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Seattle Times: 'Macs languish next to iPod'

updated 09:40 am EST, Mon December 20, 2004

Seattle Times on iPod

"Some analysts suggest that Apple's core products � its desktop and notebook computers � of the iPod's overwhelming success," writes Wendy Tanaka for the Seattle Times. However, she notes that some analysts see Apple's current stock as overvalued. "Likewise, several shoppers at the Apple store at a shopping mall in King of Prussia, Pa., doubted that the iPod's success would translate into broader Apple sales. They were there for the iPod, period, and had no intention of giving up their Microsoft Windows-based computers, which overshadow Apple's iMac and G5 computers in the marketplace."

by MacNN Staff

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hayesk
Professional Poster

Joined: Sep 1999

0

12/20, 09:56am | report spam | close Reply |
True, for the most part

... but it got them into the store. While waiting in line they'll look around and see the Macs. I'm sure the iPod has gotten a few over to the Mac side and will continue to bring a few over. I don't think anybody is claiming there's going to be a mass exodus from Windows, as much as we'd like to see it happen.

madgunde
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Nov 2002

0

12/20, 09:59am | report spam | close Reply |
Wow

Wendy Tanaka is so authoritative and her methods of market research are SOOOOOO scientific! Yeah, let's ask 3 random people in a shopping mall to predict what kind of halo effect the iPod will have on Mac computers and then write an article based on that.

What a twit.

Impresario
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Apr 2004

0

12/20, 10:12am | report spam | close Reply |
Note Where This is From

In addition to being so well researched, as noted in another comment, it is also written to a specific audience -- Seattle, where one of the largest employers is ...?

You don' bite the hand that feeds you.

mouseketter
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Sep 2004

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12/20, 10:21am | report spam | close Reply |
And where is Seattle?

The Seattle Times is in Seattle Washington. And who has the governor of Washington repeatedly said was the savior of his great state? Microsoft of course.

I guess Wendy's article wouldn't be so bad if she has sited some sort of study to back up her claims.

The fact is that 3 major Wall street brokers have repeatedly said that Apple is actually under valued and has listed it at a buy rating. In fact one investment firm say's to look for Apple to go over $100 a share sometime is 2005.

The only thing missing from Ms. Tanka's article is how Apple is going out of business and when Microsoft pulls there music store out of Beta testing and releases the final version the iPod will be history.

I have noticed that these so called iPod or iTMS killers are no longer news on TechTV, or CNN or programs like the Today show. On the Today and TechTV the tech guy mentioned "other digital music players" but only showed the iPod. On CNN the anchor said, "...and here is another company trying to take market share from the iPod... I wish them luck." I almost fell off the sofa laughing.

So Wendy you need to do a bit more homework before you tell everybody that Apple is going out of business and the iPod is a failure. It has been said before by much better writers than your self.

scottnichol
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

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12/20, 10:25am | report spam | close Reply |
they say that at first

i know several people who bought iPods and swore that that was as far as their relationship with Apple went. they would never give up their PCs or consider buying a Mac.

They all own iMac G5's now.

jasonsRX7
Mac Elite

Joined: Jul 2003

0

12/20, 10:39am | report spam | close Reply |
I said that...

I wouldn't give up my PCs a few years ago when I bought my first iPod. Now, a G5, Powerbook, GigEth G4, B&W G3, Cinema Display, 2 iMacs, and 3 iPods later......

penum6ra
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2000

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12/20, 10:45am | report spam | close Reply |
2 converts over this way.

Starts with a couple of questions about the iPod and how to get it to work best. PLugs iPod into 4 year old PC laptop. Realizes that HD space, etc. are not cutting it, and that they really should have been thinking about a new laptop anyway. Year end bonus arrives. iBooks cost $900 shipped from Amazon. Converted.
Wash, rinse, repeat.

Who did she ask? The three people that walked in together with Ballmer T-shirts on holding hands?

It's only the beginning of the conversions. You need a computer to get the music into the iPod folks! And there are a lot of people that bought computers a couple of years ago during Dot-Com boom/bust, that are now feeling their age/insecurity/instability that, after using the iPod, know that there can be something better.

Glasspusher
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Joined: Oct 2000

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12/20, 11:10am | report spam | close Reply |
iPod, the gateway drug

I wonder what Ms. Tanaka would write about Longhorn ;) hahahaha. Even if a fraction of iPod buyers switch over, it's gravy for Apple. HP's PC division is now a loss leader for their printers (and rebranded iPods!). Only Dell, M$'s b****, is making money, and this only with plenty of marketing cash from their sugar daddy.

Some of the sheep are wising up...all empires fall.

MojoRising022
Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: Mar 2001

0

12/20, 11:45am | report spam | close Reply |
Sad, but true...

I work at the King of Prussia store and most people who come in for iPods just want the iPod and have no interest in a computer. I am personally not seeing the iPod directly lead to increased CPU sales - the iPod has a life of its own...the iPod leads to iPod accessory sales and that's about it (in my opinion and I have only my experience to draw from).

Customers will generally notice the 30" LCD on display and possibly the new iMac, but generally don't take the time to noodle with them. It is also hard to convince the iPod crowd that a $499 Dell is an inferior product - a lot fo the time, it is all about sticker price.

That being said, we sell a ton of computers to switchers. The iPod may pique their curiosity, but generally it is their friends with Macs who get them interested or a desire to end the years of abuse Windows provides.

trevc
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Mar 2000

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12/20, 12:25pm | report spam | close Reply |
True here too

I actually have a friend with an 700 Mhz iMac that bought an iPOD (loves it) and now is buying a Microsoft Windows Box for Christmas because his iPod works with it and he wants an updated computer but can't justify the almost double-the cost machine (it's hard to compare features).

He also is a 'HUGE' America's Army fan and with recent upgrades he says the Macintosh crowd doesn't get the same features and might not even have a version in the future.

When it comes down to it, in most consumers mind, it's cost (don't start the cost comparisons because of this statement!! bottomline here in Canada, the cheapest eMac is $1049, where you can find a lot of windoze computers with monitors for $500). As with gaming, etc., etc., there are lots of reasons why people decide to go with one computer or the other...

Of course I'll stick to my mac...

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

12/20, 12:49pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: true here too

Yep, the biggest thing holding back Apple is Apple. They (and the mac-fan boys) can talk all they want about comparable pricing and halo effects, but the cold hard facts are this: Macs are elitist items (just like iPods, but far more expensive), but lack the iPods 'cult-ness' (which will wear off sooner or later - and then what Apple?). You can argue that an iMac is comparably priced to a similarly equipped dell (or even better priced), but, then again, I can also get a well-equipped dell for $700 ($750 with monitor). I should know, I just ordered one (note: lowest priced montior-less Mac: $1500, less if you go used/refurbished). Sure, it won't look as nice, but since my computers all sit under my desk well out of sight, WGaF?

Its obvious Apple doesn't care about market share, so all those saying Apple's doing this or that to increase it are just fooling themselves. For every person they switch over, someone else is switching to the other side, wondering why they should spend 2x the money on a computer that (a) lacks a lot of software available on windows, and (b) a lot of software that is available costs more per copy. Then, once you've spent all the money, you get to live in the wonderful world of repeating "Does this printer/scanner/camera/etc work with a Mac?" everytime you want to buy something.

See, you all will know when Apple's actually worried about market share. It'll be when they actually start listening to their customerbase (or, more importantly, their prospective customer base) and offer computers that fit their needs.

Unregistered Us
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Dec 2004

0

12/20, 01:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
Forget that

Since Canada is right next to Redmond, Candians must all be minions of Microsoft too. How about the states bordering Washington?

Put away your tinfoil hat, mouseketter, and stop making the rest of Mac users look like idiots.

The fact is that Apple CPUs sales are slow and flat. Check their SEC filings. That does not lie, does it? And I like the detractors who like to deflect the issues - what does Longhorn delay, weather in Seattle, or Creative's MP3 player have anything to do with Mac's sales?

RTiMac
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jan 2004

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12/20, 01:37pm | report spam | close Reply |
I may switch...

from a Mac to the Windows platform before too long, for two reasons.

1) Ever since OS X and Windows XP, it's almost impossible to tell the two operating systems apart, and:

2) I bought a cheap-O eMachines system to check out the cross-platform compatibility of the Web sites I create. It cost me about the same as a 17" LCD Apple monitor, and it is as fast as my flat panel iMac running OS 9 (and much faster than if I ran OS X).

I used to love working on my Mac because with OS 9 it was so much more intuitive and unobtrusive, but now the bottom line is with both OS's so close to each other in look and feel, and plug and play capability, it now is a toss up. OS 9 is what made the Mac unique. So with the elegance of the Mac gone, and with all of the software available on a Windows machine that just isn't there for the Mac, Mac vs. PC now just boils down to simple economics.

Even the argument about all of the PC worms and viruses doesn't apply anymore. Apple releases new security updates almost weekly now, and with a good anti-virus package from Grisoft, anti-spyware program from Lavasoft, firewall from Zonelabs, and a little common sense, you really don't have to be that concerned even with a PC. By the way... those three programs I just mentioned are available online for free.

I've used Macintosh computers since the original 128k Mac, and I appreciate every "insanely great" product and innovation Steve Jobs has given us. I even plan on going to MacWorld this year. But all things come to an end, and when my last OS 9 bootable Mac gives up the ghost I'll be moving on.

hayesk
Professional Poster

Joined: Sep 1999

0

12/20, 02:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: I may switch....

Stop trolling. If you think XP and X are indistinguishable then you obviously don't use both on a regular basis or are turning a blind eye.

From a usability standpoint XP is the same as previous versions, except now it looks like it was designed by Fisher-Price. All of the UI problems are still there. And with all of the software to catch and trap viruses, spyware, etc., they still gets through - using a PC is a lot more work. Desktop PCs might be cheaper, but they still don't offer better value.

ender
Junior Member

Joined: Mar 1999

0

12/20, 03:00pm | report spam | close Reply |
Buying a Piece of Fruit

I think the iPod will help Mac sales, but in a very subtle, indirect way. There probably won't be people who give up Windows because they are buying an iPod. But it will get them past the tech stigma of, as my boss puts it, "buying a piece of fruit." Once they are comfortable that buying from Apple is OK, that can open the doors to at least considering a Mac for their next computer purchase. So it's not about them buying a Mac now...it's about them buying a Mac later.

It's all about brand awareness, and probably never before in their history have more poeple heard about Apple.

testudo
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Aug 2001

0

12/20, 03:07pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: I may switch

2) I bought a cheap-O eMachines system to check out the cross-platform compatibility of the Web sites I create. It cost me about the same as a 17" LCD Apple monitor, and it is as fast as my flat panel iMac running OS 9 (and much faster than if I ran OS X).

Since when did the flat panel iMac run OS 9? Or are you talking the previous model?

And I didn't know you could get an Apple 17" flat panel for $400-$500 (because that's what a cheap-o eMachines goes for). Wow, too bad they don't still sell them.

ender
Junior Member

Joined: Mar 1999

0

12/20, 03:08pm | report spam | close Reply |
So much for research

And yet another example of MS-brainwashed, revisionist history in journalism...

"Some examples: Apple produced one of the first personal digital assistants, the Newton, which disappeared after the Palm and Microsoft-based Pocket PC devices appeared."

Making it appear that MS had a role in the demise of Newton. The Newton tried to be what PocketPC is now, but before the technology was mature enough to support the concept (i.e., it was ahead of its time). The simplicity and relative low-cost of the Palm doomed the Netwon and opened the market for PDAs. PocketPC (and Microsoft) had nothing to do with it!

Casper Crane
Dedicated MacNNer

Joined: May 2002

0

12/20, 03:10pm | report spam | close Reply |
Re: Buying Fruit

Ender is on the money. Mac sales may not be seeing a boost yet, but brand awareness is key. and the new iMac is more expensive than a Dell, but it's a better computer and is well within reach of the middle-class. and the cheapest headless mac may be $1500, but the iMac is not headless and can be had for less than that. stop comparing PowerMacs to Dells.

and another thing, 3 people in a King of Prussia mall is not a very good cross section. that's just awful journalism.

mjtomlin
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Oct 1999

0

12/21, 02:04am | report spam | close Reply |
business not wanted...

I think a lot of people are missing the issue ... Does Apple really want that low-end business? No. They don't. It should be obvious to any half-wit that they don't want to enter that sector of the market.

I believe the type of people who buy Macs (and the one's Apple really wants as customers) are people who put a lot of thought into their purchase. Someone who might consider "value" to be much more than just a sticker price. Those same people may think higher of their computer; that it's not JUST a computer, it's a tool. And if you're like me, you strongly believe it is the tool that's supposed to do the work, not me.

By federal governments standards I would be considered impoverished. I make just enough to pay rent every month and of course eat. I am by no means "elite." And yet I believe Macs are much more valuable than ANY PC running Windows. The value I get from my iBook is much more than what I initially paid for it. It's all about the quality of use I get from using it on a daily basis.

The initial price you pay for something only matters while you're paying for it. From that point on, if while using the product (whatever it is), you're constantly reminding yourself, "Well I only paid $x** for it." Chances are, the quality of that product isn't so great. And you're trying to justify why you're putting up with the problems this product is causing.

"Computer Industry" logic doesn't seem to translate well into "Consumer Electronic Industry" logic. It seems to have confused all the computer industry analysts; cheap computers = billions served, but cheap mp3 players = cheap electronics? Or Microsoft = Market domination, but XBox = that other gaming console. The sooner they realize the electronics industry doesn't play by the same rules as the computer industry, we'll stop seeing lame-arsed articles like the one above.

bigpoppa206
Fresh-Faced Recruit

Joined: Jun 2003

0

12/21, 05:39am | report spam | close Reply |
Don't Knock Seattle!

First off, there are plenty of Mac users here! Just because Microsoft is in our backyard doesn't mean we all buy the bull!

Second, knocking our governor? Well if you think about it, Microsoft has invested more money in this state than Apple has, so the statements by Governor Locke would be true. Still that does not mean that everyone here supports Microsoft same as we do not all believe that Boeing is the end-all/be-all when it comes to aircraft manufacturing.

Third...I cannot believe the knee-jerk reaction here...a story is printed in the Seattle Times and you assume Wendy is a native here and that she writes for one of our papers. Read right below her name, its nationally sindicated service. If I remember, Wendy comes from the East Coast. Next time engage brain first.

Over all, I think her article is old and merely reguritates a lot of old rhethoric with no real new information. Doesn't matter whether I agree with it or not, I would not go around ridiculous blanket statements mouseketter!

Kenneth
Addicted to MacNN

Joined: Mar 1999

0

12/21, 02:40pm | report spam | close Reply |
We do love Apple here

I have been living in Bellevue, WA since 1996. With a total of 4 Apple Stores in the Western Washington, it's a good thing. I always hang around in the Bellevue Square Apple Store. Actually, I visited the store 3 or 4 times just the last week alone.

At one time, there was a switcher. I was messing around on the demo 17-inch PB and she stood next to me playing with the 12-inch PB. A staff approached and asked her any questions. I heard that she's a DELL user, but the DELL couldn't be able to do her tasks. Her mother told her to get a new computer for college. After a 10 mins chat with the staff, she walked out with a PowerBook, AppleCare, and 2 other things.

I'm glad that she switched. Although, I saw most people on the iPod section or asked for the 20GB iPod in this time of a year, other than that people did walk out with brand new Macs.

I also went to the grand opening of the mini-store and the Panther party. There were a lot of Mac users here.

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Seattle Times: 'Macs languish next to iPod'

updated 09:40 am EST, Mon December 20, 2004

Seattle Times on iPod

True, for the most part

Wow

Note Where This is From

And where is Seattle?

they say that at first

I said that...

2 converts over this way.

iPod, the gateway drug

Sad, but true...

True here too

Re: true here too

Forget that

I may switch...

Re: I may switch....

Buying a Piece of Fruit

Re: I may switch

So much for research

Re: Buying Fruit

business not wanted...

Don't Knock Seattle!

We do love Apple here

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Seattle Times: 'Macs languish next to iPod'

updated 09:40 am EST, Mon December 20, 2004

Seattle Times on iPod

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True, for the most part

Wow

Note Where This is From

And where is Seattle?

they say that at first

I said that...

2 converts over this way.

iPod, the gateway drug

Sad, but true...

True here too

Re: true here too

Forget that

I may switch...

Re: I may switch....

Buying a Piece of Fruit

Re: I may switch

So much for research

Re: Buying Fruit

business not wanted...

Don't Knock Seattle!

We do love Apple here

Login Here

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