A theory on future Apple hardware
Perhaps this idea has been introduced before, but I think there is certainly a large chance that Apple has many things near or even at completion...G5, etc. Perhaps they even have these kinds of things running 2+ ghz and are able to kill any intel chip.
It would seem a wise marketing move to wait and introduce all of the new great technology when the economy picks up, and people actually have money.
Lets say the economy is up near where it was in the late 90s and Apple announces they have the fastest computer on the market...then people who finally have the money to spend on a new computer will buy the fastest Mac rather than the fastest PC. I imagine there will be a sharp spike in sales when the economy picks up anyway.
If Apple were to introduce all of this grand new hardware now, many people would get excited, but I doubt that many people would buy on the bases of speed, especially PC users...simply because they do not have the $$$. Furthermore, if Apple releases Intel-kicking chips, than Intel is pressured to release even better, faster chips, and begins lots of R & D on a very rapid bases. If Apple, at some point, can catch Intel and the hardware industry in general "off-guard" than I think that will give Apple a huge advantage.
Apple is a company that consistantly makes money, so they have the ability to wait out this economy thing rather than spew out a bunch of new hardware for revenue's sake.
[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: progmac ]</p>
It would seem a wise marketing move to wait and introduce all of the new great technology when the economy picks up, and people actually have money.
Lets say the economy is up near where it was in the late 90s and Apple announces they have the fastest computer on the market...then people who finally have the money to spend on a new computer will buy the fastest Mac rather than the fastest PC. I imagine there will be a sharp spike in sales when the economy picks up anyway.
If Apple were to introduce all of this grand new hardware now, many people would get excited, but I doubt that many people would buy on the bases of speed, especially PC users...simply because they do not have the $$$. Furthermore, if Apple releases Intel-kicking chips, than Intel is pressured to release even better, faster chips, and begins lots of R & D on a very rapid bases. If Apple, at some point, can catch Intel and the hardware industry in general "off-guard" than I think that will give Apple a huge advantage.
Apple is a company that consistantly makes money, so they have the ability to wait out this economy thing rather than spew out a bunch of new hardware for revenue's sake.
[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: progmac ]</p>
Comments
its about being fast and the current chips are fast its the mobo that isn't
Intel chips are a piece of crap
Right now Apples hard ware, particularly the PowerMac is not getting a lot of faverable press coverage, and technilogically speaking it is old (even with with dual gig's).
If Apple can time things right, they will release some good to spectacular hardware/software solutions soon (and keep inventories low) to get some faverable press coverage now before the decisions for that capital spending is made. Then back those anouncements up with solid upgrades early next year when the dollars are bieng spent.
With the MHz gap continually widening, even Apple's core is losing faith to some degree in Apple's ability to keep up with the Intel world. That is a bad thing. Apple can stomatch far worse - very true - but that doesn't mean it should do so. Right now the gap isn't a critical problem, but it will be if Apple's fastest machines continue to be significantly under half the MHz rating of Intel. Your theory makes sense to a certain extent: More people would buy if the world's spirits were higher. Yet, that certainly doesn't mean Apple shouldn't be competitive. If Apple has a Pentium killer, it would be extremely foolish not to release it based simply on economic reasons. The best thing Apple can do is to come out with kick ass, innovative products. That's its recipe for success.
[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: Big Mac ]</p>
Right now Apples hard ware, particularly the PowerMac is not getting a lot of faverable press coverage, and technilogically speaking it is old (even with with dual gig's).
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[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: O and A ]</p>
a) techinally correct. but as you know perception is everything and the majoirty of blue collar guys and gals don't feel good about the state of where things are and where they are going.
b) computer companies are taking a beating. the rest of the sectors may not be in a "recession" but they are taking a beating like they are in one.
c) people just are not buying computers like before. call it whatever but its a fact. part of it is the perception of the economy and part of it is the fact that you don't need the latest and greatest machine to surf the net.
I hope the pres. and congress perform the correct actions becuase the thought of a 2nd bush rescession is scary in these time of world unrest.
<strong>First off, despite what SJ says, the economy isn't in a recession. The stock market has taken a beating, and mood is down because of scandals, but the economy has been growing anyway. The PC industry is in recession, yes, but that's been happening for awhile now.
With the MHz gap continually widening, even Apple's core is losing faith to some degree in Apple's ability to keep up with the Intel world. That is a bad thing. Apple can stomatch far worse - very true - but that doesn't mean it should do so. Right now the gap isn't a critical problem, but it will be if Apple's fastest machines continue to be significantly under half the MHz rating of Intel. Your theory makes sense to a certain extent: More people would buy if the world's spirits were higher. Yet, that certainly doesn't mean Apple shouldn't be competitive. If Apple has a Pentium killer, it would be extremely foolish not to release it based simply on economic reasons. The best thing Apple can do is to come out with kick ass, innovative products. That's its recipe for success.
[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: Big Mac ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
"simply on economic reasons" ???
Apples core is losing faith? do u represent them?
ur stucking comparing mhz. use a dual ghz g4 and then go use a p4 running ghz let me know which is faster becasue i've used both for rendering video and teh g4 is faster by alot
2 consecutive quarters of negative GNP growth
How do we know when the economy is doing better? Why is the US economy the only consideration? do we know that this "slowdown" in not the natural maturing of the computer industry? It happens to every industry and product..
Economic data is at best 6 months behind, and never ever accurate
Apple can win through innovation. I believe this is NOT a slow down but a permanent change in the industry. We will see more and more alternative computing ideas like oqo and advance all-in-one devices.
At first the car just got you from point a to point b. PC's started out doing text based operations that far exceeded human abilities (still do)
Then new auto models every year drove car industry sales. Moores law is this.
Then new types of autos and options started to become popular like sports, utility, the minivan.. SUV's(planet killers). On, now we see Palm and PocketPC devices, phone based all-in-ones and digital "lifestyle" devices.
Now the car industry is about to go through a fantastic change.. from oil to hydrogen. It had to, the oil companies tell us there's 30 years of oil left (thank god!). This is a profound change that will enable unthinkable designs in transportation... the car as we know it is dying..
The same thing is going to happen to PC's. Apple knows this and is not the only company looking for the next big thing..
[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: JasonPP ]</p>
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Intel chips are a piece of crap</strong><hr></blockquote>
I frankly haven't seen the crap chip in Intel's consumer lineup.
Do you even know what you are talking about? Sure their chips are not as fast on a MHz per MHz basis, but they run faster by 1.5 GHz. This GHz difference more than compensates. Sure, they don't have a real vector processor, but most software in the world does not use a vector processor. Perhaps you are thinking that the Intel motherboards that run at 40% the speed of the high end PPC chip are crap.
Maybe the Itanium is a piece (depends on if the compiler writers can figure out a way to make the chip run at its full potential), but you definitely can't say that a 2.5 GHz P4 is a piece and expect me to not try to remind you of reality.
Don't get me wrong, I really hope that Apple can pair a real CPU (or two) with OS X. For right now, I will say that if anything is crap, that it is Motorola and their commitment to making a real desktop CPU.
<strong>First off, despite what SJ says, the economy isn't in a recession. [ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: Big Mac ]</strong><hr></blockquote>
Yea, I guess Steve is just talking out his ass. 2 negative quarters marks a recession. Guess what. We've had 2 negative quarters meaning regardless of your whines about Steve and Apple, he was stating fact.
<strong>For right now, I will say that if anything is crap, that it is Motorola and their commitment to making a real desktop CPU.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I feel the G4 is a decent cpu in design, but the terrible scalability and the motherboard it is on is the main problem with current system's performance (for the high end).
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I feel the G4 is a decent cpu in design, but the terrible scalability and the motherboard it is on is the main problem with current system's performance (for the high end).</strong><hr></blockquote>
I agree. The problem with the G4 isn't in its architecture so much as Motorola's inability to actually manufacture them at a decent speed and to make them use a decent bus. The G4 is actually a good chip- it is just behind the curve.
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It would seem a wise marketing move to wait and introduce all of the new great technology when the economy picks up, and people actually have money.
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I totally disagree. It would be a bad PR move, it would be a bad economic move, it would be bad for investors, it would be bad for the employees.
Apple needs, let me emphasize NEEDS, to improve the motherboard and processors in the Powermacs. They know it, the investors know it and the public knows it.
But then again what do I know
For now...the catch up mobo with dual 1.4 gig will be enough.
Hey. Then we're 'only' 400mhz behind AMD!
Sure. It's an intriguing idea to save your best for when the economy (computer economy!) picks up...a big wham-bam factor...but if you do that...you risk, in the mean time, getting buried with high stocks of aged 'power'Macs that nobody wants because they were past their sell by date when introduced a whole 8 months ago...
So. Not a good idea.
Lemon Bon Bon
[ 07-30-2002: Message edited by: Lemon Bon Bon ]</p>
<strong>It would seem a wise marketing move to wait and introduce all of the new great technology when the economy picks up, and people actually have money.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I disagree. Why? Apple has never had an opportunity has good as this in all of it's history. People want out of M$. Even IT department heads are getting sick of having to deal with M$. Apple is poised to make a big dent into M$'s territory. The time is NOW. <img src="graemlins/smokin.gif" border="0" alt="[Chilling]" />
Lemon Bon Bon
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Yea, I guess Steve is just talking out his ass. 2 negative quarters marks a recession. Guess what. We've had 2 negative quarters meaning regardless of your whines about Steve and Apple, he was stating fact.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Before you go off criticizing others, you may want to do a bit of research so that you don't end up making foolish statements. Two consecutive quarters of negative growth is the text book definition of a recession. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis <a href="http://www.bea.gov/briefrm/tables/ebr1.htm"; target="_blank">GDP table,</a> there was one quarter of negative growth - Q3 '01, which measured in as a -1.3% retraction. Q3 '01 was followed by 1.7% growth in Q4 '01, and that was followed by very robust 6.1% growth in Q1 '02.
Therefore, using the most popular definition of recession, the American economy never went into a recession; we're still enjoying the longest economic expansion ever recorded. :cool: Clearly economics is not your forte, so think twice before you spout off.
<strong>Now the car industry is about to go through a fantastic change.. from oil to hydrogen. It had to, the oil companies tell us there's 30 years of oil left (thank god!). This is a profound change that will enable unthinkable designs in transportation... the car as we know it is dying.</strong><hr></blockquote>
<img src="graemlins/lol.gif" border="0" alt="[Laughing]" /> Sorry it's probably just that I worked in this area for a long time but I don't think you should trust oil companies quite so much. Hydrogen as a fuel source still isn't mature enough and is too costly still.
As for the car dying I really wouldn't count on it. That's getting into a whole other subject that isn't mac related though.