Posted on 01/18/2005 7:38:57 AM PST by Rodney King
2005: Apple's 1984? Leader ZDNet UK January 18, 2005, 13:50 GMT With the iPod selling in the tens of millions and the Mac mini exciting the interest of millions more, Apple may be poised on the edge of true populism.
The launch of the Mac mini could also reignite the old hostilities between Apple chief Steve Jobs and his old nemesis Bill Gates. If ever there was a computer aimed squarely at replacing Microsoft on the desktop, it's this one. Newly minted Mac converts don't have to move any furniture or even rearrange their desks to make Apple part of their lives. Unhook the ugly old PC from the life support of keyboard, mouse and display, send the corpse off for recycling, and plug in the shiny, tiny Mac. Result: the Mac really does become the machine for the many rather than the few.
At least, that's the theory. If it actually works -- and Apple is in the 'getting it right' phase of its corporate sunspot cycle -- what will that do to Apple's cool, elitist corporate ethos? The company is arrogant enough with a 3 percent PC market share: how will it behave if it actually becomes a success? The signs are not good.
Apple's actions this week in launching a lawsuit against amateur tech journalism site ThinkSecret.com is a PR mistake, especially from a company that has been so careful to avoid the Big Brother image it prefers to ascribe to Microsoft and IBM. "That's why 1984 won't be like 1984," said the original SuperBowl advert for the Macintosh. 2005 is apparently a different matter.
Is this the same company that ran an advertising campaign which asked us to 'Think Different' and utilised maverick but heroic figures such as Mohammad Ali? Perhaps that doesn't apply if you're a teenager with a strong journalistic streak and the ability to break stories worthy of the big guys but, crucially, without the legal department to fend off the offended. Nice move, Steve. Stick up for the helpless billion-dollar company in the face of the rapacious penniless student.
Apple may be able to make the transition back to mainstream computer company without the support of its hardcore devotees, those who have bought into the image -- and truth -- of Apple being a different, and in many ways better, way to do things. It could be that the company couldn't care less, that it actually wants to be seen as more gangster than hipster. If this isn't the case, then we have one message for the company. Bullies aren't cool.
bump.
Mac users are a cult.
Yeah, an arrogant company with only 3% of market share?
imagine 35%
And you thought Macs were already overpriced...
This is an obvious attempt to market teens with a very affordable base unit. Unfortunately, teens want a gaming machine with all the popular games - MAC isn't in that category.
This will only find a few more customers, not start a mass exodus from PC.
If you put your desktop on the floor and use a flat panel monitor, you already have a small footprint on your desk, with Windows. Makes sense to me.
As far as I can tell, Windows users have to be at least the
w/2000 level to use itunes. Do W/98 users never buy ipods?
What downloader of music do they use in not itunes? I'd be interested because I want to download music for my
Palm tungsten E.
If Apple forces the ThinkSecret.com to give up it's sources of inside info on Mac, why can't the lamestream press also be held to the same standard since the Press sources give the public military and other Govt. Info.meant to be kept secret.
The knowledge of this inside info in many cases is not detrimental to the average citizen, and is something he /she doesn't have to know, but leaking it is detrimental to Govt. operations. Some of them Military. - tom
One could make the argument that their new OS X.x is based on BSD and has many of the advantages of delving into more sophisticated programming and such they can garner a more tech savvy audience. But they are at a disadvantage in this arena because Linux is way ahead of them on that front and tech savvy Linux users are not going to drop their custom Linux boxes for a Mac anytime soon.
I think the biggest problem with Apple architecture is that there is no competition with their hardware. I cannot buy a compatible apple based hardware box from say Intel, ASUS, or TYAN so that I am not locked into a single vendor solution.
The fact its at a decent price point doesn't hurt, I think Apple will get some market share with the Mini.. hell, I'm even thinking of buying one... but of course I can get a full desktop with Monitor Keyboard and Mouse for the same price.
Add some nice Neon lights to the case so it glows some funky color though and I think I can bring my own keyboard mouse and display. (I'd also want at least a Gig of ram... and the upgrade ram price from Apple itself is quite outrageous.)
Apple comes out with a "headless" Mac and it is all the rage. I was like, this is called a server, what's the big deal?
imagine 35%
Some of us do in fact remember the '80's very well, with our IIe's and Appletalk networks, etc.
And we remember talking to their Customer Support people also.
Arrogance is a natural consequence of success. People who bash MS/Gates' arrogance simply forgot what it was like when Apple was on top.
To experience contemporary Mac arrogance, one needs only to have some printing done, as the graphic arts field was dominated by them. Some people in that industry are loathe to change systems.
"We need your copy in Mac version Quark Express."
"What's the name of Apple's compression thingy that's like *.ZIP???"
"Stuffit".
"Exactly." -slam- < dial tone >
No bout a doubt it ...the drain bamaged....think different
This is an idiotic article. The iPod is selling like crazy because it is the best MP3 player. The Mac mini will sell because the cheapskates who want to buy a $499 piece of sh*t Dell now have a comparably priced Apple alternative. Once they start using OS X, they will discover what utter crap Windows is. It will start a chain reaction and more and more people will switch to the Macintosh. Apple is doing people a favor by allowing them to abandon the mediocrity of Windows in favor of something that is actually fun to use.
It could be if you are still using W98, you probably either can't afford an iPod or don't like iPods.
Those who are using 98 can upload music from their PC to the Tungsten E using Windows Media Player or WinAmp. I'm not sure if you can with MusicMatch Jukebox but that may be another choice to investigate.
Apple "borrowed" the design for the mini from this windows computer.
http://www.mini-itx.com/news/nanode/
This leaves Linux out of the equation...
I bet there are plenty more PC/Linux seats out there than Mac seats these days. OS X is just another UN*X type OS.
It is better than WIN, but that has been true for years.
But honestly, isn't this the same line that Mac has been saying for 20 years?
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