[APPLE] "Switch" One Year Later: No One Switched

[TheInvincibleMustard]

Err ... do cars fall under the "General Hardware" category?

Anyway, I agree with LethalWolfe in this matter. Let's see some numbers based off of "Mac vs Dell" or things like that and see where the market share is. With regards to the inevitable arguement that follows from this (ie, Dell+Compaq+HP+...=Windows while Mac=OSX), why not compare Macs to Linux machines or SGI machines? There's a lot of overlapping between the three (graphical processing, etc.), but for some reason I get the feeling there's more Macs than SGIs out there in the consumer market ...

 

[Eug]

I'm comparing a Corolla CE automatic (which I drove for 2 weeks - 2002 model I think) vs. a Prius CVT. The continuous variable transmission really does help a lot over the automatic transmission, and feels nicer too - no automatic "jumps". (I learned stick, but I screwed up my shoulder so I can't drive it.)

Cruise control, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, power windows/locks and anti-theft system come stock on my (Canadian) Prius. Besides AM/FM/CD, there is also a tape deck and touch-screen control of the CD/radio/tape deck (as well as the ability to display messages from radio station on screen). If you're into that, you can monitor engine activity on the touch-screen too. The interior finish is better quality and there is better interior space. Keyless entry. Aluminum wheels. Climate control has electrical augmentation. Outside temp gauge. (All the above are stock.)

The handling on the Prius feels better than the Corolla, according to me, and my Jetta driving friends. (Doesn't handle as well as a Jetta though.) You should try driving one. You'd be pleasantly surprised. My friends were. That said, I'll probably end up getting a 2004 or 2005.

And plus, women seem to love this car. They always want to go for a ride... I even got a thumbs up from a young blonde (in a BMW) once, on the highway.

We should probably move this off topic soon...

 

[Go3iverson]

I, personally, am thrilled with the technologies Apple is implementing.

First off, to say that they're straying away from the PC is wrong. If you've used Mac OS 10.3 Panther, you'd know about the Active Directory implementation, as well as things like Kerberos. From being at WWDC, I can tell you that Kerberos is the pushed authentication scheme for the Mac platform. This may not be 100% new, but it's important. Things like single sign on and even including X11 in Panther further help integrate the Apple product into a PC environment.

The G5 is a beast. I've used high end x86 boxen and such, so my experience is not just Mac based. The G5 is extremely fast. I'm not going to get into any numbers, but you sit down at this thing and start working and you just know that it's extremely powerful. I'm sure we've all had that feeling.

I'd suspect that Apple will increase sales this quarter with the new G5 and probably a new PowerBook, iMac, iBook and such around the corner...with heavy emphasis on the PowerBook which, in the case of the 15" model, is now 9 months old. Couple that with Panther going gold and I'd expect an increase in sales. I'll tell ya Panther is really worth getting, it blows away 10.2 and under, even in Beta, though it has it's share of bugs in it's current state.

 

[BoberFett]

A Prius is a chick magnet? Canadian women must be REALLY hard up.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
A Prius is a chick magnet? Canadian women must be REALLY hard up.

HAHAHA, I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
A Prius is a chick magnet? Canadian women must be REALLY hard up.

It must be the granola in them. Hey, I'm not complaining.

 

[Paulson]

It doesn't surprise me their ad campaign failed... the ads were stupid and made it look like the users were idiots and only a kiddy OS like the mac's would do for them.

on the contrary, the spoof switch ads were funny, and truthful

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Bah... I wish they'd open up a bit more and bring their OS to the PC. Opening up won't hurt.... them atleast.

 

[glenn1]

That's a damn shame. Still though, i think the campaign generated the most buzz when this news story hit the web... one of Anandtech forums greatest hits

Since the google standings have changed since the time of that thread, here's what the top ranked link for the Google search for "stoned chick" was at the time.... Ellen Feiss "switch" ad

 

[0roo0roo]

thats too bad. increased competition would be good. pc makers seem to let apple do most of the innovation

 

[MadRat]

If Apple's Panther OS was AMD64 compatible does anyone think it would be marketable for $100 a pop like WinXP?

 

[AnImuS]

Originally posted by: MadRat
If Apple's Panther OS was AMD64 compatible does anyone think it would be marketable for $100 a pop like WinXP?

i would buy OSX over XP. = P

 

[Eug]

Originally posted by: MadRat
If Apple's Panther OS was AMD64 compatible does anyone think it would be marketable for $100 a pop like WinXP?

H3ll, I bought a whole new computer to use OS X. Seriously.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: MadRat
If Apple's Panther OS was AMD64 compatible does anyone think it would be marketable for $100 a pop like WinXP?

Sure; when bundled with the iApps, it's just as feature filled and stable as XP, so why wouldn't it be. I personally think it's better than XP, and could go for more than XP, but since selling it would kill Apple, it's a moot point anyhow.

 

[Paulson]

apple's whole livelyhood depends on selling the hardware with the software... if they sold just their OS they would lose money big time I think...

 

[Cadaver]

I think if Apple gets desparate enough, they'll sell the OS (unless they're bought by someone who has those plans, first).
Granted, it could be a looong time - if ever.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: Eug
I'm comparing a Corolla CE automatic (which I drove for 2 weeks - 2002 model I think) vs. a Prius CVT. The continuous variable transmission really does help a lot over the automatic transmission, and feels nicer too - no automatic "jumps". (I learned stick, but I screwed up my shoulder so I can't drive it.)

Cruise control, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, power windows/locks and anti-theft system come stock on my (Canadian) Prius. Besides AM/FM/CD, there is also a tape deck and touch-screen control of the CD/radio/tape deck (as well as the ability to display messages from radio station on screen). If you're into that, you can monitor engine activity on the touch-screen too. The interior finish is better quality and there is better interior space. Keyless entry. Aluminum wheels. Climate control has electrical augmentation. Outside temp gauge. (All the above are stock.)

The handling on the Prius feels better than the Corolla, according to me, and my Jetta driving friends. (Doesn't handle as well as a Jetta though.) You should try driving one. You'd be pleasantly surprised. My friends were. That said, I'll probably end up getting a 2004 or 2005.

And plus, women seem to love this car. They always want to go for a ride... I even got a thumbs up from a young blonde (in a BMW) once, on the highway.

We should probably move this off topic soon...

This is my last post on this matter since this is not OT

(1) You didn't drive a '03 Corolla. You drove a '02 model. BIG DIFFERENCE. The '02 model was based on a 5-year old platform. The '03 is an all new model which is significantly larger.
(2) All of those features that you mentioned about the Prius are in the quoted price of $15,076 for the Corolla LE except for automatic climate control and outside temperature guage and engine monitor (not important anyway on a gasoline engined car).
(3) Build quality. I've been in both, and the '03 Corolla is DEFINITELY ahead of the Prius in build quality and interior materials. Panel gaps are smaller and the plastics are of higher quality. Can you get leather in a Prius? Didn't think so. The Corolla is built to nearly the same specifications as Lexus models. I think the difference is obvious:

'03 Corolla LE interior
'03 Prius interior

Prius looks like a cheap Hyundai in comparison as far as the interior goes.

(4) Corolla LE comes with alloy 15" wheels.
(5) Interior space. The '03 Corolla LE is larger in EVERY interior dimension (except rear hip room) than the Prius including cargo capacity which it tops by over 2 cubes.

 

[bigpow]

Woohoo!

That's a good news to hear.

 

[bigpow]

(1) You didn't drive a '03 Corolla. You drove a '02 model. BIG DIFFERENCE. The '02 model was based on a 5-year old platform. The '03 is an all new model which is significantly larger.

HEY HEY...
My '98 CE is running solid and I'd stay with it if the only choice is a Prius!
Now I'd love to get the new '03 or '04 'rolla...
IMO Prius' nerdier and hippier (who cares about envi? synergy drive?)
Plus I hate the look of the front hood (what's up with the over-bevelled hood) and hunch-back overhang back-end with plastic deco on the C-pillar

 

[bjc112]

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
Poor Apple.

I think if their prices weren't SO high, they could pull a little bit of that market share back...

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: bjc112

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
Poor Apple.

I think if their prices weren't SO high, they could pull a little bit of that market share back...

Why doesn't anyone understand this? Their prices have stayed essentially the same for years. They will not lower prices. They are still in business because of the select group of people who are willing and able to buy their machines. That group is not going away. Apple is not going away. Their niche market serves them well, attempting to compete with $500 dells would not.

 

[ElFenix]

anyone know when the 04 prius is coming out?

 

[Sunner]

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: bjc112

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
Poor Apple.

I think if their prices weren't SO high, they could pull a little bit of that market share back...

Why doesn't anyone understand this? Their prices have stayed essentially the same for years. They will not lower prices. They are still in business because of the select group of people who are willing and able to buy their machines. That group is not going away. Apple is not going away. Their niche market serves them well, attempting to compete with $500 dells would not.

Still sad.

The G5 that would seem to make the most sense to me would be the 1.8 GHz, unfortunately it's $2.4K, that's just a tad too much.

Really sad, I'd love to have one, but I just can't justify that kind of money for one PC.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: Eug
I'm comparing a Corolla CE automatic (which I drove for 2 weeks - 2002 model I think) vs. a Prius CVT. The continuous variable transmission really does help a lot over the automatic transmission, and feels nicer too - no automatic "jumps". (I learned stick, but I screwed up my shoulder so I can't drive it.)

Cruise control, air conditioning, anti-lock brakes, power windows/locks and anti-theft system come stock on my (Canadian) Prius. Besides AM/FM/CD, there is also a tape deck and touch-screen control of the CD/radio/tape deck (as well as the ability to display messages from radio station on screen). If you're into that, you can monitor engine activity on the touch-screen too. The interior finish is better quality and there is better interior space. Keyless entry. Aluminum wheels. Climate control has electrical augmentation. Outside temp gauge. (All the above are stock.)

The handling on the Prius feels better than the Corolla, according to me, and my Jetta driving friends. (Doesn't handle as well as a Jetta though.) You should try driving one. You'd be pleasantly surprised. My friends were. That said, I'll probably end up getting a 2004 or 2005.

And plus, women seem to love this car. They always want to go for a ride... I even got a thumbs up from a young blonde (in a BMW) once, on the highway.

We should probably move this off topic soon...

This is my last post on this matter since this is not OT

(1) You didn't drive a '03 Corolla. You drove a '02 model. BIG DIFFERENCE. The '02 model was based on a 5-year old platform. The '03 is an all new model which is significantly larger.
(2) All of those features that you mentioned about the Prius are in the quoted price of $15,076 for the Corolla LE except for automatic climate control and outside temperature guage and engine monitor (not important anyway on a gasoline engined car).
(3) Build quality. I've been in both, and the '03 Corolla is DEFINITELY ahead of the Prius in build quality and interior materials. Panel gaps are smaller and the plastics are of higher quality. Can you get leather in a Prius? Didn't think so. The Corolla is built to nearly the same specifications as Lexus models. I think the difference is obvious:

'03 Corolla LE interior
'03 Prius interior

Prius looks like a cheap Hyundai in comparison as far as the interior goes.

(4) Corolla LE comes with alloy 15" wheels.
(5) Interior space. The '03 Corolla LE is larger in EVERY interior dimension (except rear hip room) than the Prius including cargo capacity which it tops by over 2 cubes.

not ot mention the 97-02 model was fugly!! corollas have been fugly for a long time, it seemed like a tradition finally fixed in 03

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

Originally posted by: Sunner

Originally posted by: BingBongWongFooey

Originally posted by: bjc112

Originally posted by: JetBlack69
Poor Apple.

I think if their prices weren't SO high, they could pull a little bit of that market share back...

Why doesn't anyone understand this? Their prices have stayed essentially the same for years. They will not lower prices. They are still in business because of the select group of people who are willing and able to buy their machines. That group is not going away. Apple is not going away. Their niche market serves them well, attempting to compete with $500 dells would not.

Still sad.

The G5 that would seem to make the most sense to me would be the 1.8 GHz, unfortunately it's $2.4K, that's just a tad too much.

Really sad, I'd love to have one, but I just can't justify that kind of money for one PC.

Yeah, I would like one just as much as you I'm sure, but it's just one of those things that I've accepted as being way out of my price range, at least for the foreseeable future. Can't get everything you want :/