Apple will be out of business very soon

Apple will be around for a long time. Why? Because they know how to reinvent themselves when the need presents itself. When they realized they were not going to be able to outpace PC based home computers, they focused on the smartphone market, and came out with the iPhone, whose popularity exceeded even their own expectations. Now, they're doing the same thing with the iPad. I'm quite curious to see where that market goes.

 

I concur, annsi, but Mac's Achilles' heel has been its propietary nature. While it has made room for operational advantages, it has also resulted in market limitation. It's a catch 22. Open architecture has always been a driving force in the comuter industry, and Apple doesn't accommodate open architectures. Up till now, however, they've managed to work around that stumbling block, and have done so very well.

 

I Microsoft did this (limited their software to a single set of hardware), the world would be up in arms about it. But that's what set MS and Apple apart... Apple controls the whole shebang of hardware and software, while MS only handles the software. This makes Apple's job a whole lot easier on the software side since they control all the variables.

I will give Apple credit in that they make pretty stuff. I wouldn't call their stuff powerful as I can easily best their hardware for a lot less money, but being able to tailor their software for their specific hardware let's them do more with less.

It all comes down to personal choice. I prefer to build my own computers from the parts that I choose, so I will never be an Apple owner. Well that and the fact that I refuse to become a part of the cult of Jobs.

I seriously doubt Apple will fade away, but I am waiting to see if this newest "idea" actually pans out to be anything. I don't see a real purpose for it other than the novelty factor. Apple could have brought out some real innovations with this, but instead to bring out something that is basically an overgrown iTouch/iPhone... without any actual improvements outside of the size. Anyone can buy a netbook for less that can do more, with more memory, better speed, an actual keyboard, and even a touchscreen. Just makes me shake my head and wonder at all the fanboys...

 

That depends. If you're comparing the average model Mac to the average model PC and compare them side by side, then Mac multimedia processing will generally be superior. However, the typical Mac costs 2 to 3 times as much as a typical PC. If you were to compare a Mac to a similarly priced multimedia PC, then the PC's multimedia processing is likely to be superior.

Like trotter, I used to be a person who would build my own PC, and choose the components I wanted. These days, though, PC's have gotten so inexpensive that I can just swap out my box for a new one for almost the same cost of me buying the components I want. Can't do that with a Mac.

You make a really good point. Microsoft gets accused all the time of "coding out" competition, but that's exactly what Apples does, and no one raises an eyebrow. What's up with that?

 

"the typical Mac costs 2 to 3 times as much as a typical PC" and that about says it all for many many folks! :tongue3:

 

"I can safely say that a Mac is 2 to 3 times easier and less problem-prone than a PC. LOL"

Nice if you can afford one.

Windows 7 will finally cure some of that I think, though it is sad it took them this many years to get here :tonofbricks:

 

Having actively worked on both, I don't agree. Macs are somewhat easier, but "2 to 3 times" is rather subjective.

They're also considerably less powerful than PC-based machines of the same price range.

 

I have to disagree with that as well. I have quite a bit of experience with both systems and I must say that if it were only 2-3 times then apple might not have made it. More like 5-6 times better and easier.

Like the other night when I had to spend a half hour on the phone with MS to help a friend who bought a copy of Win7 and it would not upgrade his Dell with Vista.
That would never happen on a Mac. Period.

Macs do have problems but they are about like the difference between a BMW and yugo.

 

But to put my 2¢ in on this thread (since I am on a mac and can easily type 2¢

I think that Windows, Linux and Mac OS X all serve a legitimate role in the industry.

I think the Mac provides the best experience and is the most trouble free but there are certain tasks that are better suited with another system.

I use a netbook for field work because apple does not have anything that weighs 2 lbs with an ethernet port and a serial port.

Linux is great for it's flexibility.

Windows is great for....well it is the balance of proprietary and flexibility.

Apple is pretty much the best in almost every market it competes in but there simply is not an apple product for every computing need.

And that is not a bad thing.

oh, and I am becoming a nokia fan with phones.....awesome quality.

 

Love the Mac PC ads and a lot of good spoofs on youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=78xwTDrUR04

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h1VQBfLDLA&feature=related