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What would destroy Apple?
- Thread starter steebu
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1. If Microsoft created a file system that was not compatible (read/write) with Mac OS X and SAMBA.
2. If Microsoft locked down their office file formats and refused to release new versions of Mac office.
3. If Adobe ditched the Mac, and released Photoshop and the Creative Suite only on Windows.
4. If Congress passes a new law that voids prior fair use laws, and mandates all forms of copy protection must be compatible. Then, Apple engages in copy protection war with Microsoft and loses. End of iPod.
5. If former Apple resellers rob the bank that holds Apple's 3 billion dollars in cash reserves.
6. Google decides to distribute free computers to everyone in the world, and they ship with Google OS.
There are numerous scenarios, but I doubt any are realistic or will be happening soon.
2. If Microsoft locked down their office file formats and refused to release new versions of Mac office.
3. If Adobe ditched the Mac, and released Photoshop and the Creative Suite only on Windows.
4. If Congress passes a new law that voids prior fair use laws, and mandates all forms of copy protection must be compatible. Then, Apple engages in copy protection war with Microsoft and loses. End of iPod.
5. If former Apple resellers rob the bank that holds Apple's 3 billion dollars in cash reserves.
6. Google decides to distribute free computers to everyone in the world, and they ship with Google OS.
There are numerous scenarios, but I doubt any are realistic or will be happening soon.
Apple's a corporation. Corporations are damn near impossible to kill. Look at IBM. The started by making typewriters, now look at them. Viacom is an advertising firm, look at them now. Apple will survive.
Microsoft has at least two reasons to develop Office for Macs. One, it keeps the Justice Dept of their backs. Two, they make money.raggedjimmi said:
As for the assertion that Apple is Microsoft's rival, I disagree. Honestly, Microsoft probably doesn't see Apple as a true threat. Google is their current main threat. The only thing that Microsoft is truly in competition with Apple right now is with multimedia formats (i.e. AAC vs. WMA, and h.264 vs. WMV-HD).
Also, if Apple decides to cut off iPods from Windows, they'll instantly lose about $30 off of their stock price. Not to mention 95% of their iPod sales.
Sun Baked said:
Hillarious, absolutely, hillarous.
I love Radio Shack branded products you gotta chuckle at there portable phones and RC cars.
ftaok said:
In response to this post and the one before, i thought i remember hearing a quote from Bill Gates that went something like, "For every Mac that is sold and that uses Office Software, Microsoft makes more off the sale then Apple does."
Which to interpret means when Apple sells an iMac with the latest technology(don't flame me i know people are bitter about upgrades) there margin is not nearly as high as when Micro$oft sells a couple of cds with documentation, b/c besides R&D costs + Advertisements to produce the cd's and documentation only costs them what a few cents, but they sell this software for a couple hundred, understand? I'm sure someone will correct one of my figures but i think you get the point.
hmmm
I dont know if it would end apple. it would put a huge dent in thier sales though. I do believe that apple/adobe are hard in it together and that would never happen. I do think that if that were to happen apple would come out with its own creative suite and that it would possibly rival adobes stuff.
Mac4Brains said:
I dont know if it would end apple. it would put a huge dent in thier sales though. I do believe that apple/adobe are hard in it together and that would never happen. I do think that if that were to happen apple would come out with its own creative suite and that it would possibly rival adobes stuff.
If both adobe + microsoft pulled out of making software for macs, and if windows gets more secure, and if laptops made by other companies stepped up their build quality, then I'd quit using mac after my software gets outdated.
Google, releasing a web-based OS, in such a way that you could access your personal settings, desktop, and files, from any computer in the world that has an internet connection.
ZoomZoomZoom said:
zoom is making a good point. in order to kill apple withdrawing a single app is not enough. apple has enough cash to survive 2-3 years with low sales. durig that time they can replace each application with a better one that does the job. and since there is then no competition they will make money from it.
if office goes they still sell all the consumer and graphics/video/photo pro macs.
if adobe goes the video and consumer customers stay.
it will hurt but after a year they can make up for it.
and it would be insane for adobe to not sell stuff to apple users. they make money either way.
so apple is here to stay unless the meteorite/nuke/caterpillar events happen.
Not so long recap
I think it is not so wrong to think that an earlier retirement of S.Jobs would do it.
Remember that Apple is around for decades but its recent rebirth is mostly due Jobs' return to the company.
Considering his last interviews (and that inspirational speech) his retirement would make deep waves at Apple.
Actually, I bought my first mac this year and my ONLY thought was :
"what if this guy decides to leave Apple ?"
That was my only fear about switching to Apple. What other company has such (almost religious) dependence on its CEO image than Apple ?
S.
I think it is not so wrong to think that an earlier retirement of S.Jobs would do it.
Remember that Apple is around for decades but its recent rebirth is mostly due Jobs' return to the company.
Considering his last interviews (and that inspirational speech) his retirement would make deep waves at Apple.
Actually, I bought my first mac this year and my ONLY thought was :
"what if this guy decides to leave Apple ?"
That was my only fear about switching to Apple. What other company has such (almost religious) dependence on its CEO image than Apple ?
S.
raggedjimmi said:
The MacBU is one of Microsoft's most profitable divisions. They state that regularly, and Mac Office is one of Microsoft's top selling products. Unless something unforeseen happens, Microsoft will continue to develop for the Macintosh platform for years to come. Not to mention, it helps them avoid anti-trust lawsuits.
SeRgIo_42 said:
I would agree. he is one of the few company figures who is actually on the front line.
DaringFireball had a good story on why the iPod is nothing like the original Mac. Mainly because the Mac never had a majority, and because the iPod is for entertainment, not business. As for Adobe or Quark, remember the backlash against them when they try to start trouble. People use them because they have to. They use Macs because they want to, to get the job done. If Apple released a PS killer, people would jump at it. Are Adobe's customers that loyal? Not the ones I know.
They would have to make a lot of mistakes and have a lot of bad things happen before they would die. If they survived the 80's and 90's, they'll survive a lot longer now.
They would have to make a lot of mistakes and have a lot of bad things happen before they would die. If they survived the 80's and 90's, they'll survive a lot longer now.
illegalprelude said:
Coincidence or not, I just came across this article
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/oct2005/tc20051015_373468.htm
jdechko said:
well pages can open a MS word doc( i think) so thats not a problem but to have a doc open in MS you should use Neooffice or OpenOffice to type it
SeRgIo_42 said:
Exactly, another tyraid of dumbass CEO's and VP's who know nothing about computers and their users, just like Apple circa 1990's!!!!!!!!
i wouldn't exactly say destroy. perhaps a better term is "less relevant." the answer to that is "time." just look at practically the business landscape within the past century, and you'll see the remains of many companies that were dominant during their time. retailers such as woolworth are now nowhere to be found. sears had the chutzpah to build the tallest building the world in the 1970s. now they're struggling in the facing the likes of target and wal-mart. sperry and burroughs merged to become unisys in the 1980s. they were the second largest computer company at the time. now they appear to be mostly irrelevant.
the better companies, such as ibm or sony, are able to change with the times and adequately leverage social and technological trends. so a beter question is whether apple is an ibm or a unisys?
the better companies, such as ibm or sony, are able to change with the times and adequately leverage social and technological trends. so a beter question is whether apple is an ibm or a unisys?
Steve Jobs has a plan when he leaves, i think he has someone hes training but im not sure
Apple is a long lasting company! They have a strong fan base and new fans from the iPod some who like Apple becuz they made the iPod and its cool! and some who are here to stay(liek me no more windows)
If apple was to die i woudl 1 cry(i know LOSER) and 2 go out and buy a Mac Mini and put it in my closet and use when my iMac dies or try and buy a 2.7ghz PM!
Apple is a long lasting company! They have a strong fan base and new fans from the iPod some who like Apple becuz they made the iPod and its cool! and some who are here to stay(liek me no more windows)
If apple was to die i woudl 1 cry(i know LOSER) and 2 go out and buy a Mac Mini and put it in my closet and use when my iMac dies or try and buy a 2.7ghz PM!