Comments on: Will Steve Jobs outrun a bear?

By: Irving Muller, Kansas City, MO

Irving Muller, Kansas City, MO — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 15:08:33 +0000

Since mid October it seems as if there is less consumer confidence. With Bail outs and job losses, it seems as if this may be an even harder season than back in 2000.

Also, Apple hadn't dropped its price to 800 or 900 for macbooks.

Any new conclusions? Will apple be able to rely on the Middle Class who is hurting right now?

By: Roger Knights, Seattle, WA

Roger Knights, Seattle, WA — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 04:11:59 +0000

Magnificently confirming the analogy of indirectly "outrunning the bear," Gartner Group reported today that Apple's share of the US market grew 29.4% in the 3rd quarter year-over-year, six times greater than the total growth of the US market, which is 4.6%. Therefore, it doesn't matter much if the US market shrinks–Apple's share of the pie is growing much faster than the pie is shrinking, so the guys who will get hurt are the runners-up.

By: Steve Z., Hershey, PA

Steve Z., Hershey, PA — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:59:18 +0000

I am constantly amazed at peoples reactions to Apple whenever the unveil new products and updates. It seems as though many people simply react emotionally and forget to check out facts. I am not going to presume that I know all the facts. I can intelligently state that I support BOTH Windows and Macintosh computers, and that I strongly lean towards the Mac side in a toe-to-toe debate. Dollar-for-dollar and pound-for-pound, I firmly believe that Apple puts out the most consistent performers and at competitive prices. Apple is not selling computers, but an experience, period. Microsoft sells software and some hardware, and Dell, HP, et. al., sells hardware. None of them sell an experience. The total package. The irony here is that not everyone likes that…and THAT is what makes choice so awesome. For all you fine folks that want a CHEAP laptop that may be relevant for three or four years, go find the cheapest one out there, and six, seven, even eight years from now, when you are on your third or even fourth cheap laptop, I will STILL be using my MacBook from 2008.

smz…

By: Kyle, Nashville, TN

Kyle, Nashville, TN — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 07:21:18 +0000

I used to work for Dell and I know how cheap they are made. I've recently purchased a Mac and love it. I will never buy a Dell again.

By: Kurt, Sterling Heights, MI

Kurt, Sterling Heights, MI — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:40:56 +0000

Why would I buy a Mac? It runs more software than any Windows machine, it's almost virus free, it's far easier to use, the Safari browser actually conforms to web standards, and it's about the same price when configured similarly to a Windows machine.

Oh yea, now I remember why I'd buy a Mac.

By: Rob

Rob — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 03:31:25 +0000

Are you kidding me? The article reads "This year, consumers seem likely to be excited about laptops that are thin and lightweight yet affordable.". It's a bit of an insult to the consumer market to put out more overpriced macbooks and macbook pros when most of us don't really have the money to buy them. Another push for consumers to live way beyond their means may not work this time around. This is what bothers me even more… "And analysts expect Apple will lower prices in a nod to tough economic times – entry-level MacBooks will cost as little as $800 or $900, nearly 20 percent less than the current prices." Yeah, good luck on getting Apple to cut their profit margins. Why spend $1300 on a Macbook if one can get a Thinkpad T400 for $800-900? I think consumers will get excited about staring at a $2000 Macbook Pro on display and check it out at an Apple store. But honestly, I think this year (and holiday season) belongs to the netbooks – Acer One, Lenovo s10, Asus 1000, and MSI Winds, and listen Dell and HP's are not winning here either. Myself, I'm getting a 6-cell battery MSI Wind for less than $500 and putting Leopard OS X on it, and will he very pleased with my a.k.a. Mac netbook. I spent 4 hours on my friend's MSI wind macbook outside on campus and was sold. I'm more excited about this ultra-portable than I ever was about an Apple product. I am able to do everything I need to do with this netbook which is thin, lightweight, AND actually affordable. Or I could get a $399 Lenovo s10. For Xmas, I plan on gettting 2 more Atom CPU netbooks for my family members who need a cheap portable laptop. One could say I am cheating Apple by running Leopard OS X on a cheap and beautiful well-built MSI Wind that resembles a mini-white macbook. But it's Apple who's been cheating me all this time making me pay premium for components I could get at a half price. Honestly, I'm tired of getting ripped off. I think consumers are too… especially when articles like this keep reminding us how Apple "makes something like 25 cents on the dollar" for every computer it sells. I think Jobs is good at knowing what consumers want (or think they want), but not what they need.

By: LMurphy, Jersey City, NJ

LMurphy, Jersey City, NJ — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:55:29 +0000

I've had my iMac for 3 yrs & it has been worth every penny. I went thru 4 PCs before switching to iMac & was constantly spending money for upgrades, virus protection, geek squad to come in & get rid of viruses that bypassed virus protection. I've had no serious problems w/ my iMac. Once in a while there might be a brain freeze which I can usually resolve w/out any tech support. I do not think I would ever buy a PC again. Especially not a cheap PC. There are always hidden unforeseen costs. As they say you get what you pay for & a cheap PC just gets you aggravation. W/ Mac you know exactly what it costs & what you're getting & that you don't have to worry about aggravation. Sure if I was a techy maybe I'd get a cheap PC because I could always fiddle w/ it but I am not a techy & it takes me 4 times as long to fiddle as it would a techy to fiddle so I am done w/ PCs since I do not have the time or inclination to waste huge amounts of time fiddling w/ a PC to get it to work, not usually correctly, but just to work at all.

By: Chris, Annapolis, MD

Chris, Annapolis, MD — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:54:01 +0000

I purchased a 17" Dell Studio 17", 4GB, Core2, etc, etc, which is a briliant computer, Vista and all. Its sleek and more customizable than the Mac, including the color (I got blood red).

Vista has been out several years and is not the annoyance it is portrayed to be in the commercials. Mac is about image.

By: Roger Knights, Seattle, WA

Roger Knights, Seattle, WA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:39:39 +0000

A more pungent way to phrase the opening is this:

"Apple doesn't have to outrun the bear, it just has to outrun Ballmer.

By: Roger Knights, Seattle, WA

Roger Knights, Seattle, WA — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 20:17:43 +0000

"Great article, I love the opening."

I agree