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Am I the only one who is happy that Apple's user base may bet getting smaller?

I

iOSaddict

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 3, 2014
198
0
The title says it all. Sometimes I kinda wish that Apple's user base would shrink down a bit and that all the volatile users would just leave the platform for others. If those people are not happy enough to leave, chances are they will never be satisfied, and chasing after their fickle demands and market share and sales numbers would be the Archilles' heel for Apple.

Apple needs to streamline its user base. Focus on their core competencies, i.e. make top notch hardwares and post-sales customer service (which has not been that good IMO), develop softwares that complement the hardwares and maintain the infrastructure so that iOS and OS X will be the best place for developers to introduce their apps and new features.

Sure scaling back user base will decrease short-term revenues and profits. But it's healthier and more sustainable for the company in the long run. Every super power has their peak and subsequent demise. Making a smaller group of users happy and loyal is better than trying to please everyone.

Just my 2 cents. :cool:
 
B

businezguy

macrumors 6502
Jun 23, 2003
389
456
I'm not sure why you think apple's user base is shrinking, but you enjoy the parallel world you are living in.
 
J

joeblow7777

macrumors 604
Sep 7, 2010
7,185
9,028
What you're describing sounds exactly like what Apple is already doing. They've never chased after market share. That's why they don't put out "cheap" products. Their business model has always been to sell premium products that generate a high profit margin. Why worry about selling 100 phones if you make just as much profit selling 10?
 
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I

iPhone7ate9

macrumors 6502a
Jun 22, 2014
720
0
No. You're a fool if are ever 100% happy. you should always ask for more so they put more in the device.
 
triptolemus

triptolemus

macrumors 6502a
Apr 17, 2011
865
1,737
iOSaddict said:
Apple needs to streamline its user base. Focus on their core competencies, i.e. make top notch hardwares and post-sales customer service (which has not been that good IMO), develop softwares that complement the hardwares and maintain the infrastructure so that iOS and OS X will be the best place for developers to introduce their apps and new features.
Click to expand...

To whom will these developers introduce their new apps and new features? The shrinking user base? What in the world compels a developer to develop for a shrinking user base? I don't know either... I suppose we could ask RIM. To what level should Apple shrink its user base by moving to an increased amount of niche development? What amount of short-term revenue loss would be acceptable? (!)

It seems to me your thought process is somewhat flawed.
 
C

Camoxide

macrumors regular
Oct 6, 2013
119
24
England
No because developers will shift focus from iOS to android. Currently most apps are made for iOS then ported to android. a lot of the big games are also only available on iOS. That will change if the user base shrinks.
 
SpyderBite

SpyderBite

macrumors 65816
Oct 4, 2011
1,262
8
Xanadu
How much customer service do you need for a phone?

Unless you're referring to warranty service which is a completely different animal.
 
thatoneguy82

thatoneguy82

macrumors 68000
Jul 23, 2008
1,895
2
Beach Cities, CA
I don't understand this concept of wanting to shrink Apple's user base. In fact, I doubt that would ever happen (at least in the foreseeable future) and it probably grows with every iteration of the iPhone. Anyway, this makes me think that you may want Apple to be some sort of social "status symbol" - which I never get. Some people think they're "special" since they have a bunch of Apple hardware.
 
I7guy

I7guy

macrumors Nehalem
Nov 30, 2013
35,142
25,217
Gotta be in it to win it
Op, there is a forum called armchair CEO lurking around somewhere.. I believe the apple board if directors read, nay religiously adopt, the policies and wisdom posted by unsung masses of apple gurus.

People with your level of business acumen should be on the apple management team.
 
M

mantan

macrumors 68000
Nov 2, 2009
1,747
1,054
DFW
thatoneguy82 said:
I don't understand this concept of wanting to shrink Apple's user base. In fact, I doubt that would ever happen (at least in the foreseeable future) and it probably grows with every iteration of the iPhone. Anyway, this makes me think that you may want Apple to be some sort of social "status symbol" - which I never get. Some people think they're "special" since they have a bunch of Apple hardware.
Click to expand...

I think this is it. As the iPhone exploded in popularity, a group of people lamented seeing everybody from 10 year old kids to grandma using an iPhone. And somehow it made their device less 'special'.

I bet there is nobody at Apple who wants their user base to get smaller. The genius was not just getting you to believe you were buying a special luxury product and paying a massive premium to get it. The real genius (in the US) was getting the carriers to subsidize phones and make them accessible to people who weren't willing to drop $800 on a phone.
 
clukas

clukas

macrumors 6502a
May 3, 2010
990
401
Apple is a company. Companies are there to make profits. Apple will not do anything to reduce its customer base.
 
6

617aircav

Suspended
Jul 2, 2012
3,975
819
OP wants to feel special. The more people that use iPhones the less special he feels. Lol.
 
BeeGood

BeeGood

macrumors 68000
Sep 15, 2013
1,859
6,120
Lot 23E. Somewhere in Georgia.
Camoxide said:
No because developers will shift focus from iOS to android. Currently most apps are made for iOS then ported to android. a lot of the big games are also only available on iOS. That will change if the user base shrinks.
Click to expand...

This 100%

Apps and the things that they are able to do is what make the ecosystem. This is why few people are moving to windows phones even though they're not bad phones.
 
rui no onna

rui no onna

Contributor
Oct 25, 2013
14,907
13,233
mantan said:
I think this is it. As the iPhone exploded in popularity, a group of people lamented seeing everybody from 10 year old kids to grandma using an iPhone. And somehow it made their device less 'special'.
Click to expand...
To me, the fact that even my grandma can use it (for FaceTime, etc) is part of the appeal. I know plenty of people (mostly older non-techies) who won't even consider Android and go straight to the Apple Store come upgrade time because iPhones are easy to use and they've already become familiar with the iOS interface. :rolleyes:

mantan said:
I bet there is nobody at Apple who wants their user base to get smaller. The genius was not just getting you to believe you were buying a special luxury product and paying a massive premium to get it. The real genius (in the US) was getting the carriers to subsidize phones and make them accessible to people who weren't willing to drop $800 on a phone.
Click to expand...
True. However, I do find it frustrating how the presence of subsidies have artificially inflated smartphone prices until recently.
 
D

dishfan82

macrumors member
Jun 1, 2014
88
3
Well look at T-mobile. You have to pay full price for phones unless you participate in the Jump program. I would say for every 10 people I see with smartphones in their hands 8 out of 10 have an iPhone. The iPhone is the easiest phone to use.
 
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