I have been thinking a bit about this lately. I've tried to figure out where Apple is going (in a larger picture sense of the word, not so much when is the G5 coming out).
I presume (and hope) that Apple's leadership has though carefully about long term company strategy (as well as short-term tactical moves).
The thing I wonder is if the Apple of (say) 2010 will really resemble the Apple we've seen for the past 25 years.
Here is my thinking. Clearly Apple has begun to take some "baby steps" into over types of devices (iPod for example, rumors of iCamera and iPhone too). While these devices form a "constellation" around the "hub" of a Mac. I cannot help but wonder if these are also the beginning stages of re-fashioning Apple into something else.
If you look at what Apple seems ot do well, I would characterize it as:
"blending digital hardware and software in compelling and approacable tools"
Perhaps badly worded, but I think you get the point. This kind of definition does not limit itself to "computers". I would LOVE and Apple digital camcorder. I would LOVE and Apple mobile phone (well, maybe SonyEricsson has this handled). I would LOVE Apple to do a decent remote control for my DVD player. I would love and Apple iClock (see thread on this elsewhere here).
Apple needs to find ways of growing its business. Traditionally many (including many so-called "experts") have viewed this in the form of expanded "computer" sales/market share. Surely that can be (and is) a component. But ultimiately must it be the only one?
The primary concern of Apple investors and (to a lesser extent) is Apple's ability to continue selling and profiting. Who is to say that this must be done in the way it has been done over the last 25 years. Maybe Apple has "lost" the computer war. But they are still in business. They are still delivering products that people enjoy, appreciate and value (for the most part). Can this be expanded (significantly) into other product spaces, all with at least a tangental relationship to their "core" business. Even to the point at which their "core" business changes?
I think about Sony as an example. What is Sony? A TV company? A stereo company? A computer company? A music company? All of these? None of these?
I wonder if this is Apple of the future:
Apple: Products for Your Digital Life.
Thoughts?
I presume (and hope) that Apple's leadership has though carefully about long term company strategy (as well as short-term tactical moves).
The thing I wonder is if the Apple of (say) 2010 will really resemble the Apple we've seen for the past 25 years.
Here is my thinking. Clearly Apple has begun to take some "baby steps" into over types of devices (iPod for example, rumors of iCamera and iPhone too). While these devices form a "constellation" around the "hub" of a Mac. I cannot help but wonder if these are also the beginning stages of re-fashioning Apple into something else.
If you look at what Apple seems ot do well, I would characterize it as:
"blending digital hardware and software in compelling and approacable tools"
Perhaps badly worded, but I think you get the point. This kind of definition does not limit itself to "computers". I would LOVE and Apple digital camcorder. I would LOVE and Apple mobile phone (well, maybe SonyEricsson has this handled). I would LOVE Apple to do a decent remote control for my DVD player. I would love and Apple iClock (see thread on this elsewhere here).
Apple needs to find ways of growing its business. Traditionally many (including many so-called "experts") have viewed this in the form of expanded "computer" sales/market share. Surely that can be (and is) a component. But ultimiately must it be the only one?
The primary concern of Apple investors and (to a lesser extent) is Apple's ability to continue selling and profiting. Who is to say that this must be done in the way it has been done over the last 25 years. Maybe Apple has "lost" the computer war. But they are still in business. They are still delivering products that people enjoy, appreciate and value (for the most part). Can this be expanded (significantly) into other product spaces, all with at least a tangental relationship to their "core" business. Even to the point at which their "core" business changes?
I think about Sony as an example. What is Sony? A TV company? A stereo company? A computer company? A music company? All of these? None of these?
I wonder if this is Apple of the future:
Apple: Products for Your Digital Life.
Thoughts?