Could There Be a Mac-less Apple on the Horizon? - Possibilities for Apple's Future
(Page 4 of 4 )
What if Apple axed the Mac and went with their iPods and iPhones? First I think that Apple the record company will have an even bigger hissy fit with Apple the computer company. They are very upset over Apple's iTunes music store, after Apple Computers agreed not to pursue anything related to music. They will have to branch out with some new products or get another "iPod revenue" type device.
Perhaps an iTV revolution could move Apple more into the media and home entertainment markets and more out of the computer market. I really think that the iPhone has the opportunity to take over the PDA market within the next year or two. If they can get the iPhone into the mass market and sell millions of them, it would greatly help a Macless Apple.
Since they are only hitting the PDA phone market, and the luxury side of that, they will need to extend into more of the cell phone market. If they could produce a cell phone that is as popular as the Motorola Razr, I think they could pull it off. Even something like the blackjack, Q or other any other Smart phone, mainly a PDA without all the bells and whistles of a full PDA but still more advanced than a normal cell phone. They can't make a significant dent into the cell phone industry with just the iPhone.
If Apple does change their approach by publishing only an operating system and not creating the full Mac computer, they will sell quite a few copies of their operating system. I think they will be more successful than they are selling a Mac computer with the operating system on it. If you could go to a store and pick up a CD with the OS on it, I think a lot of people would jump on the Apple boat. It will no longer cost consumers thousands of dollars to get the OS, but a few hundred, if that.
Perhaps OEM manufacturers like Dell and HP could pick up the operating system. With Microsoft delaying the release of their operating systems -- Vista was YEARS behind the release date even with the cutting of some of the extras promised -- a well-timed and complete operating system release from Apple could deeply penetrate the market.
Apple is in a very good financial position right now. They have some options on what to do with their products and the direction they want to go. Right now they are increasing their market share in the computer industry, are dominant in the MP3 market, and throwing their hat into the PDA cell phone market.
With the great success of the iPod, and the release of the Intel Mac, could the end of the Mac be coming? They could do very well with their iPods and a successful iPhone. Microsoft has been lacking recently in the releases of their operating systems. Apple could be very successful with a PC version of their operating system. Will they be coming out with a retail copy any time soon? I don't think it will be any time soon; Apple is too focused on the iPhone to think about it right now. In the next couple of years we could see a change in Apple's goals and also their marketing of their products.
| DISCLAIMER: The content provided in this article is not warranted or guaranteed by Developer Shed, Inc. The content provided is intended for entertainment and/or educational purposes in order to introduce to the reader key ideas, concepts, and/or product reviews. As such it is incumbent upon the reader to employ real-world tactics for security and implementation of best practices. We are not liable for any negative consequences that may result from implementing any information covered in our articles or tutorials. If this is a hardware review, it is not recommended to open and/or modify your hardware. |
