05/23/2005, 1:25pm, EDT
Monday, May 23rd
Merrill Lynch on Intel in Macs, Video iTunes, V-iPod
"Historically, changing chip architectures has been very difficult and painful. The article suggests that Apple may have already done most of work porting OS X to Intel Still, we'd be surprised to see a wholesale switchover to Intel processors with Mac momentum finally kicking in."
iTunes Video Store
Milunovich also comments on the possibility of a iTunes music video store. "The music industry doesn't have an outlet to sell music videos and likely would cooperate with Apple." In addition, Netflix said that given Apple's recent hiring and lease of space, the company "has designs on subscription video of some kind." And Apple has "expressed interest in high definition video." Milunovich says concerns about what Apple does next to maintain its level of success "seem premature."
"I want my V-iPod."
Merrill said that selling videos via iTunes may be a precursor to a video iPod. The new features within iTunes allow users to download full versions of QuickTime music videos. Merrill had previously speculated that iPod video capability for short clips could be available by the start of the holiday shopping season.
Best Buy off to slow Mac mini start
Store managers told the Merrill analyst that PC users are reluctant to make the switch to Mac and are opting for low cost PCs, such as Gateway's eMachines. Some store associates said they are at a disadvantage with Macs because Best Buys don't carry software for Apple, according to the research report. However, the firm says that "Mac mini sales appear solid at Apple stores."
Merrill Lynch reiterated a 'Buy' rating with a price target of $51 per share.
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That's B.S., with a capital B and a capital S. I went into a Best Buy store in Winston-Salem, NC not long ago to buy a friend a Mac Mini for his retirement gift. I walked up to a salesman who was standing in front of the Mac Mini and told him I wanted something small, cheap, easy to use, and something that wouldn't get eaten up with viruses. Told him my friend already had a computer but it was replacement time. If that isn't coming right out and asking for a Mac Mini, I don't know what is. Ya know what he did? He walked me over to the eMachines and pointed out the cheapest model they had. Price? 500 bucks. So don't tell me PC users are reluctant to make the switch - they don't even know there is something else to switch to when shopping at BestBuy.
In 6 months the mini will be pulled and every idiot will start predicting the demise of Apple, again. Truth is, if Apple wants to sell at Best Buy they need to either train the staff that exists, or put their own people in there.
Yes, because, of course, if Intel chips are known for anything, it's how little power they consume and how COOL they run.
I'm now convinced that these "analysts" are nothing more than monkeys sitting in front of a dart board on which are written all the multitude of FUD catch phrases, and they print whichever one "Mr. Teeny" comes closest to hitting that week.
The point is, it has the potential to be hugely successful on the software/operating system side, but catastrophic on the hardwaare/computer side.
Why would Apple do that to itself? I'll believe it when I see it.
I keep hoping liquid cooling will enable a g5 powerbook...