The age of Steve Jobs is falling further and further behind us and investors are concerned about the future of Apple.
There are six areas of concern:
- Mobile Marketshare Loss
- Developers
- Lawsuits
- Delays
- Apple’s New HQ
- Negative Analyst Comments
While these may be concerns for financial investors, I don’t know that it should be a worry for users.
Take a closer look:
Has Apple Peaked?
[Click for Larger]
What I find the most curious about these “concerns” is that it completely avoids Apple’s history and foundational appeal to users. Apple’s ability to innovate and create easy to use and well crafted tools. If Apple can continue to do that, I think they’ll be fine and continue to rise in favorability.
What do you think? Has Apple peaked?
[via Computer Science Degree Hub | Image via Pixel Fantasy via Compfight cc]
Alex Welgraven says
I always find the “Apple needs to sell cheaper phones” argument humorous. Because that worked so well for the PC Wars in the 2000’s, right? The race to the bottom is always a losing enterprise. Apple makes premium products at a premium price. Period.
While Dell, Gateway, Compaq, eMachines, HP, and other PC makers fought tooth and nail for lower and lower profit margins, Apple continued their premium price/premium product strategy. And where are most of those PC makers now? Bankrupt. Gone. Forgotten. While Apple still over-performs in an over-saturated PC market.
Eric Dye says
Very true. I love that line, “race to the bottom.” Great points, Alex. I agree.
Andrew Fallows says
I think Apple is nearing an inflection point, and how they pivot will determine whether they’ve peaked, or whether they’re only just about to scale that peak. Apple has always been a company touting the premium product, the one with the simplicity of use and the carefully crafted design. But for a certain portion of the market, their products will never be ideal, for a couple reasons.
I dislike using Apple products because they always make me feel like Apple looks down on me. I feel like my hand is being held and I’m not being trusted with my own decisions. Comparing Android to iOS or Linux to OSX, what you find is that the former may require more learning and effort, but the end result is a product that you’ve made your own which rarely gets in the way of what you want to do. When I use Apple products, I constantly have to check my assumptions and give up doing something the way I want to do it, and do it The Apple Way.
Obviously, for many the extra level of control is unnecessary and distracting, so what Apple offers is ideal. But it’s my amateur estimation that until Apple offers more products that put authority, control, and customization more fully in the user’s hands, they’ll never capture much market share among people like me.
Eric Dye says
It’s true. Apple will not capture this market. Perhaps they won’t ever try to capture this market. When you build a product that has a niche edge to it, you’re always going to peak out earlier than those who are trying to capture everyone. Perhaps a better question isn’t if they have peaked, but can they sustain.