New "think different" apple strategy
Up until a few days ago, I was still hoping/waiting/holding off purchasing for updated PM's. However, yesterday like some of you, I also came to grips with the fact that no new PM's would be intro'd.
We've been "switched"; Apple's "other" switch campaign.
Let me explain:
How many past MacWorlds have there been - with the exception of those this year - where everyone pretty much knew that new kit, specifically PM's, would be intro'd??? And what was the general attitude of the average Apple user/buyer? It was to hold off purchases until the "next" MacWorld... For all of you who've been saying that no new PM's would spell the death of Apple - you're wrong. And the story that Apple is sitting on a ton of powermacs??? I ordered a dual a couple of months ago and was told I wouldn't take delivery for almost a month - so I cancelled, in expectation of an update. The real story? Apple has been slowly "switching" its loyal "prosumers" to a new way of thinking... A new way of thinking not only regarding future product and its release, but about current product and its availability!
Before, prospective buyers would wait to buy kit (as mentioned above, I - like many others - did it this time around). Yet now, since no one knows "for sure" when new kit's coming, it makes sense to buy it when there's a deal - regardless of what's coming next because it could be a month from now, or it could be 6 months from now, or it could be 12 months from now.
Think about it - if Apple had intro'd new machines today, no matter how great, we might be somewhat satisfied with the specs, but we'd be griping about the fact that we'd have to wait 2+ months until delivery. So, in either case (updated PM or not), Apple would come out the loser. Sure - if they intro'd new PowerMacs today, they would've taken a sizeable amount of orders... But what would've happened 3 months from now... Sales would've dropped, and people would be holding off purchases again until January in SanFran, because everyone expects the elusive g5... That is, until now.
Now, we're beginning to think differently, realizing that Apple will intro new stuff how they want, when they want, and when its available (MacWorld or not). Think that Apple will intro g5's at sanfran? Think again; that's the old strategy... They'll wait until they're darn good and ready. Why? Because if they continue with their old strategy of placating the "prosumers" at every Macworld, they're left with this buying attitude: "I can get by with what I have now, could hold off my purchase for another 6 months, and then buy the latest and greatest because - as always -it'll be intro'd at the next macworld"... But, Apple doesn't want us to do that anymore, because that makes the sales cycle a little TOO predictable with sales dropping 3 months before each macworld in anticipation of new kit... then, stock dropping after every macworld because people are ticked about what was expected but not intro'd/stuff that was intro'd but not yet available, etc.... THAT is what would've killed Apple - not the "no new powermacs" or anything else; just the viscious cycle of millions of Apple "loyals" waiting to buy kit until the next macworld...
That buying attitude affected sales, stock, and even gave an edge to Apple's competitors... But, no longer.
New kit will be intro'd when its ready, and it will ship shortly thereafter. I'll even venture to state that we MAY (or may not) get new powermacs in August - noone really knows for sure, of course; and because of that, I bet there are a few more of you out there who are pondering the dual gig at a pretty darn good deal: and why not? Just sitting around waiting for the latest and greatest isn't going to make us any $.
It just makes sense - the "other" switch: people buying now, when stuff is available, rather than waiting until each macworld comes along. Why, its as big a concept, if not bigger, than getting windows users to switch to mac.
I'd venture to guess that at this point, given what's happened over the last 7 months, most Apple loyals will no longer spend the majority of their time drooling over what "could be" at the next MacWorld, but will be grateful for what "is available now" because its available, it does the job, and its a heck of a lot le$$ than it was a few months ago! (so we don't have updated PM's, at least the price whent down! How many of you have been asking for lower prices, and when we finally got them, you still held off your purchase because you believed that lower prices meant new powermacs...?) Sales will FINALLY stabalize, and those of you with Apple stock will finally see it go up again...
Yup. The "other" Apple switch campaign...
