does anyone really care about it? I haven't heard any mention of that monstrosity for over a year now.

 

[kalsta]

Tell me what you know about IE9. If its nothing, go look into it.

Don't start at me about a product that's still in beta. Microsoft has been playing catch up forever. But it's always, 'Oh the next version will fix everything'. I've been developing websites for years, and the most painful part of it is ALWAYS supporting IE. I'm over it!

 

[Nanasaki]

So it's useless to consumers. Can I buy one for myself? Will it fit in my pocket? Can I install apps on it? I'll just visit one of the Sheraton hotels each time I want to use one or edit photos on it. If it''l even allow me to do that. Awesome!!

Microsoft's Big Ass Table is a joke. Does anyone really care about it? I haven't heard any mention of that monstrosity for over a year now.

Dude, you have realize not all touch-enabled product are designed in the way to fit in your pocket? Yes, you can buy one for yourself, if you have enough cash to afford one. Yes, you can install apps on it. And i believe it got enough horsepower to do photo editing. There are lots videos about Microsoft Surface on youtube. It is a wonderful product. It more useful on military and some other purpose rather than for personal use.

 

[clank72]

Apple never has, and never will, enter the gaming market. Apple, for whatever reason, is completely clueless about games.

The iPod Touch and iPad has been advertised for 7+ months now (if not longer for the Touch) about all the wonderful games you can play on the devices but alas, nobody uses these 2 devices for gaming (compared to a PSP for example). Someday it may be possible that these 2 devices are widely used for games. But for Apple to enter the console market will result like MS's Zune.

What??

Dude they are already into games. My 8 year old son never plays with his PSP anymore. Discs and moving electronic parts will be a thing of the past.

To me, the future of game retrieval is download. The last to go will be the Best Buy store. Hollywood Video and Blockbuster are all ready out. Unless you live in a very small town like Klamath Falls, Oregon. But they wont last.

If you are more in control of the consumer market, then the stakes are very high you will corner the game market.

iTunes
AppleTV
GameStation

Apple doesn't have to be into games. There are hundreds of game apps submitted to Apple almost daily now. I admit Mac's have always sucked for games. Probably because those programming geeks hate Apple in the first place. And it's cheaper to code for PC? Dunno, I don't want to get ahead of my self here.

Go Apple for game Market!

 

[Mike225]

Don't start at me about a product that's still in beta. Microsoft has been playing catch up forever. But it's always, 'Oh the next version will fix everything'. I've been developing websites for years, and the most painful part of it is ALWAYS supporting IE. I'm over it!

Its currently available for download.

 

[kalsta]

Its currently available for download.

Mike, if you can convince 95%+ of IE users to download it tomorrow, and then convince me that Microsoft will keep up with the game from this point forward… then we'll have something to celebrate. Until then, I remain a skeptic.

 

[rhett7660]

Microsoft Surface is already in the market. It just not target toward consumer market. You can see one in AT&T store and Sheraton Hotels (5 locations). AND Microsoft start this project long before Apple even thought about iPhone.

Seriously, i have seen countless Mac idiots. They have on clue on current technology. One of my friend even claimed that iLife can be installed on Windows and they seriously believe Apple user high end stuffs compare with PC. I mean, Apple use Intel (Core 2 Duo, Core i5, Core i7) so does PC.

LOL... Apple sells mainly stunning physical product? That's is really laughable. Sure, Apple's product might looks better than some PC. BUT there is just NO WAY Apple's product ANY better than PC in ANY way. Remember, Apple charge your premium price for product that generally one generation behind PC. Windows 7 is just awesome. It is fast, secure and stable. Go ahead and give a try. IF you just blindly believe whatever Apple said and believe is bloatware, then i wouldn't even want waste my time to argue with you. Sigh... it is always hard to speak with Apple fanboys.

Please come to an Apple forum and educate us all on MS Products.

I am pretty sure we can all say we have met idiots when it comes to the PC/Mac world.

 

[Nanasaki]

Mike, if you can convince 95%+ of IE users to download it tomorrow, and then convince me that Microsoft will keep up with the game from this point forward… then we'll have something to celebrate. Until then, I remain a skeptic.

10 millions of download for 6 week? isn't it good?