Will apple stop making computers?

[sushi]

Switching reasons post

Thanks!

I enjoy hearing how folks switch over to the Mac.

Apple is riding a good wave right now. I hope it continues.

This is how the line-up will look like in the future:
iPad
iPad Pro
iPad Air

I would be curious to see the differences in these products.

What's your vision?

Apple is actually redefining the term "computer."

Interesting observation. I would tend to agree with this.

 

[KnightWRX]

Interesting observation. I would tend to agree with this.

Too bad it isn't true. Apple is not redefining the term computer when the term computer always meant things like your iPod and the iPad.

Computer is a very generic word meant to say a programmable device that takes input, processes it and provides output and storage.

 

[neil1980]

I think you're right about their strategy. I'm one of what must be a small minority who switched to Mac and have never owned or been slightly interested in any iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc.

Almost the same for me.

I did have an iPod though only had it connected to my car stereo... I never actually used it for listening to music on the go (other than through the car stereo obviously)

I'd say it had 0% impact on me getting a mac.... however getting the macbook did pretty much make my mind up to switch from windows mobile to an iPhone 3G

 

[AppleNewton]

well once the iOS devices stop needing to be connected to a computer and content is readily accessible anywhere at anytime (without a computer), then maybe theyll ween them off a bit...but honestly i dont see it anytime too soon.

 

[Alaerian]

Computer is a very generic word meant to say a programmable device that takes input, processes it and provides output and storage.

Well, technically a "computer" is a person who computes. =D

Okay, that was bad - don't hit me! =D

 

[drjsway]

Comments like this one and the person you were responding to are so disingenious. OS X and iOS already share much in the way of components. What they don't share, mostly the UI layer and a few higher level frameworks, they can't share because of the limitations of mobile devices or full sized "desktop" computers. Let's face it, Cocoa Touch and UIKit will never make for a good desktop experience.

How are they disingenuous? I quoted Steve Jobs himself saying that he thinks PCs have no future in the mainstream consumer market.

I would be curious to see the differences in these products.

What's your vision?

iPad Pro - faster, perhaps using something similar to Marvel's new tri-core ARM chip with near PS3 graphics. One model at 9.7", one model at 12".
iPad Air - under 1 pound. Maybe 6 hour battery life and slightly slower than regular iPad. 7" model available as well as 9.7".
iPad - will still be cheapest option (like the white MacBook). Will stay 9.7" and around 1.5 pounds.

So now we have three resolutions:

7" - 1024x768 - websites are usually designed with 1024 pixels across
9.7" - 1365x1024 - making websites perfect in portrait mode, displays full 720p
12" - 1920x1440 - displays full 1080p

Developers will have to deal with resolution and UI scaling for three different screens.

Now Apple will still make traditional PCs for people who still need "trucks". As these will exclusively be for the pro market, they will be limited to:

MacPro
MacBook Pro 15.4" and 17" only.

 

[KnightWRX]

How are they disingenuous? I quoted Steve Jobs himself saying that he thinks PCs have no future in the mainstream consumer market.

Comments like "the next version of OS X will be based off iOS". And how are they disingenious ? Well, read the post you replied to, it contained all the explanations. Do I really have to repeat myself ?

OS X and iOS share a lot of components already. What they don't share is a question of devices that are not compatible (small screen/touch input vs large screen keyboard/mouse input).

 

[drjsway]

Comments like "the next version of OS X will be based off iOS". And how are they disingenious ? Well, read the post you replied to, it contained all the explanations. Do I really have to repeat myself ?

You wrote "Comments like this one and the person you were responding to are so disingenious". I was the person he was responding to and I said nothing about the next version of OSX being based off of iOS so how was I disingenuous?

All I said was that iPad-like devices will replace traditional PCs in the mainstream consumer market, something that Steve Jobs said himself.

 

[benwizkid]

Very interesting discussion so far. I hope the iPads and things can do everthing a desktop OS can do before the scrap computers. Personally I wish apple made a midrange tower desktop which was upgradeable.

 

[ucfgrad93]

What do you think?


Revenue breakdown. 28% from the Mac, 34% from the iPhone, 14% from the iPad, 10% from the iPod.

They are still making a significant amount of revenue and profit off of their computers so I don't see them stopping anytime soon.

 

[KnightWRX]

You wrote "Comments like this one and the person you were responding to are so disingenious". I was the person he was responding to and I said nothing about the next version of OSX being based off of iOS so how was I disingenuous?

Some form of desktop iOS device

That's called a computer running Mac OS X.

 

[ohaithar]

When hell freezes. That's when they will stop.

 

[G4er?]

No they wont stop selling computers.

Honestly I think apple uses iDevices to lure people to their computer lineup. Everyone I know who switched to Mac, including myself, started with an iPod and like it so much we became "Apple curious"

I think you're right about their strategy. I'm one of what must be a small minority who switched to Mac and have never owned or been slightly interested in any iPod, iPad, iPhone, etc.

I started off with Apple computers back in 1992. And while I use a Windows machine at work I have a Mac at home. But I also don't have any of the iDevices. I'm current waiting for a new desktop Mac that I feel meets my needs and wants. Whether that product happens or not I don't know. But I'm not about to put any money into iDevices without having what for me is the most important component.

 

[Phormic]

Apple will make computers for as long as it's profitable for them to do so.

What I think you'll find however, is that the conventional keyboard and mouse computer will become increasingly marginalised into workhorse specialist industries such as the creative arts and film editing.

 

[Winni]

Do you think apple will forsake the macs and OSX to focus on their iDevices?

Not this year, but by 2015 (at the latest), Mac OS X will be history. Everybody who does not have tomatoes on their eyes can see it: Steve Jobs -is- betting the company on mobile Internet devices, the iTunes supply chain, advertisement services and, soon, various forms of "cloud" services for the mobile gadgets. There won't be a need anymore for Macintosh desktop computers in this scenario.

And please, spare me the "the iPad cannot run Photoshop" choir. While a lot of Mac users traditionally are users of high-end design software, the hundreds of millions of iPhone/iPod/iPad users - which are NOW Apple's cash cows - could not care less about something like Photoshop. Besides, I think we can expect iOS based desktop machines next year, and they will probably be powerful enough to run that sort of software. And if not - almost nobody will care.

Only one disclaimer: Since the United States are so far behind the rest of the world when it comes to high speed Internet, it might take a bit longer on your continent for this to happen. In Europe and Asia, the switch to cloud devices could happen much faster. Even in Africa WiMax and other fast wireless technologies are being deployed rapidly.

 

[iStudentUK]

Not this year, but by 2015 (at the latest), Mac OS X will be history. Everybody who does not have tomatoes on their eyes can see it: Steve Jobs -is- betting the company on mobile Internet devices, the iTunes supply chain, advertisement services and, soon, various forms of "cloud" services for the mobile gadgets. There won't be a need anymore for Macintosh desktop computers in this scenario.

This seems a reasonable scenario, although it is very hard to predict the future, even harder the future of technology.

Personally, I can see people becoming even more focused on smaller devices. iPhones on the go and iPads for browsing in the living room (or other equivalents). For the next few years 'proper' computers will still be needed (one example is job applications, many people send complex word documents with tick boxes and crazy formatting, not very tablet friendly). Although these desktop machines will take on a diminished role. Personally, when I stop needing to write essays for university and my MacBook is getting tired I can see my partner and I having an iPad each and a Mac mini, and that would still be more power than needed. Computers will become more scarce as tablets become more powerful, but may not disappear for many years, especially in business.

Apple will like their own ecosystem of iOS devices; however, for tablets to really take off all the different types are going to have to play nice. For tablets to become the primary interface people are going to want to know that they can transfer data easily. For the iPad that is going to mean greater autonomy and easy ways to transfer data iPad-to-iPad.

If we want to get technical it is inevitable that Apple will stop making computers. No company lasts forever! But I'm just being facetious.

 

[DouchGod]

Anyone remember the digital "Hub" speech Jobs gave a few years ago, the mac isn't going anywhere.

Do you think apple want you to use there iDevices on a windows platform, never.

Remember Jobs dream when he started apple was to defeat IBM.

If anything iDevices are making people more interested in OSX.

 

[Skuman]

Microsoft will never let Apple stop making computers. In the unlikely event that Apples computers start making losses, MS will invest in Apple again. That is, assuming that Linux stays at its current 1.5% browser market share.

 

[KnightWRX]

Besides, I think we can expect iOS based desktop machines next year, and they will probably be powerful enough to run that sort of software. And if not - almost nobody will care.

Uh ? Again this trite. We have had iOS based desktops for the last 10 years. They are called Macs.

Let me guess, they'll "port over" AppKit to iOS and make some customization to the display server so it can use a mouse ?

Again for the people who don't grasp it : Mac OS X and iOS already share a lot of under the hood componnents. Any iOS desktop would be futile as UIKit and Cocoa touch are not designed for desktop use, just like AppKit wasn't any good for the iPhone.

 

[leandroc76]

Intel does that, mate.

For now, who know's what the A4 will breed in a few years in the desktop arena.