Apple Hardware Sales will be Fine.
Dr.Gargoyle said:
I would say that most of us buys the Mac experience. A machine designed for the software and vice versa. The problem is that sales will take a nose dive right now. The question is: Will Apple have any customers in two years time? or worse, will Apple be around at all in two years time?
As someone who used to make his living selling personal computers to the masses, I have trouble justifying this logic. The idea that Apple won't have any customers in the future is complete and total nonsense. It's like saying that the whole market will stop buying computers for the next two years just to see what's coming. Will most of us rumor mongers and IT geeks wait to see what's going to happen? Sure, I'll stick by my 12 inch Powerbook for 2 more years and wait to upgrade. But will the rest of the computer purchasing market? Of course not!
People buy computers for many reasons that boil down to one basic reason: They want, or need a new computer soon (or today). They either feel that their current machine is too slow, too old, won't do what they want it to do, or it's broken (OS problems or Hardware issues). So they'll walk into a CompUSA, an Apple Store, a Best Buy, Microcenter, etc, etc, and they'll buy a computer that suits their needs at the time of thier purchase. Most people who buy a computer don't even think past 2 years (Disclaimer: please note, I say most, as in, almost no one who reads rumor sites and/or is a PowerGeek).
It's like when OSX first came out, and I was a commission salesman at CompUSA in college. Any person would come in, and I'd ask them what they needed their computer to do. The most common answers were: eMail, Internet, Office, Photos, Music. I'd take them to the Macs, and I'd take them to the PCs. Guess what? OSX won out most of the time. It's because the bottom line is that these people needed a computer to fit their needs for now, not for 2 years in the future. Sure, most people wanted a
FAST computer that would run software in the future, but they never asked me if the transition from OS9 to OSX was going to kill off Apple and their computer would be unsupported. On the odd power user who was actually concerned with the transition from OS9 to OSX, I would explain Apple's compatibility plan for them, and they were satisified, ready to upgrade. It will be just the same way for the next two years. When an average user (the market Apple is concerend about getting to buy computers) comes in to buy a Computer, they'll have to decide between OSX and Windows. When a Power User (lets be honest, while we're Sneezers **read Purple Cow by Seth Godin for reference**, we're not Apples true target market) comes in to upgrade, they'll be told not to worry, and why, and they'll upgrade.
If anything, and this does turn out to be a poor financial decision for Mac Hardware (and I'd bet everything that Apple will be able to bull through it by increased sales from switchers from all of those Apple stores they've been building), this is the Perfect time to do it, with all of that extra iPod cash reserves they're building.
Get it through your heads NaySayers: Apple Will Be Fine. Your Computer Using Expereince will Likely Not Change enough for you to Notice. If you're so worried about upgrading software, go torrent it and keep an eye on Mac sales as they keep increasing, built on the Strength of their USER EXPERIENCE and OPERATING SYSTEM!
Here's an exercise for you NaySayers and WorryWarts to prove my point, and calm your minds: Find a basic computer user, a relative, a friend, who does what most people do, and uses their computer for pictures, email, music, internet, and office apps. (Computer gamers don't apply, because you know darn well that the basic computer user is more likely to plunk down the money for a PS2, X-Box, or GameCube). Take that person to a Computer Store that sells both Apples & PC's, or to a PC Seller and then an Apple Store. Show them the difference between the two. Show them the pros of buying an Apple. If they don't choose the Apple, you're either a poor salesman, or you didn't follow the criteria. I made tens of thousands of dollars in sales, to customers who were so happy I pointed them to a Mac, that they came and thanked me afterwords and refered me to their friends, based on this strategy.
On a side, and unrelated note, I'm hoping this switch will reduce the prices on eBay for origional iMacs & PowerMac g3's that I so covet for upgrading
But with the nostalga factor of those cool boxes, I find it unfortunately unlikely
