News & Information for Technology Purchasers
NewsFactor Network Sites:   NewsFactor.com Security CRM Business Sci-Tech Newsletters XML/RSS Feed  
   
Home Enterprise I.T. Hardware Software Communications More Topics...
Tech Trends
Average Rating:
Rate this article:  
Learning Lessons from Apple Learning Lessons from Apple's Mac
By Walaika K. Haskins
July 28, 2005 10:05AM

    Bookmark and Share
"It's almost like Microsoft is designing [software] for geeks and Apple is designing for real people," said Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research. "Microsoft's common man approach is centered on the price [of its software]."
 

Related Topics

apple
mac
os
x

Advertisement

In the battle for the computer market share between Apple Computer and Microsoft Relevant Products/Services, clearly Microsoft has come out on top. Despite its second-place finish in the operating-system war, however, Apple continues to fight and win the popularity battles on the secondary hardware and music fronts.

To its credit, Apple continues to defy analysts' predictions that it will fail. Apple has set the industry standard for music downloads and portable music players. Apple has garnered some US$500 million in music downloads sold via the iTunes music store. Apple sold more than 6 million iPods in the third quarter.

With analysts estimating that as many as 400,000 Windows users have switched to Apple under what they call the iPod halo effect, the reports of Apple's demise clearly have been overstated. Even better for Apple is that Microsoft, Sony and other software and hardware manufacturers are scrambling to emulate Apple's dominance in portable-music players and digital-music sales.

What lessons can Apple's competition learn from its newfound success? According to industry analysts, the differences between Apple and other manufacturers can be summed up in one phrase: Keep it simple and innovate -- in terms of the user interface as well as marketing.

Geek Factor

The major difference between Apple and Microsoft is the type of consumer that each company perceives its users to be. That distinction shouts volumes. Microsoft pursued the wrong perception in appealing to its view of the common man.

"It's almost like Microsoft is designing [software] for geeks and Apple is designing for real people," said Joe Wilcox, a senior analyst at Jupiter Research. "Microsoft's common man approach is centered on the price [of its software]."

Wilcox said that in terms of functionality, Microsoft's approach to the common man is too complicated and requires a "walk-him-through-it process." The user has to plug in something that launches the wizard. Then the user has to go through six or seven steps to get the device to complete a first-time configuration. "Whereas Apple's common-man approach is you plug it in and it works," said Wilcox.

A stroll down San Francisco's Market Street is a prime example of the simplicity of Apple's vision, innovation and marketing strategy. According to Wilcox, it is difficult to find anyone on Market Street who is not sporting iPod's distinctive white earphones.

"If you look at the iPod shuffle, at the start other manufacturers said stuff like there's no display, no FM radio," said Wilcox. "No, there isn't. But it is very simple, and in that simplicity it is very distinctive because it's white and you can hang it from your neck and that iPod shuffle stands out. I mean white complements everything, right?" (continued...)

1  |  2  |  3  |  Next Page >

 

Advertisement


Advertisement


 Tech Trends
1.   New Pogoplug 'Cloud' Gets Social
2.   Salesforce Makes Business Social
3.   Cisco, Logitech Target Mainstream
4.   Could This Be the Season for Web TV?
5.   AMD Powers Top Cray Supercomputer


advertisement
Frugal Twitter-Only Device OfferedFrugal Twitter-Only Device Offered
TwitterPeek doesn't need a data plan.
Average Rating:
Social-Networking Security a ConcernSocial-Networking Security a Concern
Facebook hijacking shows dangers.
Average Rating:
Cisco, EMC Team on Private CloudsCisco, EMC Team on Private Clouds
Partner for new data-center approach.
Average Rating:
Product Information and Resources for Technology You Can Use To Boost Your Business

Enterprise Hardware

  Go Green with IBM Blade Center
  

Network Security Spotlight
House Lawmakers Push Ban on Peer-to-Peer Software
Stung by an embarrassing electronic leak revealing ethics investigations into dozens of lawmakers, Congress moved to prohibit federal employees from using the file-sharing software blamed for the disclosure.
 
GAO: Los Alamos Computer Security Has Weaknesses
Security weaknesses uncovered in Los Alamos National Laboratory's computer network increase the risk of a classified-information breach, says the Government Accountability Office.
 
Computer Security Firm Fortinet Plans IPO This Week
Fortinet plans to go public in an initial public offering, giving investors a chance to tap a network security provider with sales that are expected to grow. The IPO could be valued at $137.5 million or more.
 

Enterprise Hardware Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
New Pogoplug 'Personal Cloud' Does Social Networking
Cloud Engines has released its newest version of the Pogoplug, a small "multimedia sharing device" that connects hard drives to the Internet and allows a user to access the files remotely.
 
Apple Tablet Rumored Delayed as Publisher Gears Up
There have been so many rumors of an Apple tablet that it has taken on legendary status. But now the legend is being revised with reports of a delay and that a major publisher is getting ready.
 

Enterprise Technology Spotlight
Flat Shipments Hurt Dell Despite Increased Earnings
Dell's earnings are up and expectations are solid, but the company's stock still took a hit after analysts signaled the company isn't playing a key role in the PC market recovery.
 
Smartphones: A Bigger Target for Security Threats
Smartphones are increasingly prevalent and adept at handling more tasks, including trading stocks, paying bills, and buying stuff online. That makes them attractive to thieves and hackers.
 
FBI Says Hackers Targeting Law Firms, PR Companies
Hackers are targeting law firms and public relations companies with a sophisticated e-mail scheme that breaks into their computer networks to steal sensitive data, often linked to large corporate clients.
 

Navigation
NewsFactor Network
Home/Top News | Enterprise I.T. | Hardware | Software | Communications | Network Security | Wireless Tech | Linux/Open Source
Apple/Macintosh | Microsoft/Windows | World Wide Web | Data Storage | E-Commerce | Personal Tech | Tech Trends | Press Releases
NewsFactor Network Enterprise I.T. Sites
NewsFactor Technology News | Enterprise Security Today | CRM Daily

NewsFactor Business and Innovation Sites
Sci-Tech Today | NewsFactor Business Report

NewsFactor Services
FreeNewsFeed | Free Newsletters | Free Whitepapers | XML/RSS Feed

About NewsFactor Network | How To Contact Us | Article Reprints | Careers @ NewsFactor | Services for PR Pros | Top Tech Wire | How To Advertise

Privacy Policy | Terms of Service
© Copyright 2000-2009 NewsFactor Network. All rights reserved. Article rating technology by Blogowogo.