Comments on: Perspective: Apple's secret sauce

Sizzle may be subjective, but Apple's definitely got it, says CNET News.com's Charles Cooper.

[thenet411]

I agree (kinda)

Steve Jobs is definately the reason for Apple's success. For some reason, he just seems to know what the people in his small niche want.

But that is all it is, a small niche. Its not all that hard to guess what a few people will want. It is much more difficult to be everything to everyone. The Mac line has a few things that it is exceptionally good at. Those things are all visual. Tasks like video production and editing, desktop publishing, and image production and editing. Apple has always excelled in those areas and it doesn't look like that lead will be lost anytime soon. Although, more and more production houses are going with PC-based replacements.

The Mac definately has its good points. And their fanboys are fierce verbal warriors. But serious business computing requires a PC. Apple will never be able to crack that market. Microsoft's install base is simply too big. Apple will continue to do well as long as it stays in its comfort zone which is, in my opinion, visually attactive and easy to use toys.

[Dru richman]

Thomas, yer right!

Your said: "But that is all it is, a small niche. Its not all that hard
to guess what a few people will want. It is much more difficult to
be everything to everyone."

Which is why Microsoft does such a great job. Since it can be
everything to everybody there's really no need to have any other
software companies. Yeah, right.

"The Mac line has a few things that it is exceptionally good at.
Those things are all visual. Tasks like video production and
editing, desktop publishing, and image production and editing."

So that's only newspapers, TV, movies, the internet, other print
and electonic publishing, and scientific research (military and
other) that use Macs. Let's not forget education. But we can
dismiss the over 60 million other users.

"But serious business computing requires a PC."

Which is why companies like the U.S. Navy Submarine Fleet,
National Institutes of Health, Lawrence Livermore Laboratories,
Tracy Locke Advertising, Dover, NH Independent School District,
the Veteran's Administration, Dartmouth (and Harvard, Duke and
others) Universities, and scores of other companies of all sizes
must not be serious businesses.

"Apple will never be able to crack that market."

Which market was that again? The market where Apple's year
over year sales were 35% and the Windows world was 15%. Or
perhaps the MP3 market. Or maybe the legal music and video
download market. Or are we just comparing sales of Microsoft's
aging XP product with Apple's innovative OS X operating system?

"Apple will continue to do well as long as it stays in its comfort
zone which is, in my opinion, visually attactive and easy to use
toys."

Yes, toys! Like the industry's hottest selling 1U server, Apple's
XServe. Or the industry's most cost effective storage solution,
the XRaid. Or Apple's idea of selling Server software that
includes 'unlimited client seats' for under $1000. Or, according
to PC World Magazine, the fastest Intel-based laptop available.
And let's not forget that home digital media thing called the Mac
mini. Did I mention that more Supercomputers are based on and
constructed using Apple computers than any other
manufacturer? Yes, toys indeed!

But, you're right Thomas. Apple 'is' a niche market. It's the niche
that doesn't accept mediocrity. It's the niche that pushes the
envelope for design and innovation. It's the niche that tends to
be the leaders, the movers and shakers of whatever industry
they're in.

[ServedUp]

Here Here!

Now.. the next step is to find away to license Mac OS X.

And grab some marketshare.

Diversify the Mac make it like no other computer company has

with a Windows PC. Get the Hardware patented.

Then license OS X.

I just don't know what their waiting for.

[Earl Benser]

Waiting for a better idea.....

License OS X? To who? And why? And what is it to run on?

Apple makes the best hardware, and the best OS, already. It's
not cheap, so many people are PC customers - PC's are cheaper.

And businesses are stuck with the PC and Windows.

That leaves the real people 'stuck' with the Mac.

I like that!

[Thomas, David]

Hey Laurel and Hardy!

Could not help myself, notice how no one is responding ... eom