Apple – the way to go

I just have to say that Apple‘s image, design and software really seem to be the way to go. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a PC user and I’m not about to change, given certain developing tools, more software available etc for a system with Microsoft Windows (some of the reasons in Why Windows Users Won’t Switch To The Mac may also be applicable). Also, I find it terribly pricey.
However, I have been flirting with Macs for some time now since they seem to have some kind of attraction power trying to lure me in.

First of all, when it comes to the hardware design there’s, in my humble opinion, no one that even comes close to it. I find it unbelievable that no other company has ever been near Apple when it comes to design. How hard can it be?
I’m not saying that design is easy, but what I’m going for is that I can’t believe that no other company can match the Apple design. The main reason they’re so popular is their design, so it really should be desirable for other companies to beat Apple in their own playing field. I mean, compare this with these (and I really do like Dell‘s computers, but design-wise compared to Apple: come on!).

I also think the Mac mini is a great design idea, although its performance isn’t really spectacular.

With the gargantuan success of iPod, which has even been appointed to be one of 5 inventions to change your life by CNN Money, it has had an enormous effect on the market. I own one myself and love it. Plus it’s probably the closest I’ll get to owning a Mac. But many other users have taken the plunge, it seems:

The survey, which polled 400 consumers, found that 19% of PC iPod owners have purchased a Mac in the past year

When it comes to software, I really like the look and feel of Mac OS X, and I wish I didn’t need Apple hardware to use it. The interface just seems more intuitive than, for example, Windows and it’s also good for the world to see that something can look good and be functional.

I think it’s great if Apple gets more popular, I would have no problem seeing them having a 10% or 20% market share. Just as with web browsers, I’d really like to see several actors with about as much users as the other, for a level playing field and more incentive through competition to be better.

9 Comments

  • Dejan says:

    Basically, story about Apple and design is story about prioritizing you started yesterday.
    Thinking “logically”, if you are selling hardware, your main source of income would come from big business, and they probably do not take design into account when making decisions. And then, based on such “logical” reasoning, you make design a low priority issue. And taking into account how new priorities are quick to emerge, many low-prioritized issues are never implemented.
    Big difference with Apple is that they realized computers and electronic equipment should really be treated as home appliances. If you want to have a nice things around your home, then your PC or iPod is just another thing on that list.
    In april issue, Business 2.0 tries to predict
    what are next steps for Apple. Even if they are just partially right, I think future will be rather exciting… and well designed too.

  • Robert Nyman says:

    I think you're right.

    But when it comes to home users (and some company users), they want the whole package with functionality and design.

    I'm excited about what the future might bring!

  • guywiththebike says:

    Maybe the price difference is because they have some world-clss industrial designers and everyone else spends the money on the internals!

    …but I think I'll stick with my ugly PC…

  • Robert says:

    Maybe the price is so high because of that…

    I'll stick with my ugly PC as well, for now, but one day I hope it won't be so ugly anymore (the ugliness mostly applies to desktop PCs, many PC laptops nowadays look good).

  • markus says:

    Well Robert, you can always lay your ungreasy fingers on my dual G5 on monday after I've left Halogen. Perhaps your burdon of greed and need for a fruitmachine will get a tad less. Or something. Also, my english suck. At least today.

  • Robert says:

    Yay!

    Consider it as good as mine! πŸ˜€

  • Chris says:

    Robert, I agree with you.

    As far as software look and feel is concerned I think Linux is probably as attractive as Mac OS. Some Linux software are really intuitive as well (although Linux still needs to be more intuitive IMO).

    Cheers

  • Robert says:

    Chris,

    Thanks for the comment.

    I think some of the Linux software can become very good, but that for the moment, the treshold is still a bit too high for a "normal" user to start using it.

    However, my experience with different Linux software is minimal, so I can't really say how intuitive they are.

    I'll have to take your word for it! πŸ™‚

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