What are some key factors that has lead to Apple's success?

[BenMarshall]

Hi everyone,

This is my first post so I apologise if I have posted this in the wrong area.

I am doing an essay project and the topic title I choose was:
"How much of Apple's success is down to their design, form and function?".
The title can be changed while I am doing this project, but this is my starting point at the moment.

I am an avid iMac user, much prefer Macs to Pc's any day, but I was wondering is their success based around the aesthetics of their products?

I am asking what are your opinions on Apple's success? What are some key factors that lead to Apple's explosion in recent years? Is it down to their products aesthetics? Their 'breakthrough' technology? Their marketing?

I am hopefully going to be studying Design based subject at University next year, this is why the topic question I choose was more design based, but I would like to hear you opinions design related, business related or whatever you think. I really just need some good opinions to help me get started on writing this essay.

Thanks for your time reading,
Ben

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Have you read the biography of Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson which was published in the last year or so?

Re your title, I'd consider amending it, as I very much doubt that you would be able to firstly, limit any explanation of Apple's success simply to a successful design, and the nature of its form and function (although that does form a consider part of the equation), and secondly, with your title sentence constructed as it is, you have asked a question that will be next to impossible to quantify as an answer.

When setting essay titles, I strongly recommend that you do not set yourself a question that will prove difficult, if not impossible, to answer; rewrite, or amend the title to make it more manageable.

Re Apple, that marriage of striking and original design, where form and function fused beautifully, clearly did matter hugely.

So did the driven, controlling, difficult yet extraordinarily gifted character of Steve Jobs himself; it is impossible to imagine either Apple's initial impact in the 1980s, or their dramatic return to successful design and commercial health without the utterly commanding role played by Jobs.

Very clever marketing most certainly played a role in this, too, as did pricing.

 

[trewyn15]

I personally don't know why they got the 'cool' name, but they did have some very moving products initially got them rolling (iPod, first computers, etc).

Now I believe they just have a very large following that doesn't really care about the hardware specs or the operating system, they just want 'a mac'.

I also don't believe that's the case for all users, like a majority of people here, but I feel that this is why they are still advancing as a company. It's no longer so much that they're making moving products, just their following.

Again, just my opinion.

 

[carjakester]

imac,ipod,iphone,ipad.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Innovation - Without the right products at the right time Apple would be nowhere

Design - The design of their products is what makes them appeal to the masses. Look at the phones that were around in 2007. They are flipping ugly IMOH

Marketing - Often overlooked in Apples success, but every one of us can remember there slogans (Think Different etc.) and the adverts, posters etc.

 

[Flood123]

1) Marketing
2) Artists who use them
3) Secrecy( Leads to speculation and hype.)

 

[MacNut]

Apples success came from it's niche market. Before there was an iPhone there was a Performa. Those are the people that allowed Apple to stay afloat.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

Moreover, I'd also add that the 'halo' effect played a role in what is now viewed as Apple's 'success' (at least commercial, as well as design, success); in other words, quite a number of customers came to Apple, initially through the iPod, and later the iPhone, liked what they experienced (including unusually good customer service), and then proceeded to 'switch' to Apple computers.

In writing your essay, you will also need to define what you mean by the term success.

Edit: Our OP hasn't returned to check in, or make any observations or comments after his initial post, which was also, as it happens, his first. Hm..

 

[sviato]

Advertising the experience of its products rather than stuff like specs played a big role in my opinion.