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iPhone 11 Pro Steve Jobs once considered abandoning the Pro market

K

Kendo

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Apr 4, 2011
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His rationale was as you might expect: consumer products have an unlimited upside, while pro products are aimed at a niche market that eats up major resources.
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Didn't Steve use the term "pro" simply to reduce all of the hundreds of Apple products into 4 quadrants on a graph because when he returned to Apple, it had a ton of crap under development? Meaning he just wanted to focus on 4 products - a computer for consumers (iMac), a computer for professionals (Power Mac), a laptop for consumers (iBook), and a laptop for professionals (PowerBook).

He only used it as a way to differentiate a certain core group from the regular consumer market. Why is Apple just throwing the Pro moniker around at everything now?

https://www.engadget.com/2013/08/12/steve-jobs-once-considered-abandoning-the-pro-market/
 
Kendo said:
He only used it as a way to differentiate a certain core group from the regular consumer market. Why is Apple just throwing the Pro moniker around at everything now?
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Short answer: Short-Term $$$

Apple has been throwing the Pro moniker around for a while now, it is just starting to become apparent for some.

Was the 2013 Mac Pro as Pro as the 2010/2012?
Was the 2016 MBP as Pro as the 2015 MBP?
I have a theory that the iMac Pro was supposed to be the redesign regular iMac.

Now, we have iPad Pro, iPhone Pro, next might be the Apple Watch Pro.

Is the iPhone 11 Pro that much different than the iPhone XS? Or was the term "Pro" used to give the impression that there was major improvements to a product that just had typical "S" cycle improvements?


I have a prediction: With will start adding the word "Elite" or "Super" to the names of certain products to illustrate that those products are more Pro than the Pro versions.
Super iMac Pro
MacBook Pro Elite
Super iPhone 16s Plus Pro Elite SE

Yes, I am joking, but again, it wouldn't be too surprising if this happened.
 
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vertical smile said:
Short answer: Short-Term $$$

Apple has been throwing the Pro moniker around for a while now, it is just starting to become apparent for some.

Was the 2013 Mac Pro as Pro as the 2010/2012?
Was the 2016 MBP as Pro as the 2015 MBP?
I have a theory that the iMac Pro was supposed to be the redesign regular iMac.

Now, we have iPad Pro, iPhone Pro, next might be the Apple Watch Pro.

Is the iPhone 11 Pro that much different than the iPhone XS? Or was the term "Pro" used to give the impression that there was major improvements to a product that just had typical "S" cycle improvements?


I have a prediction: With will start adding the word "Elite" or "Super" to the names of certain products to illustrate that those products are more Pro than the Pro versions.
Super iMac Pro
MacBook Pro Elite
Super iPhone 16s Plus Pro Elite SE

Yes, I am joking, but again, it wouldn't be too surprising if this happened.
Click to expand...
You forgot AppleTV Pro.
Watch movies like a Pro baby :)
 
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Yeah... the term pro has become meaningless... that’s for sure

I guess Apples marketing department was given free reign
 
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eulslix said:
I guess Apples marketing department was given free reign
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You might be onto something here.

Since the start of the 1998 iMac, Apple has been very simple with their naming of products and the name usually described the product in its simplest terms.

This clearly contrasted with the competition from the 90's and 2000's and even today, as their products used complex and elaborate names.

Even the advertising on the product packaging would be overkill.

There was a funny photo going around 15 years ago showing what the iPod's product packaging would look like if Microsoft released it. Here it is comparing Apple's packaging vs what someone thought MS would do:
1-1zDMN3_kVyv5JH3lseGZhA.jpg

It looks ridiculous, but that is how many companies design their product packaging back then.

When it comes to adding "Pro" to everything, Apple is still not anywhere near the example in the photo, but they are closer to it than they were just a few years ago.
 
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vertical smile said:
You might be onto something here.

Since the start of the 1998 iMac, Apple has been very simple with their naming of products and the name usually described the product in its simplest terms.

This clearly contrasted with the competition from the 90's and 2000's and even today, as their products used complex and elaborate names.

Even the advertising on the product packaging would be overkill.

There was a funny photo going around 15 years ago showing what the iPod's product packaging would look like if Microsoft released it. Here it is comparing Apple's packaging vs what someone thought MS would do:
View attachment 857427

It looks ridiculous, but that is how many companies design their product packaging back then.

When it comes to adding "Pro" to everything, Apple is still not anywhere near the example in the photo, but they are closer to it than they were just a few years ago.
Click to expand...

Actually, I found the orgins of the photo above, it was a YouTube video doing a step-by-step showing what would happen to the packaging if MS made the iPod.

Here is is:

It subtle, but does anyone see any similarities between the video above and Apple of today?

Anyone else notice the "Pro" added to what I think is the iPod name? It is partially covered by the red sticker.
 
vertical smile said:
Actually, I found the orgins of the photo above, it was a YouTube video doing a step-by-step showing what would happen to the packaging if MS made the iPod.

Here is is:
Click to expand...

Yeah, Microsoft has come a long way. The problem is — trying not to be racist here — its like a cheap chinese knock off. They kind of get the idea, but once it comes to the details the whole thing falls apart into the pile of **** it always has been below the surface.
 
eulslix said:
Yeah, Microsoft has come a long way. The problem is — trying not to be racist here — its like a cheap chinese knock off. They kind of get the idea, but once it comes to the details the whole thing falls apart into the pile of **** it always has been below the surface.
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Of course it is a satirical take showing the differences in advertising between the early 2000's Apple and MS, but it isn't that far off.

Actually, I found this in about 5 seconds, I am sure with a little more effort, I could fill a thread with examples:
b26e188793357cf45a9ea1c719415463.jpg

Check out that "High Definition Technology"

And that example isn't really that old.
 
vertical smile said:
Of course it is a satirical take showing the differences in advertising between the early 2000's Apple and MS, but it isn't that far off.
Click to expand...

Yeah, marketing is top notch at Microsoft nowadays. Was thinking more about ux and ui design, but that’s actually off topic on my side.
 
eulslix said:
Was thinking more about ux and ui design, but that’s actually off topic on my side.
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I was referring to marketing, advertising, and the naming of products.

eulslix said:
Yeah, marketing is top notch at Microsoft nowadays
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I think MS is much better than they used to be across the board, although they still have missteps in marketing and advertising, like the Surface click and dance ad, dancing in MS stores to show how cool they are, and the iPhone and BB funeral to name a few somewhat recent examples.

But, I think in the past 2ish years, MS marketing has improved.

Actually, I think that MS has gotten more like how Apple used to be, and Apple started becoming more like MS of 2000's when it comes to advertising.
 
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Now we have a ‘Pro’ named phone where a professional market doesn’t exist.

What does a ‘Pro’ phone even mean? Business use? If you look at their slogan on the website you might infer it’s for professional photographers. That makes no sense, either.

So it’s a marketing term. Which amounts to nothing, except extra sales to the ignorant and ego-driven.
 
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