Close
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Apple
    • Apple

    Whither Apple?

    By
    David Morgenstern
    -
    May 10, 2004
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      Apple keeps confounding naysayers in the computer industry. Against great odds, the company has survived to post another profitable quarter, even after many sounded its death knell more than a decade ago.

      One such call in the fall of 1994 appeared on the pages of PC Week (eWEEKs predecessor), in an article titled: “A terminal Macintosh earns a premortem.” In the article, author Jesse Berst parroted the talk of Microsoft sales directors predicting the demise of the Macintosh. Also quoted was Gordon Eubanks, then Symantec Corp. CEO, adding that the Mac would be relegated to vertical markets and Apple would be bought out.

      Certainly, Apples current sales can be found primarily in certain core markets, including professional content creation and scientific and technical segments such as biotechnology.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifApple recently introduced a package of its Xgrid software, Xserve G5 server and bioinformatics software. Click here to read more about the clustering software.

      However, more exasperating to its critics is Apples constant knack of reinvention. In its latest fiscal quarter, the company showed its greatest gains not in its lines of Macintosh desktops, notebook computers, Mac OS X operating system or Xserve servers, but in its consumer market iPod audio player.

      For some, the success of the iPod signals yet another potential new direction for Apple. And a chance to get out of the PC market.

      However, others consider that move premature.

      /zimages/4/72957.jpgIn a column, Ziff Davis Internets Editor in Chief Jim Louderback offers that “Apples time in that market has come and gone.”

      “When it comes to servers, notebooks and desktops, the company is now a follower and a failure, not a leader. Luckily, the innovative company still has a bright future,” he says.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifClick here to read Louderbacks commentary.

      /zimages/4/31626.jpgAnalyst Rob Enderle responds with his own analysis of Apples chances. He suggests that following Apples recent financial report there are “two questions on the table: What business is Apple really in, and does it even make sense for Apple to be in the PC business anymore.”

      “Granted Apple has shifted its marketing from a hardware focus to other things and to some the company appears to be trying to get out of this business. But Apple hasnt exited the party yet and until they do, the company remains one of the most important players in this segment,” Enderle says.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifClick here to read Enderles commentary.

      /zimages/4/53050.jpgIn a column responding to both opinions, eWEEK.com Senior Editor Sean Gallagher wonders why Apple must buy into the “bifurcated marketing approach that PC vendors seem to be following.”

      “Why split the home and office apart, the desktop and mobile computing apart,” he says, pointing to the quality and reliability found in Apples computing hardware and software.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifClick here to read Gallaghers comments.

      Editors Note: This story was updated to include information about Sean Gallaghers column.

      /zimages/4/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms Macintosh Center at http://macintosh.eweek.com for the latest in news, reviews and analysis about Apple in the enterprise. Be sure to add our eWEEK.com Macintosh news feed to your RSS newsreader or My Yahoo page: /zimages/4/19420.gif http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/my/addtomyyahoo2.gif

      David Morgenstern
      David Morgenstern is Executive Editor/Special Projects of eWEEK. Previously, he served as the news editor of Ziff Davis Internet and editor for Ziff Davis' Storage Supersite.In 'the days,' he was an award-winning editor with the heralded MacWEEK newsweekly as well as eMediaweekly, a trade publication for managers of professional digital content creation.David has also worked on the vendor side of the industry, including companies offering professional displays and color-calibration technology, and Internet video.He can be reached here.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Cybersecurity

      Visa’s Michael Jabbara on Cybersecurity and Digital...

      James Maguire - May 17, 2022 0
      I spoke with Michael Jabbara, VP and Global Head of Fraud Services at Visa, about the cybersecurity technology used to ensure the safe transfer...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      Alteryx’s Suresh Vittal on the Democratization of...

      James Maguire - May 31, 2022 0
      I spoke with Suresh Vittal, Chief Product Officer at Alteryx, about the industry mega-shift toward making data analytics tools accessible to a company’s complete...
      Read more
      Big Data and Analytics

      GoodData CEO Roman Stanek on Business Intelligence...

      James Maguire - May 4, 2022 0
      I spoke with Roman Stanek, CEO of GoodData, about business intelligence, data as a service, and the frustration that many executives have with data...
      Read more
      Applications

      Cisco’s Thimaya Subaiya on Customer Experience in...

      James Maguire - May 10, 2022 0
      I spoke with Thimaya Subaiya, SVP and GM of Global Customer Experience at Cisco, about the factors that create good customer experience – and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      Yotascale CEO Asim Razzaq on Controlling Multicloud...

      James Maguire - May 5, 2022 0
      Asim Razzaq, CEO of Yotascale, provides guidance on understanding—and containing—the complex cost structure of multicloud computing. Among the topics we covered:  As you survey the...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2021 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×