Apple products are quality, no doubt. And for all the right reasons their popularity has never been higher. But one must think how Apple squandered away the opportunity (gift) that was Vista. It has been perfect timing for Apple to capture a larger market share but they didn’t. They didn’t offer a product that catered to the many people like myself; whether it be a netbook, a mid-range desktop or a business laptop. Perhaps they were too focused on the iPods and iPhone market.
At the end of last year, I was in the market for a new PC as my laptop died and my other PC was just out of date to run any programs. I had seriously debated of heading to the Apple store and picking up a MacBook Pro or an iMac. I still had my reservations because even though friends that switched over the Mac couldn’t stop praising it, I could not drop $2,000 on a system I am unsure about. I had no prior experience with the Mac OS X and the only thing Apple I owned was the iPhone and previously an iPod mini. No matter how much time you spend at the Apple store, I really need a more intimate, quiet setting to fully realize and be comfortable with a new OS.
Unfortunately, there really wasn’t an Mac for me as I felt more comfortable in a PC environment knowing that I can upgrade my system, swap out hardware at any time made me more secure. I guess for all the people that were looking for a new computer during the Vista-era, Linux probably gained most consumer attention. Add in the the cost factor – I couldn’t say it better but “for desktop users, our current choices are the underpowered, yet still overpriced Mac mini, the limited expandability of the iMac line, and the powerful but appropriately pricey Mac Pro.” (Michael Scalisi, PC World) That quote right there hit the spot and is exactly what I felt when searching for options for my next computer.
Too bad for Apple because it really was a great opportunity to gain market share. The iPhone allowed you to market to all mobile phone users and no doubt when these users were looking for their next computer, Apple was definitely an option. But at a hefty price tag for the Mac Pro or lower price tag for under-whelming Mac mini and almost un-upgradeable iMac, you sure lost many consumers like myself.
I guess too bad I won’t have a matching desktop Mac to match my iPhone.