A Disturbance in the Force: Apple, Inc.

I get the feeling that in my heart of hearts, steve is trying to run Apple out of the computer hardware business... and will continue to offer a line of machines designed by intel for a few more years... and thats it...

It did make me feel REALLY weird....

but, so did the '97 Keynote, when steve annouced that Apple was going to bed with MS, IE was going to be the default Mac browser, and the keynote guest was Bill Gates....

I don't think we'll see Macs disappear anytime soon. Apple selling its OS for generic PCs is a long-time rumour as older than OS X, and just isn't beneficial for Apple.

1) The Mac is still a profitable product and sales are rising. Apple knows the importance of product branding and dropping the Mac would - at least for the near future - seriously cripple Apple's image

2) The Mac is also an integral part of Apple's product strategy, as sales of one product are designed to complement sales of another. Buy an iPod? Look how well it works with a Mac. Buying the new ipod phone? Look how well it works with OS X - they're running the same OS even! Stream songs from your Mac to your iTV!

No, I don't think Apple would even consider making the Mac redundant by releasing a generic PC OS X version. I think the name change emphasizes Apple's position as a multi-product company.

I agree with you completely. There's no need to be sensational about Apple changing its name to, well, Apple.

Yeah, I know they won't do that, and why they won't. But the shift brings about mixed feelings I suppose. iPhone rocks one way or the other.

-- MJ

...'nuff said.

Next thing you know they'll be tearing down those cool signs with The Colonel on them and opening combination Apple Store/Taco Bells. Down with rebranding! :^b

--Peace

The naming switch is simply because Apple is becoming more of a consumer electronics company, instead of just a computer company. There's a reason the iPod, Airport Express/Extreme, and now Apple TV and iPhone are Windows-compatible: it allows Apple to sell more product. While Apple will, at least for a while, remain loyal to the Mac (iPods etc. generally work better on the Mac), I wouldn't be surprised if they decided to split the company -- one for consumer electronics (iPod included), and one for computers.

I don't see Apple selling the OS for generic PC's, however, I do see Apple working with intel to sell Mac logic boards and bring back clones. However, this is a good five years out from now.

I don't know, Apple spreading out and being more like Sony and MS with a diversified line isn't something I feel comfortable with. I'm one of those people who likes to buy products from companies who specialize in a given market. Canon for imaging equipment as an example. A diversified Apple will either be really really good, or completely horrible. Only time will tell.

On another note, I'm a littled miffed that the iPhone does not have HWR.

...clones will ever come back, at least not while Jobs is around. Remember that he was the one that killed clones in the first place. And OS X on PC will never happen either.

Apple's "new name" is not a big deal at all. It is simply a sign of their diversified interests signified by the release of Apple TV and the Phone. Not a big deal to us, just a symbolic big deal for them.

As far as the keynote is concerned: no big surprises. I will likely buy a Phone when they come out, since a nice OS X-based "smart" phone would be very cool, if it hashes out the way it looks like it will. As far as everything else...*snores*

/.rs put things in perspective best at times, here's a gem regarding possibly using an iPhone as a Wiimote standin: