OK, I'm confused. I thought one of the arguments 'for' apple computers was they were useful a lot longer than PCs, and as such, costing more up front doesn't mean it costs more long-term. Great. But now everyone wants everyone to upgrade every 2-3 years? Just like PC users? Where's the benefit then?
I agree with the posters basically arguing the "If it works for you, WHY change?" I mean, even upgrading from Panther to Tiger, should everyone just go out and buy it because you all say we should? Or should we judge based on our needs? I mean, how often have people rushed to upgrade only to find out some piece of hardware they have no longer works? Or their computer starts acting futzy. Or a ton of other minor issues, all to get features they might not use at all (for example, I seldom to never use Expose - most of the time its used, its by accident than intention - which was one of the biggest selling points of Panther). How exactly is a new computer plus Tiger going to improve Mom's IE and mail usage? Esp. for someone who doesn't even realize you can open more than one browser window at once. I know people who feel they must type addresses into Yahoo's search box to get there (that's right, rather than the address bar, you search for 'www.amazon.com' in Yahoo, then click the link it gives you). Doesn't matter how often you say "Hey, you know you could just type it HERE!", they do what they'll do. That's a good hunk of PC/Mac users, too.
And remember that just because you use a Mac in business doesn't mean everyone does. Or that most people using 9 are holdout Quark users. Most of them might be Mac users who don't even know there is an OS update, let alone that they're missing out on anything. And some people just don't care (you ever try to talk to someone who doesn't have a computer about how useful they could be? Most just don't care).
It's true that Macs last longer. We discontinued using my old upgraded 9500 finally middle of last year. My wife was using it for internet and e-mail. I finally persuaded her to let me get her a new machine. We also have a B/W. I have it in my shop downstairs. My daughter and I have newer machines.
I'm waiting for a Express bus G5 to come out. My daughter, who is 13, will be going to art school next term, and will be getting a new one then.
The point here is that a company such as Apple is in the wilderness, so to speak. Being that they are not compatible with Windows, they can't benefit from the programs available on that platform.
The market for Mac programs is, for the most part, much smaller than the Windows market, while the R&D costs to write those programs remains the same. We have to buy those programs at a much higher per capita percentage than Windows users must, if they are to remain profitable.
As more programs (except possibly for games) tend to be bought by those getting new machines, or at least upgrading their OS, you can understand the problem.
If people remain on old systems and software, the companies we rely on to provide it will lose sales, profits and get out of the market. If that happens, then the computer sales will shrink further as well, and a vicious cycle begins.
Goodbye Apple.
The opposite happens if sales go up.
Apple announced last quarter that their computer sales were up 27% over the quarter the year before. They have just now announced that computer sales this quarter were up 43% over the quarter a year ago.
This is what we need for a strong platform. Even though Apple said that they didn't think that growth at this level could be sustained, they would be happy with the 15% that they are predicting long term. If the industry continues to grow at a 7 to 10% rate, then Apple's market share would slowly, but continually increase.
This would make our position in the industry strong, and would insure that innovation in both hardware and software would continue.
As that innovation is what Apple depends upon to push its platform, it is imperative that it continue.
Everyone doesn't have to buy new stuff every 2 years or so, but enough must for the platform to survive, and remain healthy.
I'm not Uncle Sam, pointing my finger and saying "I need you!". But the concept is there.
Comments
Originally posted by Louzer
OK, I'm confused. I thought one of the arguments 'for' apple computers was they were useful a lot longer than PCs, and as such, costing more up front doesn't mean it costs more long-term. Great. But now everyone wants everyone to upgrade every 2-3 years? Just like PC users? Where's the benefit then?
I agree with the posters basically arguing the "If it works for you, WHY change?" I mean, even upgrading from Panther to Tiger, should everyone just go out and buy it because you all say we should? Or should we judge based on our needs? I mean, how often have people rushed to upgrade only to find out some piece of hardware they have no longer works? Or their computer starts acting futzy. Or a ton of other minor issues, all to get features they might not use at all (for example, I seldom to never use Expose - most of the time its used, its by accident than intention - which was one of the biggest selling points of Panther). How exactly is a new computer plus Tiger going to improve Mom's IE and mail usage? Esp. for someone who doesn't even realize you can open more than one browser window at once. I know people who feel they must type addresses into Yahoo's search box to get there (that's right, rather than the address bar, you search for 'www.amazon.com' in Yahoo, then click the link it gives you). Doesn't matter how often you say "Hey, you know you could just type it HERE!", they do what they'll do. That's a good hunk of PC/Mac users, too.
And remember that just because you use a Mac in business doesn't mean everyone does. Or that most people using 9 are holdout Quark users. Most of them might be Mac users who don't even know there is an OS update, let alone that they're missing out on anything. And some people just don't care (you ever try to talk to someone who doesn't have a computer about how useful they could be? Most just don't care).
It's true that Macs last longer. We discontinued using my old upgraded 9500 finally middle of last year. My wife was using it for internet and e-mail. I finally persuaded her to let me get her a new machine. We also have a B/W. I have it in my shop downstairs. My daughter and I have newer machines.
I'm waiting for a Express bus G5 to come out. My daughter, who is 13, will be going to art school next term, and will be getting a new one then.
The point here is that a company such as Apple is in the wilderness, so to speak. Being that they are not compatible with Windows, they can't benefit from the programs available on that platform.
The market for Mac programs is, for the most part, much smaller than the Windows market, while the R&D costs to write those programs remains the same. We have to buy those programs at a much higher per capita percentage than Windows users must, if they are to remain profitable.
As more programs (except possibly for games) tend to be bought by those getting new machines, or at least upgrading their OS, you can understand the problem.
If people remain on old systems and software, the companies we rely on to provide it will lose sales, profits and get out of the market. If that happens, then the computer sales will shrink further as well, and a vicious cycle begins.
Goodbye Apple.
The opposite happens if sales go up.
Apple announced last quarter that their computer sales were up 27% over the quarter the year before. They have just now announced that computer sales this quarter were up 43% over the quarter a year ago.
This is what we need for a strong platform. Even though Apple said that they didn't think that growth at this level could be sustained, they would be happy with the 15% that they are predicting long term. If the industry continues to grow at a 7 to 10% rate, then Apple's market share would slowly, but continually increase.
This would make our position in the industry strong, and would insure that innovation in both hardware and software would continue.
As that innovation is what Apple depends upon to push its platform, it is imperative that it continue.
Everyone doesn't have to buy new stuff every 2 years or so, but enough must for the platform to survive, and remain healthy.
I'm not Uncle Sam, pointing my finger and saying "I need you!". But the concept is there.
Understand?