To OP,
If somebody predicted the iPad 2 with dual processor and strange cover thingy just a few months ago, I would not have believed it. I have not been as stunned from Apple in coolness factor since original iPhone. There's so much on the local Bay Area news about iPad that they are not even mentioning SJ's health one bit. The guy looked skinny in iPad 2 release but news anchors didn't say anything from all the news reports I saw. iPad 2 is certainly turning heads.
So yes, come to think of it, Apple will stop making Macs (eventually) but even with the above graph from rdowns, which shows 80+% percent not coming from desktops/laptops, Apple Inc. had a huge quarter and several years, so even 20% percent revenue, and assuming computers cost more to design and make vs. revenue, then maybe 10% percent of net profit are from Macs.
But who would not want what is likely more than a billion from net profit from computers alone?
I try and stay open minded and see where 95% percent could be a number but I don't think that will be for several years, unless Apple does something really crazy with iPhone, iPod, and iPad. (yes, that could happen, too and all bets are off with what appears to be amazing iPad 2).
I will go out on a limb and say Macs stay relevant for at least another five years even though they comprise 20% percent of Apple's revenue (from above chart, though some quarters show computers closer to 30% percent).
iPad and it's thin and light idea will become a super device which will upend personal computers so it's just a matter of time. Just like I stopped buying watches b/c cell phone, I will probably drop Mac when iPad, or next gen iPad like device, fulfills all needs I have from a computer and/or device. And if I had iPhone, I would probably not use my inexpensive two year old digital camera. Technology merges and tends to kick out more expensive gear (thus dropping $200 dollar watches and $250 dollar digital cameras when something like an iPhone can fulfill those needs and others). If iPad ever puts MS Office on it, then I could actually consider ditching my laptops. But the iPad would have to be quad processor, hold 4 gigs of RAM, and be at least as fast as a Core 2 Duo before I would ditch my computer desktop, so that's why I think it will take a few years for Macs to stop being relevant.
There was a time when nobody could see past the great Apple IIe, so "the Mac" could one day get eaten up by a device of some sort, which will actually be a full functioned computer as small as a tablet that you could plug into a large LCD at home.
And what will stop Apple from calling a super-iPad a Mac if Apple really wanted to keep the Mac brand name?
If somebody predicted the iPad 2 with dual processor and strange cover thingy just a few months ago, I would not have believed it. I have not been as stunned from Apple in coolness factor since original iPhone. There's so much on the local Bay Area news about iPad that they are not even mentioning SJ's health one bit. The guy looked skinny in iPad 2 release but news anchors didn't say anything from all the news reports I saw. iPad 2 is certainly turning heads.
So yes, come to think of it, Apple will stop making Macs (eventually) but even with the above graph from rdowns, which shows 80+% percent not coming from desktops/laptops, Apple Inc. had a huge quarter and several years, so even 20% percent revenue, and assuming computers cost more to design and make vs. revenue, then maybe 10% percent of net profit are from Macs.
But who would not want what is likely more than a billion from net profit from computers alone?
I try and stay open minded and see where 95% percent could be a number but I don't think that will be for several years, unless Apple does something really crazy with iPhone, iPod, and iPad. (yes, that could happen, too and all bets are off with what appears to be amazing iPad 2).
I will go out on a limb and say Macs stay relevant for at least another five years even though they comprise 20% percent of Apple's revenue (from above chart, though some quarters show computers closer to 30% percent).
iPad and it's thin and light idea will become a super device which will upend personal computers so it's just a matter of time. Just like I stopped buying watches b/c cell phone, I will probably drop Mac when iPad, or next gen iPad like device, fulfills all needs I have from a computer and/or device. And if I had iPhone, I would probably not use my inexpensive two year old digital camera. Technology merges and tends to kick out more expensive gear (thus dropping $200 dollar watches and $250 dollar digital cameras when something like an iPhone can fulfill those needs and others). If iPad ever puts MS Office on it, then I could actually consider ditching my laptops. But the iPad would have to be quad processor, hold 4 gigs of RAM, and be at least as fast as a Core 2 Duo before I would ditch my computer desktop, so that's why I think it will take a few years for Macs to stop being relevant.
There was a time when nobody could see past the great Apple IIe, so "the Mac" could one day get eaten up by a device of some sort, which will actually be a full functioned computer as small as a tablet that you could plug into a large LCD at home.
And what will stop Apple from calling a super-iPad a Mac if Apple really wanted to keep the Mac brand name?
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