What can PC makers learn from Apple?

MacCentral ^ | 04/19/2005 | Anne Kandra

[r5boston]

These days Apple is generating more buzz than a swarm of African killer bees. Of course, we PC users can sit back and watch the hoopla about the Mac Mini and its brethren with detached interest, right?

Well, maybe we should pay more attention. The fact is, Apple gets a lot of things right. For starters, the new Mac Mini is a sleek, pared-down little number that has a trim US$500 price tag to match. For Mac fans, it's an affordable, well-designed digital media machine that gets along nicely with other peripherals. The Mini will let you store and play music, manage photos, watch movies, and go online. Plus, it's relatively quiet compared with a typical PC, so it might be a good fit for your living room. Oh, and it's stylish, to boot.

Now, I'm not saying that the PC universe is all bad. If you're a cost-conscious buyer, you may find that a PC is a better deal than a Mac. And if you're shopping for peripherals or internal components, you can choose from a huge range of PC brands. Plus, PCs are perfect for tinkerers; opening the hood is usually relatively straightforward. In Mac land, most systems' cases are harder to open, and components are designed more as cohesive units than as a collection of parts.

[big'ol_freeper]

Incoming!!!

[newgeezer]

What can PC makers learn from Apple?

Innate goofiness can get you a 10% market share for life?

[js1138]

2% not 10%

[BikerNYC]

If your computers won't sell, go into the music business and make your shareholders a ton of money.

[tfecw]

"What can PC makers learn from Apple?"

Make it a purdy color and you can charge tripple

[js1138]

I suppose you learn that if one company builds all the hardware, writes all the software and the operating system, you can make something reliable. Particularly if you ditch all the programs that are more than five years old.

[Puppage]

Ever see a virus on a Mac?

[js1138]

The MiniMe is a laptop without mouse, keyboard or monitor. Why should it be surprising that it can sell for $500. the case is awesome, but the components are worth about $150 retail.

[newgeezer]

Ever see a virus on a Mac?

Yes. Of course, that was way back when people like me actually used them.

I haven't seen a virus on a TRS-80 lately, either.

[r5boston]

or spyware.
Can't remember the last time my imac crashed, I think it was about a year ago. However my work PC, if it crashes only twice a week, that's a good week.

[dmz]

2 blasts from the past:

Friends don't friend do DOS.

The use of the mouse is a sign of terminal (ha!) computer illiteracy.

In the early 90's, as a technology trainer, I taught Macs and PC's in the same room at the same time. The end user really doesn't care what the name on the box says, it's the application software that matters, and with a few notable exceptions in some pretty vertical markets, you use the same stuff on either platform.

Now, if you want to set up a home recording studio - Go Mac!

[ThinkDifferent]

Plus, PCs are perfect for tinkerers

For hardware tinkerers, sure. For software tinkerers, Macs are great: a full Unix layer and the Cocoa API for GUI apps.

[Wooly]

The favorite saying of an Apple User is, "Ever see a virus on a Mac?" Well no, but also I have not had a virus or spyware on any of my PC's starting in 1998. Granted I use and keep updated, an anti-virus program and a soft firewall. Along with that I am behind a router. And I folow a few simple rules,

1. Never Ever Click On A Pop-Up Advertisement As These Load SpyWare/AdWare On Your Computer And Will Slow It Down Or Even Mess Up The Operating System. These Programs Can Also Make Connecting To The Internet Impossible.


2. Animated Cursors, Screen Savers, And Downloadable Desktop Themes May Look Cool, But These Also Load SpyWare/AdWare On Your Computer And Slow It Down Or Even Mess Up The Operating System. These Programs Can Also Make Connecting To The Internet Impossible.

3. Never Open An E-Mail From Somebody You Do Not Know Or An E-Mail From A Strange Looking Sender Address.

4. Never Open An E-Mail Attachment Without First Running A Virus Scan On It. Never Open An E-Mail Attachment That Has .vbs, .exe, .bat, Or .com as Part Of It’s Name. To Virus Check An E-Mail Attachment Right Click On It And Select “Scan With AVG.”

5. Never Use Peer To Peer (P2P) File Sharing Programs, Such As E-Mule, Gorkster, Kazza, WinMx, or Others For Downloading Music or Other Files. These Allow An Opening For Virus/Trojan Horse Infections, SpyWare/AdWare, An Other Things That Can Mess Up The Computer. Instead Use A Site Like www.allofmp3.com for music.

6. DO NOT DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL FREEWARE/SHAREWARE PROGRAMS As Many OF These Are Poorly Written Or Are Filled With SpyWare/AdWare.

7. A Lot Of The On-Line Game Channels Are SpyWare/AdWare Supported, So Try And Avoid Using Them. In Most Cases The Same Games Can Be Played At Websites Such As, www.addictinggames.com, www.fetchfido.com, or www.clevermedia.com without having to download anything.

8. Remember, Computers Are Nothing But Machines Which Use Numbers In Certain Sequences To Do Something And Anything That Changes These Numbers Will Require The Computer To Be Re-loaded From It’s Backup. Also Not Everybody On The Internet Is There To Enjoy It, Many People Just Want To Cause Other People Problems.

9. If What You Have On Your Computer Is Important, BACK IT UP!

The only reason that a virus or spyware gets on a computer is the owner invites it.

[rlmorel]

"What can PC makers learn from Apple?"

Apparently, everything. Read http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5675681.html

Hmm...does anyone find it interesting that places like zdnet commonly compare the current Mac OS with a version that is due out in 2007?

Would Ford ever compare their 2007 model with a 2005 Chrysler? But that is exactly what people in this industry do without even giving it a second thought.

Compare XP SP2 to OSX.

[SlowBoat407]

You can make a computer into more than a box of parts to tinker with. You can make it a lifestyle. Lifestyle sells. Ask Jimmy Buffett and Martha Stewart.

Make a quality product, blend it in with people who value some style and design, and don't try to be everything to everybody. You don't have to have 90% market share to make a nice little profit. All you need is a loyal niche market.

Got a flame? Keep it. I'm a Mac user and I'm trying to stay on the high road here.

[politicket]

For hardware tinkerers, sure. For software tinkerers, Macs are great: a full Unix layer and the Cocoa API for GUI apps.

Oh Great! I can program an application that 2% of the computer users in America will care about. I think that I will stick to the Microsoft .Net environment since I have a mortgage payment to make...

[Labyrinthos]

What can PC makers learn from Apple?

No one will waste their time writing a virus to attack an OS that commands only 2% of the market after 20 years in business.

[antiRepublicrat]

In Mac land, most systems' cases are harder to open

PowerMacs have had flip-open cases since the 90s. The G3/G4 was especially sweet, basically laying the whole motherboard wide-open right on your desk. These days, the PowerMac is flip open + pull out the airflow guides. The iMac is remove a screw and everything slides right off.

It's still not as easy to change memory or hard drives in most PC brands as it is in a Mac.

[azhenfud]

"What can PC makers learn from Apple?"

We can learn from others' mistakes???