Simon’s Blog

Comments

1. Ben wrote:

   It’s all about the operating system …

   Posted 26 May 2007 at 3:00 pm ¶

2. Mark Fojas wrote:

   You really don’t -have- to get it. If other options work for you, go with those instead with a clear conscience.

   For most people that lust after one, however, it’s the balance of design, price, and OS X. Apple clearly knows how to balance battery life, weight, and slimness in a smart package. It’s not the fastest, the lightest, or the longest lasting battery life, but just a great balance of the three. And then there’s OS X which has the cachet of Unix, and the coolness of Exposé and Aqua. iLife is also a dealmaker for a lot of people though admittedly it’s not for everyone… just a surprising amount of people that want to do video, organize their video, and share their content. There are a lot more advanced products out there (some by Apple as well) but it strikes the right balance of features and usability.

   Again, -you- don’t have to like it, just get what works for you and don’t think twice about it.

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 2:41 am ¶

3. David H Dennis wrote:

   Apple computers are designed instead of thrown together. That is, deliberate decisions are made to improve the user experience instead of to make sure the computer is as cheap as humanly possible.

   The Apple operating system has a better user interface and is far more pleasing to the eye than Windows. It’s thoughtfully designed to make it easier to figure out and easier to fix when there are problems. Overall this gives it a much lower cost of ownership than PCs.

   Spend time playing around with the Apple OS in the stores and you’ll get a better understanding of this.

   Finally, Apple computers are a lot less vunerable to viruses and spyware. I have yet to see a non-professional PC user who does not have a huge flood of these in his system. This makes Macs work a lot better for a lot longer than PCs.

   All of those things add up to a pretty compelling value proposition that makes the price difference between the two look insignificant.

   Hope that helps.

   D

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 2:42 am ¶

4. David wrote:

   Ben is absolutely right. It’s all about the operating system. One has a multitude of PC’s to choose from, and they can run several different operating systems, but if you want Mac OS X, there is only one company that will sell you a computer that runs it, Apple. If you don’t want Mac OS X, there are hardware choices as good or better. IMHO, Mac OS X is the best OS for my needs, and I’ve tried them all in the 35 plus years I’ve been involved with computers (mainframe through micro).

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 2:49 am ¶

5. Al wrote:

   The Mac OS X is the most important part of the puzzle, that’s for sure. Most Mac users are also Windows users. We have to use Windows, we chose to use Macs.

   You show a 17″ MacBook Pro above. It is the object of my personal tech-no-lust. Can you get any cooler than a back lit keyboard?

   You are going to have to tell us what laptops you think are more stylish or desirable.

   Please don’t go listing laptops with a longer feature list. Legacy ports aren’t what they used to be. Legacy cards aren’t either. ExpressCard/34 is the future. A Mac does not need a memory card reader. Plug in any camera via USB2 and the pictures begin to download.

   Don’t mention the Acer Ferrari either. White is wrong but red is stylish? And, how in hell do you disable the Formula One soundtrack?

   Please, I’ve never seen a stylish or desirable PC notebook. Name one. Just one.

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 5:21 am ¶

6. simon wrote:

   Interesting that people are seeing OS X as a key reason. As David points out, that’s unique to Apple hardware, so it’s certainly a selling point.

   I wonder if it’s really the main driver behind the rapid growth. I guess you’d need a breakdown of the kind of people that are buying MacBooks and MacBook Pros to get more of a handle on this. Is it purchases by software developers that are growing numbers so fast; is it purchases by home consumers e.g. driven by pull-through from iPod sales etc…

   If it really is Mac OS X that’s the differentiator here, I think Apple needs to bring a brand new “look” to their user interface with Leopard. The whole Aqua theme is getting pretty long in the tooth now. It looked amazing when it was introduced, but that was seven years ago. I know there was a minor refresh 3-4 years ago, but it was only minor.

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 6:14 am ¶

7. jbelkin wrote:

   I’m sure you feel the same way about Ferraris … to each his own.

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 6:26 am ¶

8. simon wrote:

   LOL jbelkin! Actually, I like Ferraris… well some of them… never understood the appeal of the Enzo though… and the 430 isn’t a patch on the 360… but, the 599 is awesome…

   And yes, of course, to each their own. My point in this post, however, was that the design of the current range of Apple laptops isn’t actually that great, and yet they are enjoying spectacular sales growth.

   Compare that to the iPod design which is so much better than other MP3 players in the market (Zune, anyone?). Or the iPhone. Or even compare to iMacs which have a fabulous design compared to almost all desktop PCs…

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 6:48 am ¶

9. DaveD wrote:

   One other reason - quality.

   (1) Apple’s QA _has_ slipped some since the Intel transition, but I’ve owned my 12″ PowerBook G4 since March 2004… and it not only handles the latest version of OS X very nicely, it’s only required one new battery (last summer). Can you say that about your typical PC laptop? I wasn’t able to.

   (2) Speaking of batteries, did you know that you don’t need one physically in place to use your laptop via AC?

   (3) Awaking from sleep. Easy to connect WiFi. Fantastic OS sound quality. Native PDF. While a result of OS X, they also are specific things that make a Mac laptop desirable over something that can only run Windows.

   (4) Oh yeah. Windows. My PowerBook can’t do that. But the MacBook I bought last November can, and does.

   But Mark (@2) said it best. My list above is why I’ll never buy a Dell/HP/Compaq/Sony laptop ever again (and I’ve owned all of the above). But if you don’t find these things to be reason enough, you probably should buy something else - with a clear conscious.

   Posted 27 May 2007 at 12:42 pm ¶

10. mark wrote:

    To most, rather than old-fashioned, Apple’s laptops look clean and simple, uncluttered, no stickers, no metal gaps, no bulges. It has a single smooth shape where corners line up. Just like the iPod.

    I have a ThinkPad from work. It’s black all over but the hinge is silver/gray. Why?

    Look at the DS Lite revision from the original DS and you can see Nintendo saw Apple’s design aesthetic and copied it.

    All that said, I think OS X, iLife, and Windows-as-a-safety-possibility are the main drivers. And by OS X, I mean virus/malware-free, sharpness (over XP), and ease-of-use. It’s the same items that Apple hammers over and over again in its I’m A Mac, I’m A PC ads.

    Posted 27 May 2007 at 2:17 pm ¶

11. Anthony wrote:

    I couldn’t disagree more regarding “badly designed.” I’m partial to the Pro line for the look but regarding the white comment, I own and have lots of friends with white iBooks and Macbooks and iPods and iMacs, and them becoming “grimy” as you say I have not seen. Plus you could always get black in the Macbook line.

    As for the design of the Pro line. The fit & finish, the clean look, the feel of the keyboard & it’s backlighting, the glowing Apple, the aluminum color with the aluminum keyboard. Aesthetically it’s beautiful. I’m not a PC expert but when I see PC laptops they look so bulky and bolted together. But aesthetics are subjective and I also highly recommend you go with what you feel proud of. I’m very proud of my 12″ Powerbook.

    Beyond that, yeah, OS X and iLife are awesome. The quality. Even the packaging. The whole experience is great. Oh and if you do have a problem even the support will usually leave you smiling. Example, my Powerbook went on the fritz once. Me and Applecare weren’t sure what the problem was as the symptoms were odd. They advised me to take it in the Apple Store or alternatively they would send me a shipping paid packaging box to my house. I took it in to the Store. Two days later my Powerbook was ready for pickup with a new hard drive installed. Now it could be a bad story but we all know hard drives can be voodoo, I do backup semi-regularly, and the fact that laptop surgery was done that quickly left me really impressed. I believe it was actually fixed in another state. So they overnighted it the same day I dropped it off, it was fixed the next day, and overnighted back that same day.

    Posted 27 May 2007 at 5:32 pm ¶

12. Michael Fischer wrote:

    Of course the number one reason has to be OSX, both for its own qualities and because it is not so subject to infection while travelling.

    I agree with most of the other reasons given as well.

    The software available for OS-X also has an impact. In addition to iLife etc, Keynote probably also has an impact on notebook sales. Many presenters recognize the greater flexibility of Keynote, remaining easy to use (perhaps easier than Powerpoint), while being able to produce complex staging to make complex points going beyond a slide show.

    In the end it is design. Design is not just ’style’, but the way knowledge is embedded in a product. Apple seems to be able to embed more knowledge in products in a more usuable format than just about any other technology vendor in the business. Only Sony, at times, seems to do as well.

    Good design means having what you need available when you need it. Too often other companies seem to focus on ‘neat’ things rather than useful things, and piling high rather than layering and organising.

    Posted 27 May 2007 at 5:36 pm ¶

13. RKT wrote:

    For some, less is more. For others, more is more.

    For me personally, I find all the goo-gags, buttons, flashing lights, odd angles, perma-gummed stickers and strange styling of Windows laptops repulsive. Why isn’t the function of buttons expressed in software rather than jutting up from the level of the keyboard? Why are there flashing lights on the computer face drawing power unnecessarily?

    I can see some people may find all of this comforting in a hand-holding sort of way, but I don’t want to hold hands with some geeky engineer I’ve never met, nor live with his/her expectations of how I use my computer.

    So, I guess that’s why I find MacBooks attractive. And OS X too, of course.

    Posted 27 May 2007 at 6:54 pm ¶

14. James wrote:

    Becuase Windows XP sucks and Vista sucks worse. Not to mention those Frankenstein PC laptops and PC desktops for that matter.

    The number one priority in Windows PC commodity culture (read: Walmart) is price over everything else, and choice even if all of those choices suck.

    Consumers today want style and are willing to pay for it = Apple.

    Consumers today want easy of use and are willing to pay for it = Apple.

    Consumers today want quailty and are willing to pay for it = Apple.

    The industry is changing and computers are now purchased like cars, homes, and clothes, not toilet paper.

    Posted 27 May 2007 at 9:40 pm ¶

15. Brad wrote:

    The real question is “Who WOULDN’T buy a Mac laptop?”… Seriously. I am completely platform agnostic. I could not care less what computer I use as long as it is the best tool to get my work done. Having worked in the computer industry for over 20 years, I’m equally at home with Window, Linux, Unix, or - now - Mac OSX. Hands down, Mac OSX blows every other OS out of the water for PRODUCTIVITY. I would argue now that it also blows the others away for power and flexibility too, thanks to its UNIX core. I put my money where my mouth is and plunked down the cash for a Mac Book Pro (15″), and discovered that they are NOT expensive for what they have built-in. I took the time to learn it (which was nothing compared to the learning curve I went through with Windows, or Linux) and - whaddya know - it is a fantasic, complete, and well-thought-out computing experience. There is not the slightest reservation in my mind when I say this is the best computer I’ve ever owned (and there have been MANY). Oh, and I still have fully native installs of Windows and Linux installed AT THE SAME TIME. So, really, its 3 computers in one! The only computers in the world capable of that today have an Apple logo. So, again, who WOULDN’T buy a Mac laptop?

    Posted 27 May 2007 at 11:27 pm ¶

16. Sam wrote:

    I think the sales growth of Apple laptops boils down to being able to “just get things done” on them. Whether you’re a creative type and go for iLife, Aperture, GarageBand, or one of the expensive high-end packages; or if you’re a developer and want a csh, gcc, emacs, environment; or even an online designer and want a good mix of content creation, scripting, graphics, and services… Apple’s laptop comes with a great, easy to buy, easy to use selection for all of it.

    Unlike Apple desktops, Apple laptops tend to be reasonably priced, good performance at the mid-range, and have the right mix of features included and omitted.

    Posted 28 May 2007 at 1:45 am ¶

17. Tony Touch wrote:

    Hey Simon
    Your PC laptop doesn’t power down when you close it
    It doesn’t power up right where you left off
    It does not allow you to share your WiFi with others.
    It does not run for weeks without a Blue Screen of Death.
    It does not interfere with your computing experience - clippy and innoucus (sp) messages every minute.
    Does not simply connect to available WiFi without requiring drivers and extra programs.
    Apple laptops are well designed, “future proof”, simple and reliable.
    Plus 90% of America is within 50 miles of an Apple Store. If I have a Dell with issues I have no where to go. My laptop is 3.5 years old and does everything except Windows.
    Apple needs only to make a tablet and a ruggederized (sp) MacBookPro to completely sweep the market.

    Posted 28 May 2007 at 4:00 am ¶

18. Jeff wrote:

    James, your “Frankenstein” description brilliantly describes PC’s, Windows, and especially Windows apps for me. PC’s are physically just a conglomeration of elements with no design concept for functionality; but it even better describes the essentially piecemeal conglomeration of patches and add-ons requiring more patches and so-on that constitutes Windows, and app design is obviously from a similar perspective which results in no logical consistency for the user and invites the myriad difficulties encountered by users. Thanks again for a great metaphor!

    Posted 28 May 2007 at 1:25 pm ¶

19. Asam Bashir wrote:

    OOOOOOOOOOO, Si been Mac bashing again and I missed the whole debate, damn rain!!

    An Apple laptop is a fine instrument that becomes an extension of yourself, you have to live with an Apple laptop day in and day out to fully appreciate the experience - nah, not even experience, it’s a way of life. And Si, Macs aren’t just a hardware experience, it’s the combination of hardware and software, the way it integrates all your gadgets and the way the Mac becomes the center of all your digital activity.

    I’ll read over in detail all the points raised, just seen this pure example of Si Mac bashing now, but will come back to it later ;P

    Posted 30 May 2007 at 4:10 pm ¶

20. Asam Bashir wrote:

    PS lookout for the new rev 3 MacBook Pro coming at WWDC - 800 MHz Santa Rosa, 4 MB L2 cache, LED backlit screens, plus some use of Flash memory - Apple will be taking the lead again performance wise - these books are gonna be sizzling…

    Posted 30 May 2007 at 4:26 pm ¶

21. Asam Bashir wrote:

    These machine have pedigree, they’re not just the result of a few months of design, they’re the product of engineering evolution since the first PB 100 in 92

    Posted 30 May 2007 at 4:32 pm ¶

22. simon wrote:

    Asam, I don’t bash Macs… or Apple. I just give honestly held opinions. Sometimes these opinions are “pro” Apple, somtimes they’re not…

    Posted 31 May 2007 at 2:20 pm ¶

23. Mike wrote:

    I should be getting my 4th apple next year. I’ve used the Microsoft OS at work since it came out and when I get home I want something that I don’t have to twiddle with. I get enough of that at work. Standard (Apple) applictions are intuitive, powerful and often unique (Garage Band). I buy Apples because they work, plain and simple.

    Posted 14 Sep 2007 at 5:34 pm ¶

24. Don Sterchi wrote:

    I am considering buying a apple lap top. I have been using a Gateway desk top for several years.
    Where can I find, (On line) detailed instruction on how to use an Apple computer. How is it so much better and easier to operate. Specifically writing stories and using the Internet. Thanks, Don

    Posted 31 Oct 2008 at 6:08 pm ¶

25. simon wrote:

    Don, if you can, I’d really recommend you visit an Apple Store. There, you can try the various Apple laptops out and talk to the helpful Apple staff who will show you how to use the computers. That’s the best way to figure out if an Apple laptop is for you or not.

    For an on-line resource of how to use a Mac, have a look at the link below:

    http://www.apple.com/findouthow/mac/#tutorial=anatomy

    Posted 01 Nov 2008 at 12:10 pm ¶

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