Green IT Toolkit
Story: Is Apple on the way out?
Posted by: Douglas Metcalfe (Wednesday 13 October 2004, 9:31 PM)
Apple is on the way up, not out.
Linux on the desktop will threaten Windows, not OSX. The user interface of Linux will continue to emulate Windows, not OSX.
As open source is, by definition, designed by committee, and the committee will always form a consensus based around the most used interface to make migration for the most common user as easy as possible.
OSX, on the other hand, is designed to be superior to what's out there, and as such, appeals to the "alpha geeks" in both the Windows and Linux camps.
Apple will draw from the top 10% of all computer users, and when Linux is able to offer a better Windows than Windows, as well as when major applications ported to Linux reach a critical mass, then Linux will start to draw from the the bottom feeders buying $399 Windows boxes now.
Over time, as Linux distributions are offered as a lower cost option by major OEM's like Dell, HP, and Gateway (if they still exist) then Linux may eventually take half of Microsoft's pie.
All during this time Apple will still take many new users from the top 10% of users from both Windows and Linux. Apple's growth and profitability are guaranteed by slowly gaining marketshare and expanding their niche as the premier computing environment.
Full Talkback thread
Story: Is Apple on the way out?
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I thought it raised some interesting points but I... James Chiswell Jones -
I don't agree with the assessment that Apple... Matthew -
"It's about what happens when desktop Linux reache... Riot Nrrrd™
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Fascinating article. My advice to you (as if you a... Richard Taylor
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Berlind/Dvorak - what genius! Tom Shaughnessy
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Apple is on the way up, not out.
Linux on the... Douglas Metcalfe -
Just when APPLE seems to be shipping away at the d... M R
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Yawn! you guys must be smoking bad weed. Anonymous
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God, this guy's an idiot. Apple's business has no... Anonymous
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Wow, you're dumb... Anonymous
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The author makes many sound points, but his c... Anonymous
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You miss an important point. OSX is equi... Erik Sandblom -
Brain damage. A brain damaged Editor is the only w... Charles C Gaudette
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Oh wait! You mean the Toyota Prius is catching on... Walter Walnuts
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What does not seem to be mentioned here is the ant... Anonymous
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Funny this article was posted the same day Apple's... Anonymous
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Some good points, but if you look at the "core" Ap... Anonymous
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David, FUD will get you nowhere these days. It loo... Fred Mueggelhopper
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Hahahaha, when will these douchebag journalists le... Anonymous
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On the day that Apple earnings blew away everyones... Anonymous
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My experience as a co-director of IT is that the s... Anonymous
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As others noted, I think you made some good points... Gary
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Apple = simplicity, elegance and detail. Where the... Robert Kortenoeven
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News Flash: Is Apple on the way out?
Apparently th... Ross Bellette
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