I would be very surprised if there was any substance in this rumor. IBM and Apple would not go well together, because:
- Apple does not fit into IBMs product-portfolio. IBM is very strong in the "big iron" segment, they have almost completely drawn out of the desktop. The
desktop is dominated by MS and about any company knows that. That is why noone has tried a buyout of Apple.
- Corporate cultures between Apple and IBM are way different. Recently a lot of mega-mergers have hit rock bottom (Daimler-Chrystler) and this special one would be a very likely candidate for this too.
- IBM does not need MacOS-X (Server). They have turned to Linux where they can avoid Windows and are not going to drop Linux for MOS-X (why should they after all?).
- IBM does not care about the application base existing for MOS-X because those are mostly enduser-apps. IBM does not care for this market.
- The few areas where Apple and IBM have technologies for the same market segment (application server technologie like WebObjects and portable computers) I can see no advantages in an attempt to merge this business units.
- The fiercely loyal Apple customers are a recipe for disaster after a buyout. IBM would have to invest massively to get out of the 3% corner. If they do not, they will be accused of milking Apple to death.
"If" this happeneds there will be no apple. Well at least not the apple that we know today. The no suit free spirt apple would be gone. No more "rebirth of cool." Steve would fade into the background, no more mac world. so much for Apple. But I dont think there is any truth to this.
Well, it certainly would make my stock worth something Then I could buy the iMac I've been wanting, but the iMac I've been wanting would cease to exist so it's all a moot point. Nah, IBM and Apple should stay separate and form a closer alliance. Maybe pool resources to buy altivec from motorola.
I can't believe this is serious. If Apple owned a particular technology that was somewhat generically useful (like a semiconductor tool that lets you do more efficient chip manufacturing) then I can see IBM making a strategic decision to buy that. Apple's value is so much tied up in their name recognition and their company personality that I can't imagine a company like IBM believing that they could possibly purchase it and successfully manage it. If there was something they liked about Apple then a strategic alliance of some sort or a licensing agreement would make much more sense.
If another company were to try to buy Apple I think it would be a similar size or smaller company that made hardware or maybe software who wanted to get into the consumer business. They have a product, Apple has name recognition. You join the two, try to keep the core business going and add your product to the lineup. Instant access to a few million customers. It would be a gamble on hitting it big.
1) The Apple logo is iconic. An icon for a better way of doing things, the attractive alternative, a diamond in the rough if you will. That little icon will not be worth s**t if it were owned by Big Blue.
2) Has anyone seen the advertisements for "THE BUCK-A-DAY COMPANY? "Do you think you reeeeaaallyy want a cloooone?" "cuz we are knock knock knockin, knock knock knockin, knockin on buck-a-day's doooR!"
Comments
- Apple does not fit into IBMs product-portfolio. IBM is very strong in the "big iron" segment, they have almost completely drawn out of the desktop. The
desktop is dominated by MS and about any company knows that. That is why noone has tried a buyout of Apple.
- Corporate cultures between Apple and IBM are way different. Recently a lot of mega-mergers have hit rock bottom (Daimler-Chrystler) and this special one would be a very likely candidate for this too.
- IBM does not need MacOS-X (Server). They have turned to Linux where they can avoid Windows and are not going to drop Linux for MOS-X (why should they after all?).
- IBM does not care about the application base existing for MOS-X because those are mostly enduser-apps. IBM does not care for this market.
- The few areas where Apple and IBM have technologies for the same market segment (application server technologie like WebObjects and portable computers) I can see no advantages in an attempt to merge this business units.
- The fiercely loyal Apple customers are a recipe for disaster after a buyout. IBM would have to invest massively to get out of the 3% corner. If they do not, they will be accused of milking Apple to death.
padon my sophomoric quote, but i didn't want fatboy's subversive "internet bowel movement" comment to go unnoticed. well done.
"its okay to eat fish, cuz they don't have any feet." -k. c., rip
If another company were to try to buy Apple I think it would be a similar size or smaller company that made hardware or maybe software who wanted to get into the consumer business. They have a product, Apple has name recognition. You join the two, try to keep the core business going and add your product to the lineup. Instant access to a few million customers. It would be a gamble on hitting it big.
--Mike
if i want to see any buying i want to see apple buying mot
2) Has anyone seen the advertisements for "THE BUCK-A-DAY COMPANY? "Do you think you reeeeaaallyy want a cloooone?" "cuz we are knock knock knockin, knock knock knockin, knockin on buck-a-day's doooR!"
My 2
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