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Ways to save Apple (1997)

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Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#31

Post by jasonlmk »

> 98. Testimonials. Create commercials featuring real-life people in situations where buying a Mac (or switching to a Mac) saved the day.

This is an example of one thing that Apple gets really right. For some reason, other companies have found it really difficult to achieve the success that Apple has with their commercials and branding. Some (in my opinion) great work by Apple:

1. 2013 Christmas Commercial (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v76f6KPSJ2w)

2. Shot on iPhone6 (https://www.apple.com/au/iphone/world-gallery/)

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#32

Post by bmcarr »

stevebot wrote: post #17

Funny how some of these are way off, while others are pretty spot on: 7. Don't disappear from the retail chains. Rent space in a computer store, flood it with Apple products (especially software), staff it with Apple salespeople, and display everything like you're a living, breathing company and not a remote, dusty concept.

1. Admit it. You're out of the hardware game. Outsource your hardware production, or scrap it entirely, to compete more directly with Microsoft without the liability of manufacturing boxes.

Very first one, lol. I agree that many are spot on, but coupling Mac software to its hardware is part of how they make such good products, not to mention the plethora of innovative hardware devices that have made them the richest company in the world.

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#33

Post by molmalo »

There are some very interesting things here... Some jewels that proved to be very accurate, and some that were way off... But i think that the positive ones are winning...

#1 - Foxconn.

#2 - OSX for computers, iOS -> iPhone, iPad, AppleTv

#3 - Debatable, but one could argue that Apple Store did this at first

#4 - Steve Jobs listed in http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-dollar_salary

#5 - iPhone #, iPad #, but not related with speeds, besides of "greater number, greater speed"

#7 - Apple Stores

#8 - 1998. I still remember the ad with Shes A Rainbow

#10 - Well, they did build an enormous image.

#9, #11, #12 - Or... do just the opposite xD

#13 - Hello, I'm a PC.

#14 - Again, 1998. G3, and everything that came next...

#15 - Say Hello to China!

#16 - YMMV :)

#17, #18 - This will contradict the next one. A corporate won't buy based on fanaticism (at least in theory... I hope...)

#19 - They did what they could, with what was available back then.

#21 - With this item and #31... I really don't know what to think...

#22 - #24 - No, no, no.

#25 - Portables and mobile! That was the future back then. And they did... eventually. # 26 - Here comes China again!

#27 - Or... make it expensive... I mean... exclusive

#30 - Secure the hearts and wallets of college students, OK. But with marketing.

#31 - What kind of advice is this?? That will NEVER, EVER work, cellular email? Internet Phone ??? ... Oh.. wait.

#32 - Always start with: We have sold X number of Y!

#34 - Done.

#36 - Hello iBook

#37 - Ok. Hello OSX

#39 - Easier said than done. Tech was not there yet. But eventually...

#40-43 - It didn't matter.

#44 - Or just buy someone who does... Hello Siri

#47 - New upgrade path: just buy the new device.

#50 - Give Steve Jobs as much authority as he wants -> OK!

#51 - Speak with both, but mostly to the consumer, yes. (through ads, and paid journalists...) #53 - And sell everything from Ireland!

#54 - Ok

#59 - You can't have #15 (dump newton) and this (invest heavily in newton technology)... choose one. One could say Apple choose #59.

from here, a lot of the items seem like jokes...

#60 - Again, contradicting with previous items.

#63 - Ok. #70 - Ok! #76 - Ok, and bye bye PowerPC Eventually.

#94 - Maintain differentiation between Wintel and Apple... Even when using intel technologies, we are not a PC.

#95 - Hello, I'm a Mac.

#101 - Bingo!

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#34

Post by esusatyo »

MiguelVieira wrote: post #8

If you'd bought $10,000 of AAPL stock when this article was published (June 1997), it would be worth about $523,000 today, excluding dividends.

If I told you to buy $10,000 of Blackberry stock today, would you do it?

Buying AAPL in 1997 is as crazy as buying Blackberry today. The difference is Steve Jobs, but some people thought he was nuts too back in 1997.

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#35

Post by alrs »

pcurve wrote: post #29
joezydeco wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I spent $3,899 on a Macintosh SE in 1987. ($8,000 in today's dollars). It was a lot slower.

$3,400 on IIsi in 1991... one of the first 'affordable' color Macs. That was an amazing machine and I still remember the magic.

$2500 on an Apple //e in 1983. Monochrome screen, 1 floppy drive. No printer, no modem, no 80 column card.

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#36

Post by cm2187 »

stevebot wrote: post #17

Funny how some of these are way off, while others are pretty spot on: 7. Don't disappear from the retail chains. Rent space in a computer store, flood it with Apple products (especially software), staff it with Apple salespeople, and display everything like you're a living, breathing company and not a remote, dusty concept.

Where they are really spot on is in suggesting repeatedly to pile in on newton. Fundamentally an iphone is a better newton and this is the only fundamental change that really saved the company.

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#37

Post by wtallis »

stevebot wrote: post #17

Funny how some of these are way off, while others are pretty spot on: 7. Don't disappear from the retail chains. Rent space in a computer store, flood it with Apple products (especially software), staff it with Apple salespeople, and display everything like you're a living, breathing company and not a remote, dusty concept.

I particularly love the ones that are both right and wrong:

72. Try the industry-standard serial port plug. RS-422 should be a last resort.

(They replaced RS-422 not with RS-232, but USB)

14. Do something creative with the design of the box and separate yourselves from the pack. [...] We'd all feel better about shelling out the bucks for a Power Mac 9600 if we could get a tower with leopard spots.

(Obviously Wired shouldn't be handing out design advice.)

28. Don't lose your sense of humor. Build a very large life preserver and display it in front of your Cupertino, California, headquarters.

(Their new headquarters is the life preserver.)

44. Continue your research in voice recognition. It's the only way you're going to compete in videoconferencing and remote access.

(That's totally not what Siri is for.)

76. Make damn sure that Rhapsody runs on an Intel chip. Write a Windows NT emulator for Rhapsody's Intel version.

(They switched to Intel purely for the sake of Intel, and never made that Windows emulator.)

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#38

Post by molmalo »

ssalazar wrote: post #30
molmalo wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

#1 was pretty accurate actually... >1. Admit it. You're out of the hardware game. Outsource your hardware production , or scrap it entirely They didnt scrap it entirely, but they did ended up outsourcing production to Foxconn.

Not in any meaningful sense. Hardly any big tech companies manufacture hardware in the US any more. Hardware is Apple's single distinguishing feature as a business, and theres way more to it than which company happens to assemble the components together.

But its hardware production, not design... So, it was accurate.

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#39

Post by mcintyre1994 »

wtallis wrote: post #37
stevebot wrote: post #17

Funny how some of these are way off, while others are pretty spot on: 7. Don't disappear from the retail chains. Rent space in a computer store, flood it with Apple products (especially software), staff it with Apple salespeople, and display everything like you're a living, breathing company and not a remote, dusty concept.

I particularly love the ones that are both right and wrong: 72. Try the industry-standard serial port plug. RS-422 should be a last resort. (They replaced RS-422 not with RS-232, but USB) 14. Do something creative with the design of the box and separate yourselves from the pack. [...] We'd all feel better about shelling out the bucks for a Power Mac 9600 if we could get a tower with leopard spots. (Obviously Wired sh…

Was it the Intel switch that enabled bootcamp though? That's clearly a better solution than maintaining a windows emulator, but does it meet the same point?

Re: Ways to save Apple (1997)

#40

Post by mcintyre1994 »

wtallis wrote: post #37
stevebot wrote: post #17

Funny how some of these are way off, while others are pretty spot on: 7. Don't disappear from the retail chains. Rent space in a computer store, flood it with Apple products (especially software), staff it with Apple salespeople, and display everything like you're a living, breathing company and not a remote, dusty concept.

I particularly love the ones that are both right and wrong: 72. Try the industry-standard serial port plug. RS-422 should be a last resort. (They replaced RS-422 not with RS-232, but USB) 14. Do something creative with the design of the box and separate yourselves from the pack. [...] We'd all feel better about shelling out the bucks for a Power Mac 9600 if we could get a tower with leopard spots. (Obviously Wired sh…

Was it the Intel switch that enabled bootcamp though? That's clearly a better solution than maintaining a windows emulator, but does it meet the same point?
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