Google

[Leisher]

Making money, but in trouble?

Interesting article.

[thibodeaux]

Google has some extremely smart people, and a single extremely profitable product that allows them to do all kinds of fun stuff.

In other words, they're Microsoft.

Game, set, and match.

[Leisher]

Actually, Apple is the same way. Their entire business is based on the iPhone and iPad. It's been proven in the past that they can't stay afloat based on the Mac alone.

So if Microsoft Windows 8 does indeed make mobile computing/phones a no brainer decision for corporations, bye bye Apple.

Unless they're counting on another random guy walking in and saving their business with an idea another company turned down.



Edited By Leisher on 1332962568

[thibodeaux]

So if Microsoft Windows 8 does indeed make mobile computing/phones a no brainer decision for corporations, bye bye Apple.

That's a big "if."

[Leisher]

So if Microsoft Windows 8 does indeed make mobile computing/phones a no brainer decision for corporations, bye bye Apple.

That's a big "if."

No argument here.

However, if I was running Apple, I'd already be plotting out new courses of action if my company suddenly starting losing the business market because consumers will follow their lead.

[GORDON]

I think as long as New York City and San Francisco exist, there will always be millions of people buying Apple products.

[Cakedaddy]

I don't get what you are saying there. Are you saying that if businesses stop buying Apple products, the general consumer will too? If so, no way. Businesses are buying Apple stuff because their employees (the general consumer) are making them. They want the iphone and ipad. From a business/IT standpoint, Android kicks IOSes ass, in my opinion. Or Blackberry for that matter. Granted, I'm a pretty small company, but getting my iphone integrated into my systems was WAY harder than my Android. In fact, I switched to Android because I COULDN'T get my iphone fully integrated. Standing in the store, using one of their display phones, I fully integrated the Android into my systems. And right there on the spot, I knew my next phone was going to be an Android. Then I deleted my account info of course. Then it came down to picking which one I wanted. Big screen, little screen, dual core CPU, etc, etc. Apple makes toys. Blackberry are business devices, Android goes both ways.

So, anyway, businesses moving away from Apple wouldn't kill Apple. Not by a long shot.

[TPRJones]

I switched to Android because I COULDN'T get my iphone fully integrated.

That's what they are saying. If Windows 8 is as slick as Microsoft hopes it is, then you'll see more iphone folks that wouldn't have switched to Android consider it because Windows 8 is what they now know and will use. It's a much smaller step, and one many might consider.

IF Win 8 is slick enough.

[Leisher]

Blackberry are business devices

BB used to make business devices, and still do, except all of their clients are back in 2004.

That's what they are saying. If Windows 8 is as slick as Microsoft hopes it is, then you'll see more iphone folks that wouldn't have switched to Android consider it because Windows 8 is what they now know and will use. It's a much smaller step, and one many might consider.

IF Win 8 is slick enough.

Exactly.

Go dig up the Windows 8 thread Cake. All this stuff is discussed in detail there.

[Cakedaddy]

I still don't see people not buying Apple products. No matter what is released or what it does, Apple will be better. Period. Saying that anything is better than Apple is like saying the global warming is a myth.

Windows will never become the status symbol that Apple products are. People don't buy iphones because they are really good at what they do. They buy them because that's what everyone else has and they are cool. Windows will never be cool.

[Leisher]

I still don't see people not buying Apple products. No matter what is released or what it does, Apple will be better. Period. Saying that anything is better than Apple is like saying the global warming is a myth.

Windows will never become the status symbol that Apple products are. People don't buy iphones because they are really good at what they do. They buy them because that's what everyone else has and they are cool. Windows will never be cool.

1. Macs are the same type of status symbol for smug dickheads everywhere (very popular with liberals, artists, Hollywood, etc.). Their market share prior to their "I'm a PC, and I'm a Mac" campaign was 8%. During the campaign it was 10%. Now it's back to 8%.

2. To overlook the power of what people use at work is folly. Despite Apple giving schools for Macs for decades, they still couldn't beat out Microsoft whose OS filled 98% of work places on the planet.

3. MOST companies dictate what technology will be used, not users. You've made the mistake of believing users have driven Apple products into workplaces, however that's simply not true. Let's look at the facts:
1. There are four options when it comes to phones: iPhones, BBs, Windows 7, and Droid.
2. BB is a dead man walking. They were huge because they were the first to the market, however technology and market demand went right by them without them noticing. When they finally did look up, they announced to the world that they'd catch up by standing pat. Bye bye BB!
3. Windows 7 is fine, however it's missing a few key features, and honestly seems to have been dropped by manufacturers and Microsoft in anticipation of Windows 8.
4. Droid is open architecture software. That's a huge strike, and why a lot of businesses are avoiding it. We've seen this before with Linux, so I'm surprised anyone didn't see this coming. They're still a big player in the consumer market, but they are shrinking despite better technology.
5. That leaves the iPhone with its terrible signal, 95% reliance on third party apps to do anything, proprietary software and hardware, incompatibility issues, etc.

The iPhone is winning because they're the best option at the moment in a sea of bad choices.

If these were women:

BB = Helen Mirren - Attractive and serviceable, but old.

Droid = Lindsay Lohan - Hot, but has lots of issues

Windows 7 Phone = Kate Beckinsale - Hot, but seems to have been forgotten. (Why doesn't she get more roles? She's crazy hot and can act.)

iPhone = Drew Barrymore - Attractive, and at times has what you want, but relies a LOT on others to make her look good. Has a much better reputation than her performance warrants. Still, she's younger than Helen, you won't catch anything like you would with Lindsay, and...what was that other one again? You know, the one that's looks great, and does everything Drew does, but is on better looking hardware only it's harder to find...dammit, I can never remember. Screw it, just give me the iPhone.

[thibodeaux]

Just one observation on Apple products at work:
1. Our company used to give just about everybody a 'berry. Then came The Crash, and money got tight, and they pretty much took them all away. Now most people have their personal smartphones and use them for company email. And most of them are using iPhones.
2. There are at least 3 engineers (ENGINEERS!) here who BOUGHT THEIR OWN Macs to use for work.

[Cakedaddy]

The Ipod saved Apple. Then they made it into a phone. Then they made it into a tablet. These are toys that people are buying regardless of work. They are making up reasons at work so that work buys them. Did you have a legitimate business reason for yours? "testing" doesn't count. We all know what that means.

[GORDON]

I'd say the iMac saved Apple.

iPod, and the subsequent bitch-slapping of the music industry, launched them into the stratosphere.

[thibodeaux]

Did you have a legitimate business reason for yours? "testing" doesn't count. We all know what that means.

Me? Or "you" in general? Because I don't have any kind of smart-phone.

[Leisher]

Apple was saved twice.

First, Microsoft saved them with a $150 million gift that MS was hoping would prevent the feds from calling them a monopoly.

Then, Realplayer saved Apple again by telling the guy who invented the iPod and iTunes to go fuck himself.

Did you have a legitimate business reason for yours?

Yes. I legitimately use it instead of a laptop for travel, but that's only because it's easier to carry this, then to carry a laptop and some DVDs. I also take it to meetings and take notes on it.

They are making up reasons at work so that work buys them.

I know of two managers here who have them simply to access their email and approve expense reports for their 2-3 employees...monthly.

"testing" doesn't count. We all know what that means.

My iPad is loaded with games, my kids use it constantly for netflix, and I watch it every night as I drift off to sleep.

My iPad2 is loaded with actual business stuff and is my "demo" unit, although it still does have Netflix. It's also my go to machine for quickly looking up LoL info.

My iPad3 I just bought, and I'll be using it next month to demo things, so it'll be my new "business" iPad, but since it'll stay here at the office, I'll still make sure I can do business on my home one.

However, none of that matters. Apple doesn't have any sort of foothold in the business world in terms of servers, desktops, and laptops. Give them time and they might, but Windows 8 comes out this year. In fact, many people are running it now, like me.

IF it does everything as advertised, businesses will have a very easy choice to make when buying mobile devices. That's all we're saying. And FYI, I've heard this same story from multiple sources, including AT&T who was Apple's first partner in the cell phone industry. Everyone is watching what happens with Windows 8.

[TheCatt]

I'd say the iMac saved Apple.

iPod, and the subsequent bitch-slapping of the music industry, launched them into the stratosphere.

I remember shorting Apple in early 2002 cuz they were doing so poorly (I made money on it)... I was shorting them at 12. The company had cash stockpiles worth $10/share.

The iMac was introduced in 1998.

the iPod saved them.

[Cakedaddy]

But my point is, ipad/phones aren't in the business place because the business needs them. The end user is making up reasons to have them because THEY want them. The businesses out there that are deploying them for legitimate business reasons are few and far between. And when given the choice, the end user will pick Apple over Windows no matter what is on their desktop. In the work place, the IT people will ask "Do you want this Windows phone that integrates directly with your work PC and provides a seamless transition between your desktop and mobile stuff, or do you want this Iphone that gives you your email and part of your calendar and won't run most of your work desktop stuff?" Do you really think they will say "Give me the Windows phone". Of course not!! And I don't think the IT department will be able to force it on the end user. Unless things have changed, IT can make suggestions, but the end user still gets what they want. Even if the Windows phone is forced, people will still buy Apple products themselves and ask IT to integrate it. Or, just use it personally. Apple products are toys that people want and nothing that Microsoft does will change that. Windows 8 will NOT kill Apple, no matter how good it is.

[TheCatt]

Depends on the company. I used to work at Progress Energy, and IT was a bunch of nazis.

[Cakedaddy]

Oh, your "demo" units. That's code for "I made up business reasons to be able to have one", right? Or do you justify it with "Enough people have them at work and want me to integrate it, so I had to get my own to be able to figure it out."? That's been my practice since OAPI. "If I have to support it, I have to have my own."



Edited By Cakedaddy on 1333069450