Market Infiltration via iPod
The latest Mac vs. PC commercial has gotten me thinking. Normally, I hate those commercials with a passion. I still have the urge to punch Justin Long (the actor who portrays Mac) in the face for some of the things coming out of his mouth. As someone who has worked with both PCs and Macs since the early-90s, I think the claim that Macs are easier to use while being more capable is just plain bunk.
Plus, the Mac messages in those commercials present a tone much like the AOL promos of old—“Oh, computers/the internet is so scary and difficult. You better allow us to idiot-proof it for you.” I don’t like the sales tactic of telling people that they shouldn’t even hope to think that they can fix their own problems or customize their own machines. “It’s not worth understanding this computer when we already have it set up exactly as you need it.”
How many Mac users who do not actually understand their Dock do you know?
I also thought that Apple’s claim of a better computer was nonsensical given how much of the company’s attention has been diverted to consumer electronics over recent years. But now, I may have come to realize Apple’s greater company strategy.
The most recent Mac vs. PC commercial (Pep Rally) has PC surrounded by college cheerleaders. The set up is that since Mac is such a popular computer on campuses, PC needed this appeal to compete.
And here, I finally got the point of pushing the iPod. People buy what they know. Apple jumped ahead in the mp3 player market by selling style and ease of use. The teenagers bought in. Then the kids got them too (along with many adults).
Now these teenagers are in college. Both the students and their parents are used to Apple and the Apple Store. So they buy Apple computers. The kids will follow in suit when their time comes, sustaining the trend.
Soon, these college students will go into the workplace. They’ll still prefer the familiarity of Macs. Then the employees will become the managers and the business decision makers. I bet Apple is planning on their loyalty.
Twenty years from now, could our computing landscape be vastly different? If this is really Apple’s scheme, it’s intriguing and whip smart. I used to think that Apple stock is overpriced. But now, if they can maintain the popularity of the iPods and cut into the dominance of PCs in the computer market, they still have a lot of room in which to grow.
If they could change the consumers, they will change the program developers. Then, Macs may actually, truly improve in their functionalities.