No Apple hype a key indicator?
As you guys may have noticed, the past announcements have all included a measure of hype on Apple's part. For example, the iPod and new iMac got a lot of hype before the announcements (remember the countdown to MacWorld?). Jobs also mentioned the Xserve before it was announced. There hasn't been any hype from Apple this time around. I realize that this may just be a return to the way they did things before, but I doubt it. Current trends seem to indicate that Apple now makes a big deal before their product announcements. Does no big deal being made mean no big product announcement? I fear that may be the case. <img src="graemlins/hmmm.gif" border="0" alt="[Hmmm]" />
Comments
I think this way, Apple wins either way. Either nothing much happens, and we're expecting it, so the disappointment isn't too out of hand, or we really get wowed.
It was simply because it was geared to a much broader market, the imac.
The lack hype, particularly for the Pro model that is bought predominantly by those inside their current base, is hardly a surprise.
Unless it comes out as 3-4x faster than anything on the planet it makes no sense. Even twice as fast as P4 would not be worth the effort.
Still, if anything, their coy silence could be all the hype they need.
Heh, Look at all the 'breathless schoolgirls' around waiting in the edge of their seats.
Reporters got invitations to an Apple event. What peaked their curiosity is that the invitation said "hint, it's not a computer." And this prompted them to write articles saying "hey, Apple is going to introduce something that's not a computer, I wonder what it'll be."
Which is probably what Apple intended, but it was not Apple-generated hype. So far only the new iMac has received any kind of pre-announcement hype.
The X-Serve didn't get much hype either. Jobs said "this is what we are working on, and here's a pic of it, we'll announce it next week." Hardly what I call hype.
Do you consider that hype? And was what we got in proportion to that, or way out of proportion? Right. It blew. Badly.
Now we're getting no hype. To me this almost makes it MORE likely we'll see something good. Either way I won't be buying anything unless the prices drop dramatically.
<strong>Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think they made a big deal out of the iPod announcement.
Reporters got invitations to an Apple event. What peaked their curiosity is that the invitation said "hint, it's not a computer." </strong><hr></blockquote>
That and Steve Jobs saying Apple was about to introduce a ?breakthrough digital device that?s not a Mac? during the quarterly results conference call.
J :cool:
Over the last 5 years Apple has developed it's base with OS X and the retail stores. In the last three months we have seen an exciting announcement every week. We used to get maybe 10 interesting things per year and now we are getting 40 or 50 because Apple can focus it's resources on the future rather than basic hardware and the OS. Look at what we have gotten over the last few months:
- At macminute just yesterday there was a link to a cnet article saying that Apple will open it's first international Apple Store in the Netherlands soon.
- Apple optimizing Blast scientific software
- eMac for education
- eMac for consumers
- the Switch campaign, the massive web site, and Apple Store employees helping to transfer PC files over to a new Mac
- XServe
- Jaguar
- Inkwell obviously to be used for something
- iPod for Windows coming soon
- Several acquisitions of multimedia companies
- more frequent TV advertising
So Apple is now trying to gain new customers and I think we will see two or three major things at MacWorld in addition to some hardware upgrades.
[ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: spindler ]</p>
to give you some perspective, he doesn't know details any more than we do and when he does, he never tells me anything.
na
<strong>
- At macminute just yesterday there was a link to a cnet article saying that Apple will open it's first international Apple Store in the Netherlands soon.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
I hope this is true...
In Australia we have "Apple Centers", MacDonalds style franchises. Unfortunatly, most of them suck balls, as Apple doesn't have much control over them.
Two years ago seven Apple Centers (with a total of 40 stores) merged to become "Buzzle". Unfortunatly, they were too interested in their IPO to actually RUN a business, and they all went bust.
My gut tells me that we will see an update to the 15" iMacs, a $1999 17" iMac and DDR Power Macs. The DDR Power Macs should be something special, if new technology is anything to go by.
Basically, we've been waiting a year for DDR Power Macs, and the longer we wait, the better chance it will happen. With the Xserve, Discovery II, FireWire 2 chips, Quartz Extreme (DoS my AGP bus!), it's time for DDR.
The 15" Superdrive is high-margin an selling well, so it makes sense for a higher-margin 17" iMac now (yes I have reversed my position based on that).
On the other hand...
Barto
[ 07-13-2002: Message edited by: Barto ]</p>
<strong>Remeber "Beyond the Rumor Sites. Way Beyond."??
Do you consider that hype? And was what we got in proportion to that, or way out of proportion? Right. It blew. Badly.
Now we're getting no hype. To me this almost makes it MORE likely we'll see something good. Either way I won't be buying anything unless the prices drop dramatically.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Ahem. The iMac did not blew. It does not even blow. It rules. The MWSF02 keynote rocked (along with iPhoto and the "son-of-pismo").
It's in Apple's interest to give consumers the right level of expectation.
To low expectation = the next Power Mac won't have good sales, as people will buy now. Lowering prices on current models so people will buy them (as opposed to switching to intel) is bad for margins.
To high expectations = the next Power Mac won't be bought as people who were expecting people will feel burnt. Thats what Microsoft does. Thats what Microsoft can do, it's a monopoly.
Barto
It blew chunks. Apple hyped MacWorld NY 2001 in an unreal way, and then delivered nothing deserving of it. It was unreal, almost psycho. The entire legitmate press was even speculating what it could mean, and most concluded the flat-screen iMac. When it was NOT released, everyone waited for those imacs.
<strong>
Ahem. The iMac did not blew. It does not even blow. It rules. The MWSF02 keynote rocked (along with iPhoto and the "son-of-pismo").
Barto</strong><hr></blockquote>
HA HA HAH HA HAH H AHHA HAH H AH
Omg, you must be a great comedian. I'll have to go to one of your shows.
Barto <hr></blockquote>
MWSF2002 rocked why: Because of no Powermacs? Because of the awkward ending?
[quote]
To low expectation = the next Power Mac won't have good sales, as people will buy now. Lowering prices on current models so people will buy them (as opposed to switching to intel) is bad for margins.
Barto <hr></blockquote>
People wont buy PM now. People dont buy PM now. And they wont buy the current machines later either. Nobody wants them. The only way apple could get rid of their stock of PM is to cut the price in half, wich I dont see will happen. I think apple will have to realize that there stuck with their crappy stock of PM and move on.
Apple: Do again, do right. Get us some decent machines and well buy them.
Yeesh. Guess these stockpiles happen when you build your 'pro' line around a nine month upgrade cycle. Slow to ramp...slow to flush. Apple have to get better at update their specs...and quicker to execute to market. It's something the analysts beat them over the head with time and time again.
At least look like they're trying to do something between 'major' updates...be it memory, a graphic card...a cpu bump...
Apple's approach to spec updates is lumbering when you compare it to the x86 industry.
They've been left with massive inventory before. When are Apple going to learn to be more competitive on price and turnover their products a little bit sooner..? ie And not sit on already out of date technology for the best part of nine months.
Lemon Bon Bon
[ 07-14-2002: Message edited by: Lemon Bon Bon ]</p>
Look, are you going to stop buying Apple over a keynote without Power Macs? Even if Apple introduces Power Macs at a press event later?
I know Power Macs are a bit lacking at the moment, and if you choose to stop buying Apple because of that, great! Thats how capitalism works! Personally, I think Apple has a lot of great products. Its also probably that the lack-luster Power Mac means that Apple is attraction less or even losing more Pros than they should be.
Barto
[ 07-14-2002: Message edited by: Barto ]</p>
<strong>Ahem. Sorry Barto, if you look at your quote, do you see the word "imac" in it? If not, what are you referring to?
It blew chunks. Apple hyped MacWorld NY 2001 in an unreal way, and then delivered nothing deserving of it. It was unreal, almost psycho. The entire legitmate press was even speculating what it could mean, and most concluded the flat-screen iMac. When it was NOT released, everyone waited for those imacs.</strong><hr></blockquote>
There was "Remeber "Beyond the Rumor Sites. Way Beyond."??" In the quote.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that from MWSF02, not MWNY01?
MWNY01 didn't have anything new (with exeption of minor pmac case update). September/October had new iBooks, PowerBooks, iPods and Puma. Just because a keynote sucks, doesn't mean the next few months will.
I'm sorry if you had something better to do than watch the keynote but thought there would be new stuff. Instead of letting a pshycotic hatred of all things Steve and Apple develope though, you probably should forget those two hours you won't get back, and get on with your life.
MWSF02, MWSF01, MWNY00 were all sehr toll (very cool) though.
Barto
[ 07-14-2002: Message edited by: Barto ]</p>
<strong>
People wont buy PM now. People dont buy PM now. And they wont buy the current machines later either. Nobody wants them. The only way apple could get rid of their stock of PM is to cut the price in half, wich I dont see will happen. I think apple will have to realize that there stuck with their crappy stock of PM and move on.
</strong><hr></blockquote>
A clearer format of what I tried to say would be "If people don't think new pmacs will arrive at MWNY, they will buy the current ones (if they are good), or leave for intel (if they are, which they are, bad). If they think fantastic new pmacs will arrive at MWNY and they don't, people will be burned and switch to intel."
In other words, I agree with you. Maybe we will see a rerun of the cube inventory induced 1/4 billion $ loss.
Barto
Music/video/3D market is also important for the future development of the mac as a multmedia computor. The cutting edge stuff will eventually work itself down to consumer level. Neglecting music/video/3D market as some of you suggests will have serious consequences for future of macintosh games, for future internet features etc. So dont think for a second that neglecting music/video/3D wont effect your life as simple macconsumer.
[QB]
I hope this is true...
In Australia we have "Apple Centers", MacDonalds style franchises. Unfortunatly, most of them suck balls, as Apple doesn't have much control over them.
Two years ago seven Apple Centers (with a total of 40 stores) merged to become "Buzzle". Unfortunatly, they were too interested in their IPO to actually RUN a business, and they all went bust.