It’s quick-spin time, so get ready: this is the Macworld we’ve been waiting for.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: the Macworld you (and I) are waiting for is the one with faster Mac towers and G5 PowerBooks. But for years, we’ve watched as Apple has been content to be a niche player, milking the faithful (that’s you and me) for all we’re worth. Apple’s market share hasn’t really grown since the crash in the 90s. Profits, revenues, all up — but the Mac languishes. For the pro market, that’s been a big deal. Don’t believe the hype: a LOT of production in audio and video is now on PCs, in what was once an all-Mac nirvana.
It’s quick-spin time, so get ready: this is the Macworld we’ve been waiting for.
Yeah, I know what you’re thinking: the Macworld you (and I) are waiting for is the one with faster Mac towers and G5 PowerBooks. But for years, we’ve watched as Apple has been content to be a niche player, milking the faithful (that’s you and me) for all we’re worth. Apple’s market share hasn’t really grown since the crash in the 90s. Profits, revenues, all up — but the Mac languishes. For the pro market, that’s been a big deal. Don’t believe the hype: a LOT of production in audio and video is now on PCs, in what was once an all-Mac nirvana.
That could change if Apple grows fast, and this could be the moment. If Apple ramps up production of cheap flash iPods and Mac minis, it could again reclaim double-digit market share. Not just any double digits, mind you: folks with influence, folks with money, folks with taste, like the Mac market now, but bigger.
Apple does need to follow this with better G5 machines to make this a one-two punch, but Apple has always paced its announcements for maximum media play.
And don’t forget, we saw what a downward spiral looks like for a platform (think 1996-97). But the Mac hasn’t seen an upward spiral — growing quality, more apps, increasing market share, more cash — since the late 80s. Since the Reagan Administration, people.
I say this is very good news indeed. Apple’s products have been fantastic for the past few years, but their market and business strategy has been meek. We’ve been calling for big Apple moves for a long, long time. Cupertino may have just responded. Let’s hope they follow through.
