Should Apple Be Concerned?

Reading about Apple’s stagnating sales really has some people up in arms it seems. But to point out that PCs sales rose during this Mac slow down has one very serious flaw to it. PC is a platform, encompasses different companies with different target markets that do include SoHos and home users, but also indicate sales amongst the enterprise class as well. Generally speaking, most Mac sales are going to be with home users and SoHos – not the enterprise, be it there are exceptions.

Now as much as I might find Macs to be too rich for my blood, I  know for a fact that as long as Apple continues to stay true to their current path of design, software offerings and mobile inovations, they will weather the recession just fine. The PC on the other hand, had really better hope that Windows 7 blows the dusty doors of of Vista. Not because Vista is all that bad in its current form. Rather due to the fact that it is without a doubt the most BORING release of Windows I have used since Windows Me.

I have used Vista Ultimate, it serves just fine as desktop OS. But at the same time, there is a market for a sexy operating system. This is someplace that Windows is not hitting and desktop Linux really should stop trying to hit as it needs to spend more time on collaboration between distribution efforts. Being pretty should come later on, once a stronger balance between Ubuntu’s cutting edge use of “unstable” code and Debian’s sense of only distributing a well tested product has been met. Meet this balance and then I will be all about desktop Linux going for the next best attractive OS appearance!

(Bear in mind that the last comment was said with much love as I type this on my Ubuntu desktop.)

Back to Apple: Despite their drop recently, I believe that slowly, reluctantly, Apple is making the move to branch out beyond the Mini for entry level computers for those who would rather not spend a grand plus for a pleasant OS X filled experience.

Despite my wife being a rabid Mac user herself, I would find myself a bit more excited about the prospect of spending money with the company if they begin to express a bit more of a realistic sense of what people are willing to pay for a computer during tougher economic times.