Re: Re: Agree With Your Sis
Originally posted by cubist
That's not an insoluble problem; you just sub-brand (as Toyota with Lexus, e.g.). If Apple should achieve 30% market share, for example, they could revive the NeXT brand.
Unfortunately, sub-branding wouldn't be a viable business strategy for Apple, as it's based on differentiation through greater/lesser amenities, extras, and luxuries. I'm not sure Apple would be able to pull off an Apple+/Apple- setup.
Look at Windows XP. When I picked up an XP box, there were certain things I expected to be able to do that I learned were only in the pro version. If apple ever OSX Pro, OSX
lite, what would the
lite version be? What would they take away? The complete user experience that is OSX is what makes better than the alternatives. Do we want them to market a product that's less than what we've come to expect? There's already a Kia computing experience. It's called Windows. (Not necessarily the insult you think.)
In relation to hardware, Apple couldn't survive with even one clone maker, (even a subsidiary.) Because the OS and hardware a so tied together that they both have to relatively high-end for worthwhile performance. If some how, a sub-brand used lesser parts and charged less, poor performance might bearing on the view of the entire platform. If they used similar parts, but less extravagant design and markup, odds are, they'd outsell and undercut the original mac lines. Just not sure how this would fare in execution, though it's a very compelling idea.
Originally posted by balconycollapse
Another thing i have noticed is an acceptance of Apple computers in urban/hip hop culture (see making the band with pdiddy on mtv). The rest of america seems to follow the trends that come out of this culture be it vintage jerseys or teched outvehicles.
Exposure in the Hip-Hop and R&B genres is a really big thing. Aside from pop, no other music culture gets more screen time on MTV for one. Which can mean a bit of screen time for Apple products as well. Like you mentioned, Mac's are featured in the house and recording studio of P. Diddy's Making the Band II. But Mac's really are prevalent in recording studios. Old hat for more experienced musicians and technicians, but new to recording hopefuls and the general public, I wager.
What I think is even better for Apple, is the amount of exposure the iPod is getting. Having already appeared in a highly popular Jennifer Lopez video (popular for artistic merit I'm sure,) the 3G iPod now gotten considerable screen time in the new video by Rapper 50 cent. From back, to face, to headphones, it's there in all it's glory. Actually there are several, being held by 50 and other video members (like Snoop Dogg, another hip hop icon), though partly off screen.
What's so important about this is here's an entire culture that's never really been exposed to Apple's offerings. More importantly, though I really really hate to admit it, it's also a culture with deep ties to designer brands and labels as status symbols. We've taken the most extravagant items from the largest brands and made them common place. Like Coach and Gucci bags (now coach and gucci material is used to line car seats), Movado and Cartier watches. I've always wondered if this culture ever saw Macs as the next hot thing, would we embrace them like they have other designer items? Would my friends and I walk through the mall all with our white do-rags, white T's, white Airforce ones, with iPods blazing and iBooks firmly under hand?
-Hertz
