Actually yes, I think that IS Apples's plan. The MacBook Air debuted at $1800. Now they start at $900. Has Apple dramatically dropped the price on any other hardware as much as 50% over the product's life cycle?
While I am not so sure about this, I agree that Apple has substantially dropped the prices of its products. Perhaps it is just its survival instinct on the market. Nobody would buy a MacBook Air these days for US$ 1,800.
We will see whether Apple's strategy is to keep the Mac affordable when it releases the retina MacBook Air. I guess it will keep a price tag similar to the current one, but some people say it will be substantially more expensive.
Apple detractors have beaten th "apple products are overpriced boutique items" for so long that many people believe it. So When Apple introduced the iPad at $400, it set $400 as the high bar for 10" tablets... And every tablet that debuted at a higher price than that failed to sell in significant numbers compared to the iPad.
Actually, Apple products are expensive boutique items, although not necessarily overpriced. The non-retina MacBook Pro, with a 1280x800 display and an Ivy Bridge processor, is definitely overpriced at US$ 1,199. And some retina MacBook Pros have rivals in the PC world selling for less. I would say that the MacBook Pro is expensive and a little overpriced, although not much.
There's more to the hardware angle, but I'll try to bring it back on topic... The one thing that I've noticed in the last 6-7 years is apple moving away from software. When I purchased my first Mac-anything, 6 years ago, it came bundled with an amazing array of software (I'm including iWork and iLife for a nominal additional charge) that made it virtually unnecessary to purchase additional software.
Yes. Apple is focused on hardware, and it delivers great hardware indeed (at least when it upgrades them). However, it is not delivering good software.
But now it seems like apple has ratcheted things down software-wise to make the platform more attractive to developers. That is a positive thing for Apple in the long run, but not so good for consumers on the short.
With Ms office for Mac we're seeing the downside... an external vendor can have a more than insignificant impact on the platform...and as you mentioned may drive some off of it.
I hope Swift is helpful for developers.
However, I still think Apple should focus more on software. OS X cannot rely on small developers. The big ones are developing software for Windows, which is where the money is. Microsoft makes a great Office for Windows not only because it sells Windows, but also because of the potential sales in the Windows platform. The same happens with Adobe and every other large developer.
If Apple does not make good software for the Mac, how is the Mac supposed to compete with Windows in terms of software, considering that 90% of computers run Windows?
I have a cheap windows notebook (Lenovo S400 touch, 14" Ultrabook wannabe, $300) that I use when I'll have a marathon Office work session. It is ultimately better than wrestling with Office for Mac.
It is just disappointing to know that a US$ 300 laptop can handle office tasks better than an über-expensive retina MacBook Pro.
My hope is that Office 365 evens out the income stream for Microsot that they see the financial advantage of having parity between windows and Mac versions.
Perhaps. I don't know if there is a financial advantage in this. But perhaps there is at least a strategic advantage, as Microsoft has the chance to keep users away from iWork.
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Simple answer is yes.
Just look to how apple gutted iWork, FCPX, killing Aperture (for a more consumer focused alternative). Simple answer is Apple was never interested in the enterprise sector, they had a strong following in the professional/creative sector but they're largely moving away from that. They're a consumer electronics company. I wouldn't expect Apple to provide an application that matched or surpassed MS Office, its simply out of their plans.
It looks like so.
But there is a difference.
Final Cut Pro and Aperture are apps for those "creative professionals" who were always leaned towards Apple products anyway. However, these users are a specific niche, as not everybody works with photos or videos.
An office suite is something completely different. Even if we think that a Mac is a computer designed for consumers, there is always someone who works in a household. It is likely that this consumer wants to use his Mac to produce some work at home, or wants to take his MacBook to work. And it is likely that this consumer works in an office or in a firm or somewhere else where he needs to use an office suite. So, the lack of a good office suite can be a disappointment for consumers who will occasionally use their computers for doing work.
People are people, after all. A person may be a consumer, but he is also likely to be a professional. I don't want to have two computers, one for my "consumer persona" and other for my "professional persona". I want just one that can do it all. If it has to be a PC, then be it.
), but their software has taken a dramatic hit. I don't care if they are trying to spawn developer interest. I'm cautious of developers because they change or drop support for their products just like the lack of support for MS Office for Mac which is a vital part of my workflow. I trusted the software FROM the computer supplier, I thought Apple would be a safe bet for continual improvement, but I was burned...badly.
