Apple: No Longer A Computer Company?

[drewdle]

In a little less than four years, Apple went from a computer company primarily to a company that sold 100 million iPhones. Given the number of iPads and iPhones selling, and the untold millions more with the new iPhone out, does Apple really need to care about their computer audience? We now make up a relatively small part of their business compared to the billions of dollars generated in mobile sales and the success of the Ap store.

Also, two hours into WWDC, nothing but the iPhone and iOS4 mentioned so far.

Thoughts? And no, this isn't an attempt to troll. I'm just noticing that, bereft as I am of an iPhone or iPad (though I do have an old Touch), I seem to be drifting further and further away from Apple's "target" audience. I still love their computers though.

EDIT: Keynote just ended! Nothing but the iPhone and iOS4? Seriously?

 

[belvdr]

This has been discussed many times. You can see it from the name of the company now.

 

[miles01110]

Old news, bud.

http://www.circleid.com/posts/steve_jobs_apple_is_a_mobile_device_company/
http://techcrunch.com/2010/02/23/tim-cook-apple-mobile-device-company/

 

[felt.]

what if I told you the iphone and ipad is a handheld computer...

 

[belvdr]

what if I told you the iphone and ipad is a handheld computer...

By that logic, so is Casio, because they make watches that make computations.

 

[felt.]

my logic is that a "computer" is something with an input device,a display,a cpu,a gpu, and audio output

 

[miles01110]

my logic is that a "computer" is something with an input device,a display,a cpu,a gpu, and audio output

So the Mac Pro and Mini aren't computers?

 

[drewdle]

I suppose it's old news. Just depressing is all. No new desktop announcements, no news on OS X 10.7, zip. While I won't say the iPhone and the iPad aren't great at what they do, it seems like a betrayal of the people that stuck with Apple through the first 30 years they weren't a "mobile devices company".

Some people are "mobile luddites" I suppose. I fit that description. I have no need for a cell, smartphone, etc. I communicate perfectly with a home phone and a computer. I may not be connected all the time, but then again, I don't find I need to be. I haven't made that a requirement in my life. The main things I do with technology are write (which the iPad and iPhone do not offer a great way to do, IMHO), edit and scan photos, and enjoy music and movies. When I'm on the go, I can read a book for entertainment (remember those?). My needs certainly aren't everyone's, but lots of people rely on Apple computers to do things the portable devices cannot. Shunning them doesn't seem very accommodating.

Sorry for clogging the forums needlessly. I hadn't thought to look for another thread on the subject.

 

[felt.]

So the Mac Pro and Mini aren't computers?

you wont be doing much computing unless its hooked up to a display silly.

 

[Mord]

you wont be doing much computing unless its hooked up to a display silly.

So my server isn't a computer?

 

[belvdr]

you wont be doing much computing unless its hooked up to a display silly.

What about SSH? Does that count? If not, then I have a ton of HP SuperDomes that aren't computers.

And what GPU does the iPad have?

 

[nick9191]

I think the day they changed their name from Apple Computer Inc. to Apple Inc. at MW 2007 was the last possible day you could have formed this opinion without sounding a bit thick.

 

[felt.]

last time I checked to ssh into your server required some type of display, no one said the display device had to be local or remote

 

[drewdle]

I think the day they changed their name from Apple Computer Inc. to Apple Inc. at MW 2007 was the last possible day you could have formed this opinion without sounding a bit thick.

Point taken. We all have our moments.

 

[miles01110]

last time I checked to ssh into your server required some type of display, no one said the display device had to be local or remote

Now you're just trying to bail water out of your sinking ship of an argument. In good humor, of course.

 

[belvdr]

last time I checked to ssh into your server required some type of display, no one said the display device had to be local or remote

But what if I don't SSH into it, and daemons are running in the background? That means it's only a computer when someone connects to it somehow. Can someone please login to my 'Domes? I need them to be computers ASAP.

 

[spinnerlys]

my logic is that a "computer" is something with an input device,a display,a cpu,a gpu, and audio output

input device = multi-touch display
display = display
CPU = CPU
GPU = integrated into the CPU (I guess, look at IGP)
audio output = speaker and headphone jack and Dock

 

[FX120]

my logic is that a "computer" is something with an input device,a display,a cpu,a gpu, and audio output

If you scratch out GPU, the casio watch still falls into your definition of "computer"...

 

[Unspeaked]

Such a tired topic. We've been having this discussion for years.

Apple is as much a computer company as Sony is. Which is to say: a little bit but not a whole lot.

 

[rdowns]

In a little less than four years, Apple went from a computer company primarily to a company that sold 100 million iPhones. Given the number of iPads and iPhones selling, and the untold millions more with the new iPhone out, does Apple really need to care about their computer audience? We now make up a relatively small part of their business compared to the billions of dollars generated in mobile sales and the success of the Ap store.

That's 100 million iPhones/iPod touches/iPads. And their computer business still represents almost a third of their revenue. Apple is still a computer company, maybe not the one you want, but one none the less.

Also, two hours into WWDC, nothing but the iPhone and iOS4 mentioned so far.

And we knew this going in.

Thoughts? And no, this isn't an attempt to troll. I'm just noticing that, bereft as I am of an iPhone or iPad (though I do have an old Touch), I seem to be drifting further and further away from Apple's "target" audience. I still love their computers though.

EDIT: Keynote just ended! Nothing but the iPhone and iOS4? Seriously?

Apple's target audience grew. I don't get where peope feel Apple owes them something.

 

[KeriJane]

Of Course Apple is a Computer Company!

They make some of the best computers out there.

Just because they've decided to put a little emphasis on the extremely lucrative mobile devices market doesn't mean that they're dropping the ball on Desktop and Laptop computers.

Just look at where they are relative to anyone else:

Does anyone else have anything close to a MacBook Pro? Not just by the "numbers" on paper.... does anyone else make an all-aluminum work of art with a stunning display and 10 hour battery? As well as the ONLY Mainstream NON-Windows OS? BTW, Wasn't the MBP just updated with the longer battery life and faster CPUs?

Desktops? Since when is an i7 desktop out of date? Or an 8-core Nehalem Xeon? Maybe they will be someday soon but they'll probably be updated before then.
In the meantime, where else are you going to go? A Red Hat Dell? or a Win 7 HP? Why not stop by eMachines? Maybe they've got a Mac Pro Killer.

Maybe the BOTTOM - END Mac Mini could stand an update but it is the Entry Level Mac Desktop so.... what's the rush?

Apple could make NO updates for a year and not lose a lot of sales.
But we all know that the next killer Mac is out there just waiting for us to buy the old one before coming out.

Nothing wrong with the current lineup for now.....
Now maybe if there's no changes by New Years.... That might be cause for wonder.


Have Fun,
Keri

 

[belvdr]

Take a look at when the updates have come out. They are getting longer and longer across all product lines. The Mac Pro was last updated in 3/2009, and 1/2008 before that.

I believe Jobs even made a comment once about having to pull people from one team to beef up another in order to maintain schedule.

So, they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

 

[yg17]

Take a look at when the updates have come out. They are getting longer and longer across all product lines. The Mac Pro was last updated in 3/2009, and 1/2008 before that.

I believe Jobs even made a comment once about having to pull people from one team to beef up another in order to maintain schedule.

So, they are robbing Peter to pay Paul.

And I hate to say it, but I'm really wondering why my next computer should be a Mac if they're not going to bother keeping them up to date with the newest hardware. It's a big premium to pay for something that's obsolete when you buy it.

 

[Marty Macfly]

Funny. I just said this in another thread.

January 8, 2007: Apple Computer Inc.
January 9, 2007: Apple Inc.

They already have. They stopped caring about computers three years ago.

 

[leekohler]

Apple's target audience grew. I don't get where peope feel Apple owes them something.

No one thinks they're owed anything. A lot of people think Apple is not doing what they could with regard to their computers. I would be one of them. Judging from Apple's past, this would seem to be true. They are simply not updating their computer products or OS like they used to.