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

[Ethosik]

Apple is losing me on the desktop. Their stubbornness to exclude Nvidia drivers for eGPU usage at the very least will lock me into Windows. I still game a bit as does my son. I am not going to lock him into an OS that, right now, only excels at Final Cut Pro.

The ecosystem is still great and I still love the hardware. From a software/computing perspective Apple is really dropping the ball.

These comments also drive me crazy. Do you know for a fact that Apple is excluding NVIDIA cards just to smite you users that need it? Or could it POSSIBLY be some sort of strained business relationship? Or could it POSSIBLY be that NVIDIA cards kept failing and needed recalls? Or could it POSSIBLY be some sort of contract with AMD?

Seriously, AMD cards are not THAT bad. It sucks if your workflow needs CUDA, but you should probably get a Windows computer anyway if it does. If the concern is gaming, people GREATLY exaggerate the issue. If you believe what people here would say regarding AMD and NVIDIA, the MAX you can get on ANY game on AMD would be 5 FPS just because it is AMD. Even if the game is Terraria or a 2D game.

Guess what? My friend and I were playing a game of Heroes of the Storm. He used my 5K iMac with the Radeon Pro 580. He was able to play at native resolution (the full 5K resolution) on Max in Windows and still have 60+ FPS. On an AMD card. GASP!

How does macOS only excel at Final Cut Pro? I have Adobe After Effects still on subscription and a Windows PC with a GTX 1080. I do not see ANY difference between CUDA and running on my 5K iMac. So my macOS excels at After Effects too. Affinity Photo and Affinity Designer beat the crap out of Photoshop and Illustrator. So my macOS excels at graphic design as well. Logic Pro and Garageband beat the crap out of the Windows equivalents. So my macOS excels at music creation too.

Visual Studio on Windows beats the crap out of any other programming environment, so Windows is good in that regard.
Gaming on Windows (even on Mac hardware with AMD) beats the crap out of macOS, so Windows is good in that regard.
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Pretty much knew Apple is in trouble when they announced they won't announce sales figures anymore. Apple have always had a premium, but turning Apple into a luxury brand hasn't been the best decision. You cannot charge $750 for the "cheap and affordable" iPhone. It seems Apple just keeps testing their price elasticity with their base and see how far they can charge for their products, and it's gone too far now.

It's easy to see what's wrong with Apple today, and I honestly feel like it's easy to fix, especially with the cash in hand that Apple has. What people inside Apple might not realize, is that competition has caught up. What made people buy Macs and Macbooks was the clear advantage in quality they had over Windows machines; you'd look at a Windows laptop from the 2009 or 2010 and it's a mess of plastic garbage, with virus-filled Windows, while Macbooks from that era were way ahead! Today, most laptops are just as good as Macbooks in terms of quality and design, if not better, and Apple didn't step it up. Same with the iPhone, as it felt like worth the premium over the plastics of Samsung and Motorola, but Samsung kept improving.

The truth is that Apple has clearly been lazy in the past few years, and put all their energy in one basket, which is the iPhone. Mac design has stagnated, and they look clueless on what to do with the Mac. The iPad feels like it's lost between two worlds and doesn't know what purpose it holds. The Watch is killing it right now, but again, competition will catch up sooner or later.

Sadly, I personally feel like this executive team have become too out of touch with reality. They think they can charge anything they want, they think they can rely on supply chain to make new products, and they think competition is still far behind.

Um. It is different in 2018. The "cheap and affordable" iPhone is the iPhone 7 which Apple still sells. It is $449. If you want current technology, it will not be "cheap and affordable". The $750 is the "cheap and affordable" of the current technology. Which it is cheaper than the Xs and Xs Max

 

[Yr Blues]

macOS isn't perfect, but I hate Windows with a passion. I do like how they embraced touchscreen laptops.

 

[Ethosik]

Same here. I was considering an ipad and the saw the prices the minute i added the lowest priced one to the cart! Like are you kidding me??? $800 for a low-entry iPAD without cellular and with only 64GB??? I can find a laptop for less money. I immediately abandoned my cart afterwards. I cant justify spending that much money anymore. I'll stick with my trusted macbook air from 2012 and iPX for a couple more years...smh

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This is the iPad Pro. The low-end iPad is the iPad 9.7" or even the iPad mini. Sure the mini is outdated, but it is the "low-end" iPad.

What laptop has 8 cores for $800?

 

[dontwalkhand]

Wait until Apple builds the car!

 

[Ethosik]

Windows 10 is horrible. Leaving aside the various upgrade fiascos, the UI is awful, it's as idiotic as any previous version of Windows, functionality is locked out of both Home and Pro versions. (I had a right song and dance trying to get a Windows 10 Home laptop to see an Apple file share - it couldn't do it and the change needed was only available in the Pro version and I found Pro users on a forum complaining that there were some things they couldn't do even with the Pro version).
Apple are greedy - this nonsense about calling "counterfeit" any replacement part not bought directly from them is an awful policy. Going after the Refurbishers is awful too. This is how they are damaging themselves - by forcing everyone to have uber-expensive repairs done when there's no need - financial or quality.
Microsoft are almost certainly in the "embrace" stage of their plan to destroy Linux. Microsoft have changed? I've heard that so many times over the last 15+ years and every single time, without fail, it has been wrong. Microsoft turn up late to every party, with a bottle of cheap nasty muck that no one wants, they stand around looking suspiciously at everyone, then sneer and leave early.

Oh oh and also. Windows 10 Enterprise. Now includes Candy Crush Soda Saga and Xbox. So your employees can play games instead of work! Even if you used Powershell to remove them, they still come back when the next big update hits

 

[carlsson]

It's a shame, but maybe this is what needs to happen for Apple to listen to the complaints.

However – I have looked at alternatives during the years, and there are none.

 

[Roger67]

Apple like Mercedes or Gucci? Everything from Apple is Honda... just stop lying to yourself.

No need to insult Honda.

Apple likes to compare itself to BMW rather than Mercedes or Gucci. With the quirkiness, poor quality, overly high prices, and frustrating workarounds yet still selling cars as many cars as they want, I can see it.

For me Apple is like Harley Davidson with it's customer loyalty and the lifestyle so associated with the brand so that the company can charge high prices for its mediocre products.

 

[run1976]

That apple hiked up the prices is not really true. In 2012 an iphone 5 went from $649 to $849. Carrier subsidies were in full swing then so the price was really hidden in the contracts. In 2018 iphones range in price from $449 to $1500. A much broader range. Top tier in 2012 is different than top tier in 2018.

Revisionist history. 649 to 849$ were off contract prices throughout the world. On contract you could get an iPhone 5 baskcally for less than 100$. Todays off contract prices are a lot higher as are the on contract prices.

 

[317342]

It's been my experience that ppl have an easier time telling you what they hate than like about Microsoft.

 

[Pamela5]

Incoming price increase to make up the gap!

Next years iPhone ad, “$2000 for the iPhone 11 max 64gb! Basically the same iPhone xs max you know and love but a faster processor, a 10% brighter screen, slightly better camera, and new emojis! (rapid charger, 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, and sim pin still all sold separately,)” rinse and repeat for a few years until the next big change up. RIP Steve Jobs.

 

[MultiMan]

Half the time, if I open a document from OneDrive, work on it, save it, and then open it on a different device later, none of the changes have saved. Super annoying. iCloud on the other hand has been seamless for me in every instance.

I've used OneDrive since the start when it was called SkyDrive. Never have something like that happen, can't see how it could without user error as it starts to sync immediately when a file is added or changed. If you have iffy internet co0nnection/WiFi then everything can happen but that's not isolated to OneDrive.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

That apple hiked up the prices is not really true. In 2012 an iphone 5 went from $649 to $849. Carrier subsidies were in full swing then so the price was really hidden in the contracts. In 2018 iphones range in price from $449 to $1500. A much broader range. Top tier in 2012 is different than top tier in 2018.

You forgot one thing. The range between $649 to $849 was for the top of the line. In fact the iPhone 4s was still in play at $400's. So yes, they have largely increased the pricing while the phones got larger !!!!

Anyone with unclouded brains can easily see this. Apple since SJ died has been playing prices against their customers while removing value out of their products across the board.

1) Not updating Mac mini for years and years,
2) Not updating Macbook Air for years and years.
3) Not updating the iMac line regularly.
4) Simples things like removing the Target Display Mode (TDM) from the iMac line. As a owner of a MacBook Pro I was going to buy an iMac for my kids and when found that this feature was removed I simply did not.
5) No updates to Mac Pro lines for years and years.
6) Swapping ports in the Macbook Pro line for expensive dongles and cables.
7) Airport line could be made a really interesting connected home solution ... but they ... well they did not updated it.
8) iWorks simply stalled. Actually they removed features (value) from it.

Meanwhile ....

1) iPhones got better yet significantely more expensive (nice product)
2) Apple Watch appeared and got better. Waiting to get really popular to hike the prices probably (nice product). They seam to be getting more expensive.
3) iOS got better yet more expensive die to devices price increase.
4) iPad got better yet significantely more expensive.
5) They have built huge palace for themselves. And a loads of mini palaces, sorry stores, across the globe.
6) Customer support got much better.

There is little innovation in making things better yet more expensive. If better and more expensive was the rule of progress how much we would be paying now for a computer? $200.000?

iPhone won peoples hearts because it was actually better than the Nokia Comunicators, Palm's ... so on and so forth yet the same or less expensive. And was way, way more advanced than the "$200" smartphones of the time. Now that is value!!!! That is what put Apple in the position they are now!!! TC strategy is simply eroding this perception that inspired rags to richies.

 

[Altis]

This is the iPad Pro. The low-end iPad is the iPad 9.7" or even the iPad mini. Sure the mini is outdated, but it is the "low-end" iPad.

What laptop has 8 cores for $800?

Nobody cares about 8 cores when they are arbitrarily unable to email more than 5 photos, or listen to YouTube in the background.

 

[borntrouble]

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!

This is one of the most condescending comments I've read in a long time.
Do you seriously think Gucci is a "premium brand" that produces "quality" products? A Honda Accord is 10 times the quality a f*** Gucci shirt is, which proves, you have NO sense for quality (or empathy) at all.

By the way, belonging to the (probably upper) middle-class doesn't mean you automatically have any class at all.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

This is the iPad Pro. The low-end iPad is the iPad 9.7" or even the iPad mini. Sure the mini is outdated, but it is the "low-end" iPad.

What laptop has 8 cores for $800?

Since when buying Apple was about buying cores or jewelry?

 

[trees12]

Apple needs to step up their game, but I still love them.

 

[decafjava]

Good. I pray everyday for their ruin.

I sure hope they continue to alienate customers while delivering overpriced junk

So why are you still here? Seriously why are you so angry? I don't care if you like Apple or not they are all amorla corporations.

 

[dilbert99]

AAPL has taken an ass whipping on stock price. The fan boys will cheer the "buying opportunity" at these depressed levels or comment on the "manipulation" of prices against Apple. Lot of headwinds for sure, but significant concerns about the future for we AAPL investors. This has been and is a gut punch.

Thing is, if they are confident that Apple stock will rise again, then they are on a winner if it does.
I would think though that Apple fans wouldn't be buying Apple shares regularly.
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Microsoft’s cloud services are killing it. Good on them.
Professionally, I just switched from Google’s G Suite to Office 365 and couldn’t be happier.

I think Microsoft has a much larger market that Apple for its services, so could overtake them and then some.

 

[borntrouble]

That apple hiked up the prices is not really true. In 2012 an iphone 5 went from $649 to $849. Carrier subsidies were in full swing then so the price was really hidden in the contracts. In 2018 iphones range in price from $449 to $1500. A much broader range. Top tier in 2012 is different than top tier in 2018.

Except the fact that competition back in 2012 was nowhere near where it is now.

 

[femike]

I hope the shares tank and stay down, because unfortunately it's the only way Apple will get the message.
Apple no longer makes the best products it can and now hobbles them in some way and with higher prices.
It is very clear that Tim Cook's Apple emphasis is more on profit, more on the financial side.

 

[dilbert99]

Apple made $60B profit in 2018.

Microsoft made $23B in profit in 2018.

Apple is a much cheaper stock relative to their earnings. Stocks go up and down. Apple is the stronger company and the stock is buy now.

Got to make your shares worth more, I get where you are coming from.

If I was betting on either company, I'd be leaning more toward Microsoft it has massive growth potential in services as they start to take off. Amazon still has a massive lead over Microsoft in this area so it gives Microsoft a lot of growth potential.

Apple on the other hand has stagnating sales and thus stopping reporting unit sales. It seems to only want to grow by increasing prices. Increasing prices will hit Apple hard should confidence in the market fall.

 

[Nuno Lopes]

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.

Yet back than Apple was almost going bankrupt. So I guess being more modest in pricing while relentlessly focusing on delivering value helped not leaving money on the table.

 

[dilbert99]

That apple hiked up the prices is not really true.

One only has to open their eyes to see that Apple has raised prices.
Currency strength of the dollar has also hit Apple sales.
How do you spin an increase in ASP if prices are not rising, considering unit sales are stagnating
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In some ways they are interesting. They are embracing open source and what they’ve done with dotnet core and visual studio code is amazing. The Linux subsystem is neat as well. But Windows is still awful. The UI is better than it has been, but it sits on top of a pile of junk



Corporate clients are still the key to MSFTs success. That is a nice business to have. People may replace home computers with tablets but for a while they’ll still have a Windows work PC.

Don't forget the services that are increasing at Microsoft is their Azure offering, there is massive growth potential here.
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Ugh. A crappy company like that passes Apple.

I used to think that too. Microsoft has been doing great things recently, I have come to admire them more and ever find their offerings desirable. I wouldn't buy them at the moment because they are charging for them like Apple does.

I don't care about Apple anymore and would like to see them passed, but only by anyone else. Seriously, Microsoft is stuck in the early 2000s, even with the new CEO,

Not true anymore, Satya Nadella, is doing wonders for Microsoft.

Every piece of software they make is considered a cancer

Windows could do with a bit of loving care and attention.

 

[femike]

Expected. Reducing the excellence in the product line and reducing the satisfaction of long-time users has a consequence in lower profits eventually, no matter if you got large amounts of money from new users who were just attracted by the luxury of the Apple brand. Now, the same users who left Microsoft and switched to Apple, are doing the switch in the reverse, after one disappointment after another disappointment in recent years. It will get even worse if they don’t pull up.

I'm one of these. Enjoyed the Apple products for ten years, but moved to a Dell 17in, very good dedicated graphics, built in dvd drive, ports galore, changeable ram/storage/battery, etc.. well Windows 10 not so good, but it works and does the job with good thermals... and all for half the price of an entry level 15in Apple. And Apple has hobbled the new mac mini with el-cheapo Intel graphics with the exact same case after 4 years of do nothing.

 

[chatin]

Tim has made a ton of mistakes. You could see them coming a mile away. Absolutely no surprise Microsoft takes most valuable company.