Microsoft Passes Apple to Become Most Valuable U.S. Company

[mangonights]

Apple is over-pricing. They’re also failing in key areas like Siri, Cliud and AI.

But pricing vs value is where they’re hurting. I’m just bought a MBP and have no intention of upgrading for 7-10 years. Same with iPhone. They’re expensive so I’m just not going to replace them.

 

[Steve121178]

I want to know why Apple stopped innovating.

The iPhone 7 should never have existed. It was essentially the same device as the iPhone 6 just with faster internals. The iPhone X should have launched instead to keep Apple way ahead of everyone else. But Apple released the iPhone 7 because they could. It was the simple lazy cash-grab option.

The Mac line has been nothing short of a disgrace. There's been no effort with the iMac at all since the late 2012 redesign. iMac Pro pricing is a complete joke and only appeals to a very niche market.

Mac mini is no longer an entry level machine. Instead it's a reasonable specced computer at high-end PC enthusiast level pricing. Who the f*** is it actually aimed at?

MacBook Pro pricing since the last major redesign has been disgusting. It's clear Apple don't care as they released a terrible MacBook Air replacement that costs far more than its predecessor did. I simply can't believe it's priced so expensively for a machine using a Y-series CPU. They couldn't even be bothered to give it a proper keyboard. Instead they just used the same rubbish that's been the bane of many MacBook Pro users lives for the last few years. And the 3rd generation butterfly keyboard is still s***.

iPad Pro was a great device until this year when they completely ruined it with the pricing structure. Everything has a value & sadly Apple's disgusting greed has bitten them.

Siri is still dreadful. How can it still be so crap in 2018? When it's baked in to all products including Macs, why does it still perform as badly as it did 4 years ago?

Most of my friends are obsessed with tech & gadgets like myself. They can no longer justify Apple's pricing strategy so most people have decided to pick up the latest Samsung & Pixel phones. They are all astonished at how far Android has progressed over the last 3 years. iOS looks a dated ancient restricted mess compared to Android.

macOS hasn't seen any real attention for years. Obviously any half-decent software engineer that used to work on OS X was moved on to iOS years ago. Now all macOS gets is a fresh lick of paint each year and no real innovation at all. It's pathetic.

I don't know what Apple are doing right now. It's like they are trying to be bad on purpose. They don't produce anything exciting anymore. Everything they do is designed to maximise profits at the expense of everything else.

Loyalty only goes so far. Don't ever bite the hand that's been feeding you. That's rule number 1.

 

[Mr. Skeleton]

Thank you for your comparison! Goes to show to show so much ignorance in that response. I'm not gonna go too much into details but will just say one thing you mentioned.

Canada Goose? - you know how much animal cruelty goes into making their "products"? Canada Goose is not premium at all. You get much better quality from other brands (like Kanuk etc.) for even less and don't need to torture anyone.

So thank you for using ignorance as a base for your comment. The validity of the response shows.

The original poster made a point that you've dismissed with your nonsensical comment and not only that you didn't even consider what the person was saying.

on topic - Apple needs to re-evaluate what they are doing here because they are not longer on top of things. Pricing being one so I guess little reality check and hopefully weak numbers for a while would wake them up and do what they always promise to do - create great products that everyone wants to use. Recently, it was not the case so its time for little step back. Sooner the better.

So what? Am I not allowed to balance my own nonsensical arguements with those nonsensical arguments of the apple hate crowd?

Apple is the highest premium brand of smartphones. It’s expensive. If you want cheaper products either a) buy a generation down or b) buy a second tier manufacture like Google, HTC, or Samsung. Apple is top tier, it is the king, expect prices to reflect that. And even said that, $399 refurbished iPhone 7’s and $499 8’s are the best values around.

 

[WankerWeasel]

Who is bigger matters very little. No use in following the constant back and forth of these companies.

 

[StellarVixen]

Nothing collapses faster than a fashion company that suddenly becomes uncool

Apple's earnings are based purely on people currently being willing to pay massive premiums for name recognition, not the quality of products

Good. If this is about fashion, let all those runway models focus on something else now, and leave all of us who know why are we buying Apple for decade and more alone.

 

[run1976]

I don't think many people will argue that Apple's stuff is top notch. But just like a mercedes S-class is a better car in almost every respect compared to a honda civic (just picking random brands, not endorsing any one in particular), you can't argue the honda will take you from point A to point B the same as the mercedes. I certainly desire the mercedes (macbook) but can only afford the civic (dell inspiron). Of course if you rolling in it, then you don't have to worry about affordability, but I'm certainly not in that camp and I certainly don't feel like Apple products suck because I can't afford them anymore.

Wrong comparison. When Apples iPhone is the Mercedes of Smartphone they are still going up against the Lexus, Infinity, Cadillac etc. the other companies offer. People who can afford it will pay more to drive a Mercedes but not almost twice as much. In the end the difference is not night and day as between a Honda Civic and a Mercedes S-class.

 

[rtomyj]

You know your opinion about Windows and Samsung/Pixel phones is your own biased opinion? For you an iPhone is worth the $1000 for others an Android phone which is basically a computer in their pockets is worth the same price tag.
Windows has grown a lot and is not what it used to be, in fact macOS is buggier than ever compared to Windows, it's giving me more headaches than any Windows version since 7. You speak of 5 years of updates like most people and probably you, keep their phones for 5 years and don't update yearly, and even if you don't then again it's your own biased opinion.
But I'm sure you knew all that before you came here commenting such thing to get approval and feel better about your own biased choices.

So now that I’ve knowledge bombed you of the fact other OEM’s do charge a premium... I’m biased and the other phones are “worth it”? Bruh...

 

[mingravity]

True. Apple had never been the most valuable U.S company when Steve Jobs was alive.

No but he was the reason it got here for sure. Not Tim Cook who's only good at SCM - but at least thats good. Less number of suppliers to suffer.
And FYI companies this big have a roadmap built for next many years. And i am sure MANY of the things that were introduced in iPhone post Oct 2011 had major influence/inputs from Jobs

 

[msama]

Microsoft is definitely trending better for developers. Apple is still preferred for designers and front end guys. At least from my observation biased on what I've seen at my job. =)

 

[I7guy]

Nothing collapses faster than a fashion company that suddenly becomes uncool

Apple's earnings are based purely on people currently being willing to pay massive premiums for name recognition, not the quality of products

Really a load of hyperbole this post. Although it is your opinion, are you going to be crying when Apple rockets back toward $1T?

 

[a m u n]

Done, Apple is again number 1.

 

[Wanted797]

I can't afford to play in Apple's world anymore. Cost of living has gone up too much and my salary hasn't kept up so luxuries like Apple stuff are going the wayside. I hate to say it because I've always loved their stuff, but I think my next laptop will be a PC and my next phone will be a droid. It's been nice while it lasted.

I feel you. I too used to love getting the newest Apple toy. I work for a phone company so I’ll be able to get a new iPhone relatively cheap soon but if I didn’t work where I do I wouldn’t even be considering upgrading for the prices they charge. Until my 6S bites the dust.

If my 2011 MacBook Pro, 2013 iMac or 2017 iPad where to die I’d be going without for awhile an likely end up buying something refurbished and making it last as long as possible.

 

[MBAir2010]

The 22 employees and 1 customer just cheered in a Microsoft Store.

HA! at the local maál, i see a sea of people in an apple store while i witness a wisp at the micro-windows store
[doublepost=1543271106][/doublepost]

Still on Windows 7...god save me from 10, hope by 2020 there will be something better.

can we humans still get windows 7? can that work on a new dell laptop?

 

[Heat_Fan89]

So what? Am I not allowed to balance my own nonsensical arguements with those nonsensical arguments of the apple hate crowd?

Apple is the highest premium brand of smartphones. It’s expensive. If you want cheaper products either a) buy a generation down or b) buy a second tier manufacture like Google, HTC, or Samsung. Apple is top tier, it is the king, expect prices to reflect that. And even said that, $399 refurbished iPhone 7’s and $499 8’s are the best values around.

For iOS then yes I would agree but it all boils down to preference. If you or someone else prefers and likes Apple and iOS then you have choices. But as a general rule, Apple is not the best value and really top tier. Other phone mfg are producing some really slick stuff with nice specs. Sure it's Android but that boils down to preference.

I recently purchased a space grey color Huawei Mate SE, it's super fast, is carrier unlocked, has dual SIM, has a really nice Audio Codec along with a built-in FM Radio, FHD+ 5.93" screen and came with a free clear soft silicon case. The phone looks and feels like any premium iPhone. It cost me $229.

 

[Freida]

So what? Am I not allowed to balance my own nonsensical arguements with those nonsensical arguments of the apple hate crowd?

Apple is the highest premium brand of smartphones. It’s expensive. If you want cheaper products either a) buy a generation down or b) buy a second tier manufacture like Google, HTC, or Samsung. Apple is top tier, it is the king, expect prices to reflect that. And even said that, $399 refurbished iPhone 7’s and $499 8’s are the best values around.

Think about it, I'm sure you know the answer yourself

 

[maflynn]

can we humans still get windows 7? can that work on a new dell laptop?

No, windows 7 is not compatible with the new CPUs

 

[run1976]

Sucks you can’t afford it! Go to dollar tree, I’m sure there are plenty of off brand phones you can get for cheap.

Apple is never entry level. It’s a premium brand like Gucci, Canada Goose, or Mercedes.

If you can’t shell a measly $749 for quality, get a Honda Accord!

I think you should start arguing once you are off your allowance and start making your own money or once you start needing to shave. Whichever happens first.

Even somebody making way more than needed to afford Apples products probably has people working at his/her company who can‘t. Does not make them lesser people and certainly does not warrant being laughed at for thinking 749$ is a lot. It is a lot for someone making only a couple of grand per month which holds true for the majority even in the United States.

 

[Jimmy James]

I don't think many people will argue that Apple's stuff is top notch. But just like a mercedes S-class is a better car in almost every respect compared to a honda civic (just picking random brands, not endorsing any one in particular), you can't argue the honda will take you from point A to point B the same as the mercedes. I certainly desire the mercedes (macbook) but can only afford the civic (dell inspiron). Of course if you rolling in it, then you don't have to worry about affordability, but I'm certainly not in that camp and I certainly don't feel like Apple products suck because I can't afford them anymore.

Good analogy. Not only is the Civic cheaper and easier to fix it also has a lower incident of repair issues. Ironically, this now seems to hold true for Mac laptops.

 

[jm001]

Well well well. Funny how these things work in cycles. What's the betting we see Microsoft rise to the top again and Apple will be the lesser of the two and then 20 years later we'll watch the same thing happen in reverse.

I reckon flares will be the next cool thing soon enough!!

No. It'll be bell bottoms, elephant pants, parachute pants, thin leather ties, mullets and the rise of the Commodore computer.

 

[Jimmy James]

I don’t think Apple stock went down over high prices, Apples pricing structure has always fluctuated. I remember in about 2000 paying $1599 for a low end clamshell iBook G3 and that was the “low cost” Mac. And as far as the product line itself, it’s been like this before. Apple sold two versions of the iBook, the 12 inch and the 14 inch. They sold three versions of the PowerBook, the 12 inch (that was basically an iBook G4 with an aluminum body) the 15 inch and the 17 inch. Let’s also throw in the iMac G3 that sold alongside the iMac G4 and the PowerMac G5. All of those sold at the same time, Apple is just getting things in place before an overhaul.

Yes, Apple had too much segmentation before and they all but went bankrupt. Since focusing on quality and innovation they’ve sold trillions of dollars of products. We’re on a downhill ride at the moment.

 

[MBAir2010]

No, windows 7 is not compatible with the new CPUs

Thank you ....... I was just wondering if you know this by experience?

 

[sdwaltz]

Well done Tim

Your greed paid off for one quarter, got your bonus, and now Apple is tanked

You're treating this as if Tim sits in some ivory tower, looking at his bank account while laughing and saying "hahaha, well, at least I got mine, suckers!"

1) How much of Tim Cook's total net worth do you think is wrapped up in Apple stock? I don't know the answer, but what I can say with relative confidence is "a very high percentage". If Apple's stock continues to tank, so does Tim's (and a lot of other individuals in Apple's c-suite) net worth. None of them want that.
2) But wait, there's more! As CEO, Tim's most important job is to appease the shareholders. Presumably, this means increasing the value of AAPL year-over-year. If he falters for too long, the board/shareholders will vote to have him replaced as CEO. He doesn't want that.

While I agree that Apple's pricing strategy has been questionable for the past 2 years or so, it's an error more than anything else. There's a balance between not charging enough for your products (which impacts revenue from a margin standpoint) and charging too much (which impacts revenue from a "number of units sold" standpoint.) Apple is guilty of the latter - they think their products are worth more to people than they really are. A few bad quarters in terms of units sold will likely change their minds.

 

[Spock]

Yes, Apple had too much segmentation before and they all but went bankrupt. Since focusing on quality and innovation they’ve sold trillions of dollars of products. We’re on a downhill ride at the moment.

This was around the 2000’s and Apple was well on its way to the top.

 

[maflynn]

I was just wondering if you know this by experience?

MS has stated as such (even though the link I gave is from Dell)

Link

 

[brendu]

Sucks you can’t afford it! Go to dollar tree, I’m sure there are plenty of off brand phones you can get for cheap.

Apple is never entry level. It’s a premium brand like Gucci, Canada Goose, or Mercedes.

If you can’t shell a measly $749 for quality, get a Honda Accord!

Lol, the Honda Accord is a better built and more reliable car than a Mercedes.