How long until Apple is bigger than Microsoft?

[QueBert]

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: Kaido
Although, I would have to say Apple has a fair chance of getting a lot of NEW users with a price drop. They did it with the iPhone - they introduced it at $600, got the market talking, and a year later chopped the price to $199 and made it more awesome. Suddenly it's affordable and attractive to everyone - 3D, GPS, flush headphone jack, etc. Right now their hardware prices are ridiculous - $1300 for a 13" laptop, $2000 for a 15" laptop? One of these days they may come out and drop the prices and snag the market, just like the iPhone - get the market talking, then BOOM gobble it up. If they sold Mac Minis for $299 and Macbook Airs for $799, I think pretty much everyone buyng a new computer (consumer-wise) would own a Mac. Those two machines fill most consumer needs, i.e. Word, Internet, E-Mail.

Now Apple just needs to buy VMware Fusion or Parallels and integrate it with OS X - they already offer free data transfer when you buy a new Mac, so why not directly into a VM so you can keep all your files intact? Throw in a free copy of Office for Mac and slash the prices and everyone is happy

More attractive sure, but where is: MMS, copy/paste, Java, and many other features that are standard on smartphones?

Apple advanced the interface and the market with a great new phone, but took 2 steps back in the features department.

huh? I had 2 smartphones and neither did cut/paste or had Java. How are those standard when MOST smartphones don't have them? I think you're mistaking what a FEW phones have for what you believe every phone has.

and to LS8, you are right, but if you go to a lot of Best Buys they have a big ass Apple section. And honestly at the one by me they push Apple computers over PC's. I notice every time I go into the computer section an Apple person is out and anxious to help me.

I think this is why MS is investing to much in hiring these "Windows Guru's" and putting them in stores where Apple is selling. I was at BB yesterday and watched 2 mac's get sold. So Apple is making ground, even if it's not enough to concern MS.

 

[Modular]

LoL. Apple is a fad. Nothing more, nothing less...well maybe less.

 

[LS8]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: Kaido
Although, I would have to say Apple has a fair chance of getting a lot of NEW users with a price drop. They did it with the iPhone - they introduced it at $600, got the market talking, and a year later chopped the price to $199 and made it more awesome. Suddenly it's affordable and attractive to everyone - 3D, GPS, flush headphone jack, etc. Right now their hardware prices are ridiculous - $1300 for a 13" laptop, $2000 for a 15" laptop? One of these days they may come out and drop the prices and snag the market, just like the iPhone - get the market talking, then BOOM gobble it up. If they sold Mac Minis for $299 and Macbook Airs for $799, I think pretty much everyone buyng a new computer (consumer-wise) would own a Mac. Those two machines fill most consumer needs, i.e. Word, Internet, E-Mail.

Now Apple just needs to buy VMware Fusion or Parallels and integrate it with OS X - they already offer free data transfer when you buy a new Mac, so why not directly into a VM so you can keep all your files intact? Throw in a free copy of Office for Mac and slash the prices and everyone is happy

More attractive sure, but where is: MMS, copy/paste, Java, and many other features that are standard on smartphones?

Apple advanced the interface and the market with a great new phone, but took 2 steps back in the features department.

huh? I had 2 smartphones and neither did cut/paste or had Java. How are those standard when MOST smartphones don't have them? I think you're mistaking what a FEW phones have for what you believe every phone has.

and to LS8, you are right, but if you go to a lot of Best Buys they have a big ass Apple section. And honestly at the one by me they push Apple computers over PC's. I notice every time I go into the computer section an Apple person is out and anxious to help me.

I think this is why MS is investing to much in hiring these "Windows Guru's" and putting them in stores where Apple is selling. I was at BB yesterday and watched 2 mac's get sold. So Apple is making ground, even if it's not enough to concern MS.

Hell my old Treo 650 running Palm OS had cut/paste/jave support. Hell my crappy cell phone from 2002 has java support!

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: Kaido
Although, I would have to say Apple has a fair chance of getting a lot of NEW users with a price drop. They did it with the iPhone - they introduced it at $600, got the market talking, and a year later chopped the price to $199 and made it more awesome. Suddenly it's affordable and attractive to everyone - 3D, GPS, flush headphone jack, etc. Right now their hardware prices are ridiculous - $1300 for a 13" laptop, $2000 for a 15" laptop? One of these days they may come out and drop the prices and snag the market, just like the iPhone - get the market talking, then BOOM gobble it up. If they sold Mac Minis for $299 and Macbook Airs for $799, I think pretty much everyone buyng a new computer (consumer-wise) would own a Mac. Those two machines fill most consumer needs, i.e. Word, Internet, E-Mail.

Now Apple just needs to buy VMware Fusion or Parallels and integrate it with OS X - they already offer free data transfer when you buy a new Mac, so why not directly into a VM so you can keep all your files intact? Throw in a free copy of Office for Mac and slash the prices and everyone is happy

More attractive sure, but where is: MMS, copy/paste, Java, and many other features that are standard on smartphones?

Apple advanced the interface and the market with a great new phone, but took 2 steps back in the features department.

huh? I had 2 smartphones and neither did cut/paste or had Java. How are those standard when MOST smartphones don't have them? I think you're mistaking what a FEW phones have for what you believe every phone has.

and to LS8, you are right, but if you go to a lot of Best Buys they have a big ass Apple section. And honestly at the one by me they push Apple computers over PC's. I notice every time I go into the computer section an Apple person is out and anxious to help me.

I think this is why MS is investing to much in hiring these "Windows Guru's" and putting them in stores where Apple is selling. I was at BB yesterday and watched 2 mac's get sold. So Apple is making ground, even if it's not enough to concern MS.

He's an idiot - I don't know, I've managed pretty well with no copy and paste on my iPhone. I honestly used c+p once or twice in the year I had my Centro and the other year of having my 750wp. Hell, getting Java to work on POS was a PITA and don't even talk about running Java on WM.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Modular
LoL. Apple is a fad. Nothing more, nothing less...well maybe less.

As a fad, Apple has a lot more longevity than the pet rock, which coincidentally began and ended its life shortly before Apple began its life as a fad. Even if the Apple fad started with the iPod, that's a really long time as far as fads go.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Modular
LoL. Apple is a fad. Nothing more, nothing less...well maybe less.

As a fad, Apple has a lot more longevity than the pet rock, which coincidentally began and ended its life shortly before Apple began its life as a fad. Even if the Apple fad started with the iPod, that's a really long time as far as fads go.

Apple invented the pet rock.

The iRock.

Also, Modular is stupid.

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: Special K

Originally posted by: LegendKiller
The idea that you should compare cash vs cash is just stupid, especially considering MSFT gives back, per year, almost as much cash as APPL currently as on hand. It does so because it runs out of projects to invest the cash at a good rate of return, despite earning ROE and ROA far higher than Apple.

Of what benefit is it to MSFT (or any company really) to pay back its profits to shareholders in the form of dividends? I understand how a company could not have any projects to invest the cash in that would give a good rate of return, but why do they not just save the money? What benefit is there to paying it out as dividends? Also, why wouldn't they invest that money in their Zune project, considering it doesn't seem to be doing particularly well?

It's a serious question - I'm just curious how this works.

Because investors want a return on their investment.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: LS8

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus

Originally posted by: Kaido
Although, I would have to say Apple has a fair chance of getting a lot of NEW users with a price drop. They did it with the iPhone - they introduced it at $600, got the market talking, and a year later chopped the price to $199 and made it more awesome. Suddenly it's affordable and attractive to everyone - 3D, GPS, flush headphone jack, etc. Right now their hardware prices are ridiculous - $1300 for a 13" laptop, $2000 for a 15" laptop? One of these days they may come out and drop the prices and snag the market, just like the iPhone - get the market talking, then BOOM gobble it up. If they sold Mac Minis for $299 and Macbook Airs for $799, I think pretty much everyone buyng a new computer (consumer-wise) would own a Mac. Those two machines fill most consumer needs, i.e. Word, Internet, E-Mail.

Now Apple just needs to buy VMware Fusion or Parallels and integrate it with OS X - they already offer free data transfer when you buy a new Mac, so why not directly into a VM so you can keep all your files intact? Throw in a free copy of Office for Mac and slash the prices and everyone is happy

More attractive sure, but where is: MMS, copy/paste, Java, and many other features that are standard on smartphones?

Apple advanced the interface and the market with a great new phone, but took 2 steps back in the features department.

huh? I had 2 smartphones and neither did cut/paste or had Java. How are those standard when MOST smartphones don't have them? I think you're mistaking what a FEW phones have for what you believe every phone has.

and to LS8, you are right, but if you go to a lot of Best Buys they have a big ass Apple section. And honestly at the one by me they push Apple computers over PC's. I notice every time I go into the computer section an Apple person is out and anxious to help me.

I think this is why MS is investing to much in hiring these "Windows Guru's" and putting them in stores where Apple is selling. I was at BB yesterday and watched 2 mac's get sold. So Apple is making ground, even if it's not enough to concern MS.

Hell my old Treo 650 running Palm OS had cut/paste/jave support. Hell my crappy cell phone from 2002 has java support!

PalmOS Java support is buggy at best, never was reliable.

 

[sammyunltd]

Didn't Microsoft want to buy Research in Motion a couple of weeks ago, did they?

 

[SoundTheSurrender]

Originally posted by: Modular
LoL. Apple is a fad. Nothing more, nothing less...well maybe less.

Yeah ok buddy.

 

[BlahBlahYouToo]

Originally posted by: LtPage1
Never. I'm a die-hard Mac guy, always have been, and I don't ever want it to happen. A huge part of why Apple's entire product line is head and shoulders above everyone else is because we're still more or less a niche segment.

lol.
typical elitist apple fanboy-ism.

 

[bunnyfubbles]

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: foghorn67
Apple basically made the MP3 player mainstream. However, they aren't immune to a surprise hit that will knock them out of King of handheld devices title.
Apple dominating in computers or software? Never.
I keep hearing too much about how good .NET is.

it's doubtful anyone could ever overturn Apple in the handheld device market. I know some people with Zunes, a few with Sandisk mp3 players and a few with Creative. I know 25 times as many with iPods. And here is the kicker, of the non iPod people I mentioned, all have a single player. Which is pretty normal right? Well I know about hummm... 15 people personally who have 2 or more iPods. My neighbor has 3 different iPods, mind you he didn't buy the 2nd when the 1st broke, all work and his oldest is the iPod video which isn't even that old. I know one person who has 2 Touches (same size) and I know one person who has 3 regular iPods and a Mini. I also know a few people who have both a Touch and an iPhone. I don't understand why, but Apple people tend to be excessive with their purchases.

I'm sure while these examples aren't the normal, I can only imagine there are a remarkable number of people who do own multiple ipods. On the flip side, I can't think of one person I've ever spoke to who owns 2 different Zunes or Zens. Apple's strong hold on the mp3 market is basically the hand held equivalent of Windows. It's to the point people don't have mp3 players they have "iPods"

Right, and as someone already pointed out, before mp3s where people have iPods, they had Walkmans...

With mp3 players turning more and more into multi media players, there is just as good of a chance for someone to take (or retake) the crown from Apple. Sony with the PSP for instance...all they need to do is shrink it down and open it up a bit more, throw in a touch screen and bam...heck, even Nintendo has a shot, or even Microsoft.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: foghorn67

Originally posted by: ViviTheMage

Originally posted by: Kaido
As an Apple fanboy, never. Bill Gates won because he embedded his system into the universe. EVERYONE grew up on Windows. EVERYONE knows how to use Windows. Countless businesses rely on Windows-only apps, servers, and desktop systems. It's too ingrained in our tech culture to change. Won't happen, ever.

How wrong you are...I grew up with apple PC's, and I now use MS PC's because Apple PC blows...

True. When I was a kid, PC's were the price of brand new small cars. Apples were in classrooms. I used Apple growing up.
Now, I don't have a use for anything Apple.

Bah, you know what I mean. Microsoft has been embedded in the tech and business world, as well as consumer's homes, for the last 20 years. I grew up with Apple systems in school too, but that was in the 80's.

 

[Kaido]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: QueBert

Originally posted by: DisgruntledVirus


More attractive sure, but where is: MMS, copy/paste, Java, and many other features that are standard on smartphones?

Apple advanced the interface and the market with a great new phone, but took 2 steps back in the features department.

huh? I had 2 smartphones and neither did cut/paste or had Java. How are those standard when MOST smartphones don't have them? I think you're mistaking what a FEW phones have for what you believe every phone has.

and to LS8, you are right, but if you go to a lot of Best Buys they have a big ass Apple section. And honestly at the one by me they push Apple computers over PC's. I notice every time I go into the computer section an Apple person is out and anxious to help me.

I think this is why MS is investing to much in hiring these "Windows Guru's" and putting them in stores where Apple is selling. I was at BB yesterday and watched 2 mac's get sold. So Apple is making ground, even if it's not enough to concern MS.

He's an idiot - I don't know, I've managed pretty well with no copy and paste on my iPhone. I honestly used c+p once or twice in the year I had my Centro and the other year of having my 750wp. Hell, getting Java to work on POS was a PITA and don't even talk about running Java on WM.

I'd rather have Landscape Email than Copy-Paste. I don't really see myself using Copy-Paste...ever. It'd be a nice feature to have, but I too live just fine without it.

I do miss MMS. I think it's retarded that they didn't include it. People send me pix all the time and I'll never, ever see them :|

That's always the case with Apple - one step forward, two steps back. Hey, they didn't give us a 12" Powerbook replacement, but they did give us a 13" Macbook with Nvidia graphics - oops, no Firewire. No Matte screen option for photography professionals.