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As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

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11–20 of 67 posts

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#11
post #9

Why are Microsoft's profits from Windows excluded from the numbers while profits from OS X are included? Why isn't MS considered part of the PC industry?

Because... Reasons... The headline doesn't look as clickbait-y otherwise most likely.

Or because Microsoft doesn't make "PCs"(well not really) and Mac does. But MS does make devices/phones/Xbox (which is a PC in console's clothing).

Edit: I'm glad that they at least lump it in with PCs now though... It used to be that people would get angry if you called their Apple Computer a PC. But now that they are just Intel PCs running OSX it seems hard to debate.

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#13
post #6
post #2

In the end what matters in business is sustainable profit not marketshare. Of course if you include all of Apple's devices they have both. When I worked at Apple in the mid-90's they had neither and I gave up on them shortly before Steve came back. Aw, crap.

>In the end what matters in business is sustainable profit not marketshare. It never ceases to amaze me how many people don't get this. They are so concerned with "winning" that they lose sight of what's important.

Yup, sure the PC won, but what did IBM get? 1.75 billion from Lenovo.

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#14
post #12
post #9

Why are Microsoft's profits from Windows excluded from the numbers while profits from OS X are included? Why isn't MS considered part of the PC industry?

OS X is free now.

It is 'free' if you buy their PC. The same way Windows is 'free' if you buy a windows PC from any PC manu who doesn't allow you to take it off the invoice.

It is folded into the cost of the hardware at this point. So yes I can see what you're saying in terms of profits on the OS vs another OS. But it is not free (as in beer) exactly.

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#15
post #4

This comment struck me: "He compared the PCs changing status to how trucks took a diminished role when the U.S. shifted to an industrial nation from an agrarian one." It seems myopic now as the F-150 is still the #1 best selling vehicle in the US. I do see the point of the PC as the 'utilitarian' device vs. the iOS devices as the more mainstream, recreational devices. The analogy was just bad.

F-150's aren't the "trucks" he's talking about. F-150s are cars for people who want to feel like they're in a truck. In fact I think by "truck" he pretty much means "trucks not sold directly to consumers." Like a semi, an actual delivery truck, MAYBE an F-450 in a pinch.

Uhm, I can say with some certainty that a lot of North Dakota farmers would take issue with your statement. F-150s are workhorses around here and there is a bit of concern with the 2014 F-150 given the vehicles many uses.

I can see this being true in the cities, but it is also sold to a lot of contractors who take it to job sites. The Super Duty (F-450) is actually something to buy if you have a specialized need.

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#16
post #9

Why are Microsoft's profits from Windows excluded from the numbers while profits from OS X are included? Why isn't MS considered part of the PC industry?

Microsoft doesn't sell much hardware directly. What you're seeing is a sign that this will change — and that every major PC vendor is probably now wishing they'd invested significantly in software back when they had the profits to do so because that's the only way off of the lowest-price treadmill.

Microsoft is already trying things like Surface to compete with Apple directly – I'm sure they actively weigh the benefits of a Microsoft desktop balanced against the likelihood that PC vendors will start pouring money into something like Linux. I'm tempted to say it would be worth it even if it accomplished nothing other than getting vendors to making the out-of-the-box Windows desktop experience so bad.

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#17
post #12
post #9

Why are Microsoft's profits from Windows excluded from the numbers while profits from OS X are included? Why isn't MS considered part of the PC industry?

OS X is free now.

Does that mean I can legally run it in a VM or on a non Mac computer? Can I load Macs on bare PCs and sell it?

http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9110179/Apple_sues_Mac_...

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#19
post #9

Why are Microsoft's profits from Windows excluded from the numbers while profits from OS X are included? Why isn't MS considered part of the PC industry?

Because... Reasons... The headline doesn't look as clickbait-y otherwise most likely. Or because Microsoft doesn't make "PCs"(well not really) and Mac does. But MS does make devices/phones/Xbox (which is a PC in console's clothing). Edit: I'm glad that they at least lump it in with PCs now though... It used to be that people would get angry if you called their Apple Computer a PC. But now that they are just Intel PCs…

>It used to be that people would get angry if you called their Apple Computer a PC

People still get angry if you call their Apple branded personal computer a PC and will argue with you forever about why it isn't one.

It makes as much sense as saying the iPhone isn't a phone and the iPad isn't a tablet.

Re: As the Mac Turns 30, Apple Ponders ‘Post-PC’ Era

#20
post #17
post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

OS X is free now.

Does that mean I can legally run it in a VM or on a non Mac computer? Can I load Macs on bare PCs and sell it? http://m.computerworld.com/s/article/9110179/Apple_sues_Mac_...

Of course not silly! Cause free is a marketing euphemism for "You already paid for it with the purchase!" :)
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