(click picture for original article)by. Don Reisinger
summary
This article is about Apple and how the company has been very successful over the past couple of years. Apple has recently reached a milestone that could change the computing business for good: its U.S. laptop market share has reached 10.6 percent during the second quarter of 2008. Apple is very successful, and its popularity is growing each day. Years ago no one would have thought apple would have survived or even be on top of the technology industry as it is today.
How did this happen? Microsoft fans would say that apples success is all luck, but apple zealots would disagree saying that it has nothing to do with luck, that it is the knowledge of knowing what the people want.In reality, Apple's success in the computing market is the by-product of both skillful positioning and a healthy dose of luck.
Steve Jobs know what he's doing, he knows all the right buttons to press to make everyone happy. He realized that the industry did not address the consumers desires. He knew what it took to make apple the success it is today, and that was to make it more than just a computer company. Apple had to branch out, creating other products while maintaining its computer focus. It was a risk that paid off well.
On the other hand, it was the poor management of Apples competitors that allowed Apple to succeed. Microsoft, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, and other companies were all focused on the wrong markets. Some companies thought that Windows was all they need to attract consumers, but people are looking for devices that say something about them. And for quite some time, those consumers have been looking for beauty which Apple. Apple has always understood that and does its best to make its computers more elegant than its competitors. Other companies are just starting to. I think its pretty clear that many PC manufacturers have just been lazy. Microsoft has been lazy. Apple, on the other hand, has been pretty much the only company to even try to think outside the box and do anything innovative. From physical appearance, to user interface. They get it and are consistently pushing forward. They have also done a good job of making there products desirable.
One thing that's strange about apple is that people that start using Apple products have a sense of loyalty to them unlike any other computer brand. And it's that phenomenon that Apple uses to its advantage and what keeps the press coming back for more. And in turn, Apple's customers keep coming back for more too.
-Ronald Hudson
4 comments:
I am a PC user, not a close minded one mind you. I don't hate Apple for the sake of hating Apple, because it is different like many other PC's. I would agree that PC world is lazy. They haven't done anything new in a long time. I guess Windows tried with Vista, but many of the innovations within Vista are not user friendly and actually just make my computer harder to use. I recently used my sister's Apple laptop to do a project. I had to create a 10 min condensed presentation of an hour long interview using Garageband. Using Apple was not problem free as I have heard, but the problems I did come across were, either because of my ignorance of how to use an Apple, or easily resolved. Also PC users don't even have a program that can create and edit media nearly as easy as Garageband. Mac's have been geared towards me; whereas my PC's have remained the same for the entirety of my life. My next computer will be a Mac.
Apple's advertising campaign has also been very aggressive. Practically starting a war within the world of computers. I don't think PC users have much to defend besides status quo. Mac users are encouraged by change.
Apple's success is definitely a lot of innovation, skill, and the right time to let their products out. I just bought my first Macbook for college, but have used Mac's at school since I was in 6th grade. I have always had such an easy time using them. Apple makes their products colorful, individualized, and completely user-friendly. Apple knows what it's customers want, and how to change their products to please the mass population.
In my opinion, Apple's recent success is for two reasons: high quality products, and massively appealing advertisements.
iPods dominate the portable music world. For years now, they have been one step ahead of their competitors. This is evident with the iTouch and iPhone. In this aspect, they might deserve to be a the top of the industry because they literally have the most advanced products.
Apple is better than any other company right now when it comes to advertising. Their ads just make their company look so cool, as exemplified in the "Mac vs. PC" commercials most of us have seen. The PC is an old nerd who tries so hard. The Mac is young and relaxed; in a word, cool. Sure, he's a bit of a dork, but "geek chic" is what millions from our generation are striving for.
- Jordan Morsberger
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