AAPL has a long way to go, assuming that MSFT doesn't continue to tumble. At the current rate, AAPL will have to go to about $250 to catch up. Of course that number decreases as MSFT falls.
Operating systems do not sell computers. Ordinary folks are not going to rush out and buy Windows7. Sure the fanboys will, accounting for a tiny market.
But will Windows7 slow down the switcher movement? Now that's the real question.
Today its all about buying "an experience" - something that Apple excels at. Microsoft cannot sell "an experience" since they do not control the whole widget.
And the Apple "experience" is the synergy between hardware, software, online services, top-notch marketing and great customer support.
So fear not, Mac adoption and all things Apple will continue to rise well into the future, and the Windows userbase will continue to slide.
Microsoft will have to replace the management team and corporate mentality for one with (insert long laundry list) in order to compete with future competition, be it Apple, Linux or who what ever. Hardware manufactures are going to start looking at Apples successes and want a piece of the action.
Microsoft is riding on their status quo and reacting to the market, until this changes, Microsoft place in the market will decline.
I think the two are starting to target different markets. True both sell an operating system. However MS pitches Windows at the general market whereas Apple sells to a niche market. Apple has diversified successfully whereas MS hasn't. As time wears on I think you'll find it harder to compare the two companies on an equal scale.
As many people have pointed out in the past, the companies work in vastly different ways. apple is primarily a hardware company. ms is primarily a software company. furthermore, i foresee the future of apple's profits coming from things like the iphone and other portable devices/subscriptions. Their computers, while stunning, are luxury items. They have 90% of the market which accounts for <10% of the whole of computers. Strictly in terms of computers, comparing apple to microsoft is like comparing aston martin to goodyear (well lets pretend aston martin makes their own tires). Microsoft should cheer that apple stays in the luxury bracket, they just want to be on the majority of all computers sold, of course preferring the market to not lean toward netbooks where their os is so much cheaper.
MS should focus less on battling apple, and more on stemming adoption of linux and chrome os. They have a big advantage over both of those OS's in that google and linux are developed by geeks, people who long ago forgot what it is like to not spend your life on the computer. people who forgot that the vast majority of people do not memorize large numbers of keyboard shortcuts, that most people simply use their mouse to do everything. Linux is not intuitive, I don't care what you say. The fact that you have to open a terminal and type in weird confusing words in order to download programs, and then that you have to compile them yourself. Seriously, what is that? Why would any average computer user choose such an intimidating OS?
Anyhow, as long as apply remains a luxury brand, I do not think they can reach ms market cap as ms targets the "common people."
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Some references: AAPL at
Some references:
AAPL at closing was at 140.7B
MSFT was at 227.5 but falling by 7% in after hours trading
Still a long way to go.
Microsoft earnings were a dissapointment while Apple's beat expectations. Also, NPD came out with some pretty amazing Stats. 91% of $1000+ computers were sold by Apple
It looks like a long year for Microsoft as it tries to get Yahoo's search. Meanwhile there sounds like there will be some surprises from Apple
AAPL has a long way to go,
AAPL has a long way to go, assuming that MSFT doesn't continue to tumble. At the current rate, AAPL will have to go to about $250 to catch up. Of course that number decreases as MSFT falls.
Next 5 to 10 years
Next 5 to 10 years
Operating systems do not sell
Operating systems do not sell computers. Ordinary folks are not going to rush out and buy Windows7. Sure the fanboys will, accounting for a tiny market.
But will Windows7 slow down the switcher movement? Now that's the real question.
Today its all about buying "an experience" - something that Apple excels at. Microsoft cannot sell "an experience" since they do not control the whole widget.
And the Apple "experience" is the synergy between hardware, software, online services, top-notch marketing and great customer support.
So fear not, Mac adoption and all things Apple will continue to rise well into the future, and the Windows userbase will continue to slide.
Microsoft will have to
Microsoft will have to replace the management team and corporate mentality for one with (insert long laundry list) in order to compete with future competition, be it Apple, Linux or who what ever. Hardware manufactures are going to start looking at Apples successes and want a piece of the action.
Microsoft is riding on their status quo and reacting to the market, until this changes, Microsoft place in the market will decline.
MS Vs. Apple
I think the two are starting to target different markets. True both sell an operating system. However MS pitches Windows at the general market whereas Apple sells to a niche market. Apple has diversified successfully whereas MS hasn't. As time wears on I think you'll find it harder to compare the two companies on an equal scale.
My two cents worth anyway.
Cheers ws
Apple is exploding?
Smells like class action lawsuit to me...
Apple is exploding?
Smells like class action lawsuit to me...
apples to microranges
As many people have pointed out in the past, the companies work in vastly different ways. apple is primarily a hardware company. ms is primarily a software company. furthermore, i foresee the future of apple's profits coming from things like the iphone and other portable devices/subscriptions. Their computers, while stunning, are luxury items. They have 90% of the market which accounts for <10% of the whole of computers. Strictly in terms of computers, comparing apple to microsoft is like comparing aston martin to goodyear (well lets pretend aston martin makes their own tires). Microsoft should cheer that apple stays in the luxury bracket, they just want to be on the majority of all computers sold, of course preferring the market to not lean toward netbooks where their os is so much cheaper.
MS should focus less on battling apple, and more on stemming adoption of linux and chrome os. They have a big advantage over both of those OS's in that google and linux are developed by geeks, people who long ago forgot what it is like to not spend your life on the computer. people who forgot that the vast majority of people do not memorize large numbers of keyboard shortcuts, that most people simply use their mouse to do everything. Linux is not intuitive, I don't care what you say. The fact that you have to open a terminal and type in weird confusing words in order to download programs, and then that you have to compile them yourself. Seriously, what is that? Why would any average computer user choose such an intimidating OS?
Anyhow, as long as apply remains a luxury brand, I do not think they can reach ms market cap as ms targets the "common people."