A Disturbance in the Force: Apple, Inc.

11 posts / 0 new
Last post
Macinjosh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 5 months ago
Joined: Feb 12 2004 - 13:05
Posts: 212
A Disturbance in the Force: Apple, Inc.

Y'know, today when there was practically zero mention of the Mac itself in the keynote, the same keynote that ended with, "oh yeah we're Apple, Inc. and not Apple Computer, Inc." I felt... odd.

Pretty much exactly the same odd feeling I got when the Intel switch was announced.

Seems to me I remember reading someplace (paraphrased) "Steve was more excited about this than unveiling the Macintosh."
Anybody see that too?

Now I'm really, really getting the feeling there will be more to the drop of the word "computer" than in name only... I almost half expected to read "One More Thing: OS X for PCs, to be on the shelves next to all our other toys."

My Spider Sense is going Defcon 342534565656.

Whatcha think?

-- MJ

Offline
Last seen: 1 year 2 months ago
Joined: Sep 23 2005 - 13:29
Posts: 316
i agree...

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....

eeun's picture
Offline
Last seen: 1 year 1 day ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1895
I don't think we'll see Macs

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.

moosemanmoo's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 3 months ago
Joined: Aug 17 2004 - 15:24
Posts: 686
I agree with you completely.

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

Macinjosh's picture
Offline
Last seen: 4 years 5 months ago
Joined: Feb 12 2004 - 13:05
Posts: 212
Re: I don't think we'll see Macs

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.

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

astro_rob's picture
Offline
Last seen: 9 years 4 weeks ago
Joined: Mar 19 2005 - 12:28
Posts: 320
...Apple, Inc. & The Apple TV

...'nuff said.

Eudimorphodon's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 months 3 weeks ago
Joined: Dec 21 2003 - 14:14
Posts: 1207
Bah.

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

Dr. Webster's picture
Offline
Last seen: 18 hours 3 min ago
Joined: Dec 19 2003 - 17:34
Posts: 1747
The naming switch is simply b

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.

iantm's picture
Offline
Last seen: 3 years 2 weeks ago
Joined: Apr 2 2005 - 14:01
Posts: 709
Mac OS X on beige boxes ...

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.

Offline
Last seen: 15 years 9 months ago
Joined: May 26 2004 - 11:18
Posts: 140
OK, There's no way...

...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*

Jon
Jon's picture
Offline
Last seen: 12 years 10 months ago
Joined: Dec 20 2003 - 10:38
Posts: 2804
/.rs put things in perspectiv

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

The last thing you want to do is throw your $500 controller for the $400 console at your $2000 plasma.

http://apple.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=215930&cid=17527934

Log in or register to post comments