Apple: What’s Not to Love?
By Steve Reiter Oct 22, 2009 10:15 am
From the iPod to the MacBook, Apple’s products rock.
Before October 2001, the portable, digital-music-player market was fledgling and boring. At the time, I owned a Samsung something-or-other -- an awkwardly shaped, software-challenged piece of equipment that held about 20 songs. It wasn’t until several months after the release that I got a glimpse of my first iPod. I knew the moment I saw an LCD display and a touch wheel that the game had changed forever. And that I had to have one.
While Apple (AAPL) may not always be the first out of the gate, it tends to quickly surpass the competition with style and originality.
The iPod -- the jump-start to this company’s resurgence -- has evolved and improved since its debut. First it got smaller and sleeker. Then it could play high-quality videos. Then it got a touch screen. Now it has a video recorder on it.
With the iPod came another ground-breaker, the iTunes music player and music store. The software runs seamlessly to update and transfer files to the MP3 player. It’s also an online store where you can buy music that automatically downloads to your library and iPod. Oh yeah, it also has a top-notch on-screen music player.
Remember what we were using before? WinAmp? I just have to laugh.
Apple stock has exploded from single-digit territory to a mammoth near-$200 level in eight short years. See the historical chart below.
Click to enlarge
Along the way, a slew of innovations kept it trucking along. The iPhone and Apple TV highlight the list. These are sleek and really cool, but one other thing stands above the rest: The line of MacBooks and its operating systems (latest version is Snow Leopard) is more functional and faster than any of its few competitors. Tack on that it’s virtually virus-free and crash-free.
I made the switch from a desktop Dell (DELL) PC to a MacBook Pro about three years ago and I think I added 10 years to my life. The Mac starts when I want it to, runs software quickly, and -- once you give it a chance -- it’s simple and easy to master. I recently upgraded to the Snow Leopard operating system without a hitch.
Apple’s all-star lineup of products wouldn’t have had the same impact if they weren't able to integrate perfectly with each other. Each one complements the next so well, it creates a world within itself.
Head to the iTunes online store and download an episode of your favorite show, for example. Then, with a simple transfer, take it with you on your iPod or iPhone for your commute, or watch it on your big screen in hi-def with Apple TV.
When Steve Jobs is on the road and there’s a song he likes on the radio, he doesn’t have to wait for anything. He says, “I think there’s an app for that.” Then he whips out his iPhone, downloads the application that tells you a song’s name just by the sound of it, connects to the iTunes store from there, and buys the song.
What can I say? That’s just really cool. It makes sense for both me as the consumer and for Apple’s business.
People talk about the cultish following Apple has attracted over the years. But given the strength it’s shown investors throughout this economic downturn, are there any doubters left out there?
The latest earnings report from Cupertino, California, is evidence enough that this stock still has room to run. CFO Peter Oppenheimer must have had a smug look on his face when he announced that revenue grew 25% year over year and that Mac and iPhone sales hit record highs. Across the board it was positive for Apple as it recorded its most profitable quarter ever. (See the entire conference call transcript here.)
Now back to my new favorite hobby: waiting for Apple’s next product release.
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No positions in stocks mentioned.
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2009-10-22 11:04:29
Love the Products, Hate the Board
Apple has the most insular, self-dealing board in corporate America. They managed to cover up both cancer and a LIVER TRANSPLANT on Steve Jobs.
I believe Mr. Job's health is, in fact, material information which legally and ethically needs to be shared with investors. The argument that it's a private matter would only apply if Apple was a private company or Jobs had retired.
I love the products, admire the company's output and have even made money on the stock. But they simply can't be trusted to look out for the shareholder; it's more a happy accident that the stock has performed so well.
Good article, however. So good that I had to read it and go ahead and answer your rhetorical question.
- Macke
I believe Mr. Job's health is, in fact, material information which legally and ethically needs to be shared with investors. The argument that it's a private matter would only apply if Apple was a private company or Jobs had retired.
I love the products, admire the company's output and have even made money on the stock. But they simply can't be trusted to look out for the shareholder; it's more a happy accident that the stock has performed so well.
Good article, however. So good that I had to read it and go ahead and answer your rhetorical question.
- Macke
2009-10-23 02:48:29
Apple?
Coming from a dim witted writer who knows very little about technology, I find it amusing to find you critisize Samsung and other companies for the lack of innovation in their electronics.
Samsung provides Apple with the majority of Apple's Flash memory processors and beta processing units for their ipods and iphones. That could be why the ipod actually runs pretty smoothly. LG provides Apple with displays that a sharp and bright. Gee right, Apple really was a leader in electronics technology. BS non-sense.
Beyond, who is really an industry leader, in which APPLE is NOT. How about mentioning the negatives about Apple corporation. First, Why can't you remove the hard-drive, the battery, or the RAM unit? Don't you think as a consumer, you would start to question why Apple is participating in these anti-consumer practices?
Secondly, Apple is at least charging 50% mark-up to a similar product in the same category. As a consumer who values money, where is the need to empty my wallet on an Apple product, when a PC or Samsung phone would achieve virtually the same task at a much cheaper price. The only conclusion to that question is that you personally liked being scammed out of your hard earned money. I wouldn't be surprised if you bow down the the King of the E-industry Steve "Jesus" Jobs.
So, please save the propaganda and the kool-aid. There are rational people who like products that provide value while giving options to consumers that make the consumer benefit. Besides all the non-sense with Apple being a technology leader, most people with an IT sense would laugh behindyour back if you said such gibberish.
Samsung provides Apple with the majority of Apple's Flash memory processors and beta processing units for their ipods and iphones. That could be why the ipod actually runs pretty smoothly. LG provides Apple with displays that a sharp and bright. Gee right, Apple really was a leader in electronics technology. BS non-sense.
Beyond, who is really an industry leader, in which APPLE is NOT. How about mentioning the negatives about Apple corporation. First, Why can't you remove the hard-drive, the battery, or the RAM unit? Don't you think as a consumer, you would start to question why Apple is participating in these anti-consumer practices?
Secondly, Apple is at least charging 50% mark-up to a similar product in the same category. As a consumer who values money, where is the need to empty my wallet on an Apple product, when a PC or Samsung phone would achieve virtually the same task at a much cheaper price. The only conclusion to that question is that you personally liked being scammed out of your hard earned money. I wouldn't be surprised if you bow down the the King of the E-industry Steve "Jesus" Jobs.
So, please save the propaganda and the kool-aid. There are rational people who like products that provide value while giving options to consumers that make the consumer benefit. Besides all the non-sense with Apple being a technology leader, most people with an IT sense would laugh behindyour back if you said such gibberish.
2009-11-04 23:36:29
Innovation? Or taking ideas from other and releasing it before others do?
The spirit of the ipod, even the touch, was or is to be an Mp3 Player. When other Mp3 players have better sound quality, you do not have the best in the market. Let's move to multimedia.. video and photos. When other multimedia devices in the market have a bigger screen or a brighter, higher resolution, more colorful screen, you aren't the best. You simply know how to brainwash people with Ads or statements, to dominate the market. For the iPod Touch there is the Zune HD. For all other iPods are the equivalent Zune models, all with better sound quality, picture quality, a better software (iTune looks really old and outdated next to the Zune software) and you'll have something different, instead of being another common iPod user.
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