Macs Don’t Matter So Much to Apple Anymore: 10 Reasons Why

by Don Reisinger

The iPad has quickly become Apples answer to its Macs. Rather than continue to try to compete against Hewlett-Packard and Dell with its line of computers, Apple has used the iPad to replace lightweight computers. In fact, the iPad is arguably a fine replacement for the MacBook. Would a company that still cares as much about computers release another product to potentially cannibalize sales of its MacBook? It seems unlikely.

As important as the iPad is, the iPhone is the most important product Apple sells. And the company makes that clear by focusing so heavily on that device. It makes sense. The iPhone is what has helped Apple enjoy such success over the past few years. Its also the product that will carry Apple forward. Macs just arent as important as the iPhone. Apple makes that clear each and every day.

In the end, Apple needs to generate profits. And although its Macs are big-ticket items, its recent financial success was due in main part to sales of the iPhone and now, the iPad. The plain truth is Apples touch-screen products are driving its growth and its revenue. Its no wonder that the company would want to focus most of its efforts there.

If Apple was still competing against Windows Vista, Macs probably wouldnt take such a backseat to the iPhone or the iPad. But the company is now facing off against Windows 7. And that operating system is widely considered a viable product for consumers and enterprise customers. One cant say that Apple is waving the white flag against Windows 7, but its certainly possible that the viability of Microsofts latest operating system has forced the company to focus on the iPhone and iPad.

Mac OS X was once the single operating system that Apple cared about. But that isnt the case any longer. Today, the most valuable operating system Apple offers, and the one that the company will most likely care most about going forward, is iOS. After all, if the iPad and the iPhone are more important than Macs, it would only make sense that iOS would trump Mac OS X.

Macs are selling well and more and more people are seeing value in them. But that doesnt mean that they will be able to match the computer sales being enjoyed by HP and Dell. In fact, there is likely no chance that Macs will be able to capture a significant portion of the computing market. Apple has seemingly resigned to that fact.

Apple is all about excitement. Whenever the company announces new products, the media gets excited, consumers get excited and retailers typically get excited. But Macs just arent that exciting any longer. Computers are old news. And no matter what Apple does with its line of Macs, it will be hard for the company to do anything that will surprise most folks.

Apple was once a computer company. But as soon as it offered the iPod, it became clear that Jobs had other ideas for his firm. As time went on, the company started transitioning its business from a computer-focused model to an electronics-focused model. Its why Apple dropped Computer from its name. And its why so many other products outside of computers, including the Apple TV, have been launching over the past decade.

Steve Jobs realized that the future wasnt necessarily in computers. And he set out to put his company on the path to even greater success with those products that were the future. His plan worked. And in the process, he left Macs to bolster his lineup of products, rather than lead them.

Consumers are going mobile. They dont want to be tied to their desks or work from home any longer. Because of that, they desire mobility through the use of products such as Apples iPhone or the iPad. Apple has realized that. And it has shifted its strategy away from those products that keep users home-Macs-to those that dont.