My response to the Adobe issue would be: look at what Apple did when Adobe stopped caring about Premiere -- Apple created Final Cut. And quickly, by the way. I would not be surprised if there were super-secret Apple versions of Photoshop, InDesign, DreamWeaver and Office ready for rollout as soon as others fail. And Final Cut shows how good Apple can make professional based software. Now I'm not saying that losing Adobe and Microsoft would be a good thing, Apple would still exist without them.
HOWEVER, the biggest problem I see is not in the professional world, but in the "Mom and Pop" world. If there are not Mac versions of well-known 1st person shooting games, recipie programs and kids software, then who other than graphics professionals would want a Mac? That's where the marketshare will become a huge issue. And telling Mom and Pop to download an opensource Unix Family Tree .dmg just won't cut it. And Apple can't create a game as cool as Doom 3 out of nothing. ITunes and the Ipod help, but they're on Windows, too.
One of the main reasons that sales arent up is because Apple probably doesnt have enough unit availability to make a market share dent anyway. Just look at what happened with the iPod last quarter. Also, because Apple doesnt sell in Best Buy or Circuit City (even eMacs would be good) their retail presence is just not that big. I think the HP deal will have great effects in terms of Apple getting the iPod out there like it needs to be, but Macs, they just need more availability and proper sales management.
piwozniak you simply don't understand man... adobe needs the apple platform, I find it hard to believe but see if they all of a sudden stopped developing for Mac, well then their biggest clients would drop them. Also neilson sales scans say that people buy 1200+ machines more so than cheapo machines. Oh and that graph doesn't show the market segmentation that adobe has put itself through, in the mid 90's it was a pro only affair, but now when they offer consumer apps its completely different. Id be interested to see the Photoshop margin, as well as illustrator and other heavy print things.
Who said suddenly??? EVENTUALLY, big difference. As soon as Adobe will stop making $$$ on products for macs, they (as would any other company) drop them.
When you make money selling your software you will continue doing that, but with DECREASING number of clients, you're getting closer to a point when you break even, then start loosing $$.
Moreover, from development stand of view it would be much easier to develop for a single platform.
Comments
HOWEVER, the biggest problem I see is not in the professional world, but in the "Mom and Pop" world. If there are not Mac versions of well-known 1st person shooting games, recipie programs and kids software, then who other than graphics professionals would want a Mac? That's where the marketshare will become a huge issue. And telling Mom and Pop to download an opensource Unix Family Tree .dmg just won't cut it. And Apple can't create a game as cool as Doom 3 out of nothing. ITunes and the Ipod help, but they're on Windows, too.
Originally posted by kraig911
piwozniak you simply don't understand man... adobe needs the apple platform, I find it hard to believe but see if they all of a sudden stopped developing for Mac, well then their biggest clients would drop them. Also neilson sales scans say that people buy 1200+ machines more so than cheapo machines. Oh and that graph doesn't show the market segmentation that adobe has put itself through, in the mid 90's it was a pro only affair, but now when they offer consumer apps its completely different. Id be interested to see the Photoshop margin, as well as illustrator and other heavy print things.
Who said suddenly??? EVENTUALLY, big difference. As soon as Adobe will stop making $$$ on products for macs, they (as would any other company) drop them.
When you make money selling your software you will continue doing that, but with DECREASING number of clients, you're getting closer to a point when you break even, then start loosing $$.
Moreover, from development stand of view it would be much easier to develop for a single platform.
edit: changed INCREASING to DECREASING
Originally posted by Merovingian
Apple is going on all 8 cylinders at the moment, in my opinion. m.
Pssh. . . Apple's no Jim Labreck.
Please: 2 rotors at 8000rpm, on full boost.
Originally posted by Anders
PS: Did you get your G3 sold today?
He shows up monday to take a look at it. (didn't know it was you who wrote me - perhaps I can get another one if you're interested - not mine though)