CASE 1 APPLE COMPUTER, INC.: PEOPLE AND DESIGN CREATE APPLE’S FUTURE Apple Computer paradoxically exists as both one of America’s greatest successes and one of its greatest failures to achieve potential. It ignited the personal computer industry in the 1970’s (1), bringing such behemoths as IBM and Digital Equipment almost to their knees. At the same time, Apple is an example of opportunities lost. It represents a fascinating microcosm of American business as it continues to utilize its strengths while reinventing itself. Corporate History (2) The history of Apple Computer is a history of passion among its founders, employees, and loyal users. A pair of Stevens, who from an early age had an interest in electronics, started it. …show more content…
It remains locked in constant boom-or-bust cycles, dependent on its ability to turn out a stream of new product hits. What Does the Future Hold? Apple is faced with a stark reality: Can it continue to offer both hardware and software solutions in a rapidly changing technology environment? Its early decision to keep its technology proprietary, as opposed to IBM’s decision to support an open architecture system, has proved to be a costly strategy to support in the long run. Some argue that Apple should reinvent itself once again, and this time it should concentrate on software. Apple is gradually admitting that it can no longer afford to fight the Wintel system, the combination of Microsoft’s Windows operating system and the Intel processor. Apple’s new product introductions fail to attract many present non-Mac users — just 15 per cent of its revenues come from Wintel customers. (5) Apple is betting that its new operating system, the Mac OS X, will be a big hit with computer users. It is the largest update in the operating system since it was first released in the mid-1980s. Recognizing the need to attract new Mac users rather than just recycle present Apple enthusiasts, Apple is emphasizing the compatibility of their system with Windows. “The transition to a Mac is easy in part because you’ll continue to use the same
One of the major challenges facing Apple was to get the appropriate replacement of the company’s visionary Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Steve Jobs who died on October 2011. The CEO was responsible for turning Apple into what it is today. Apple is in this case challenged to purse the strategies employed by Steve, that propelled the company to new heights, and which saw the company become a
Since 1976 Apple’s innovation has helped the company become a market leader in computer and mobile electronics. Through this time the company has faced a number of challenges either it be an internal power struggles or criticism from the media for certain aspects of their business model. This report covers five different issues that the company is facing or may face in the future.
Issue 03: The weak area of Apple Inc. is the fact that most of its products are all available in the market. Consumers around the world have many options to popular hardware and software devices and operating systems. Since PCs are the one that are
Mac vs. Windows The goals of innovating programming companies is to attract their ideal population of consumers in order to maximize profit for the success of the company. Microsoft and Apple both have and value a unique, revolutionizing method to maintain their fan base and attract new consumers to their side of the battlefield. Fortunately, for the consumer, this leads to competition, which in terms give the consumer a better value in order for companies to fight for society’s dollar; thus, giving the consumer a wide variety of options for their preferred purchases. Despite these differences, the consumer also notice similar patterns and ways both Microsoft and Apple market their product, whether it is hardware or software.
CASE ANALYSIS 1 - APPLE COMPUTER: RESEARCH HOW APPLE MANAGED TO REINVENT ITSELF OVER THE YEARS.
Since the founding of Apple Inc, Steve Jobs, and his partners, have always given Apple’s products the most unique ideas in the World. In the article “The perils of best practice: Should you emulate Apple?” the author mentions that Apple is always the company that brings never before seen
Today in this modern competitive business world, technology is moving very fast. New trends and new players are emerging with very fast pace in technology sector. And this is one of the key challenges Apple would face in coming future to find the way to remain top and sustainable company. Lack of innovation in Apple’s products, making it hard for Apple to have competitive advantage over its rivals. If Apple wants to be market leader and has competitive advantages over its rivals, Apple needs new products, not new designs for old products (Jay Yarow, 2013). Android and Microsoft Eco systems are the biggest challenges in coming future for Apple and may soon give Apple a run of its money.
Apple has done an excellent job of developing a very distinct strategy through industry leading innovation. This strategy has allowed them to be the frontrunners in new product introductions and the improvement of existing products. Apple has employed a differentiation strategy in an attempt to meet the needs of a global market by offering customers innovative new products and improved existing products. An important part of their strategy involves meeting the needs of the evolving digital electronics and computer markets. Apple has chosen to implement its strategy by designing and developing its
On January 24, 1984 Apple introduced the first commercially successful personal computer using a mouse and a graphical user interface[i].Since then the war between PC and Mac users has lived. Claims have been made that Apple is too expensive and PC’s are too slow and of cheap quality. After the introduction of Microsoft’s Windows in 1985 the PC market has been dominated due to Microsoft’s Windows operating system[ii]. The domination of the market is largely due to the flexibility of Windows. Microsoft developed their operating system to be compatible with any hardware created by any computer company such as Dell, HP, Sony, IBM, etc. Consequently, Apple’s operating system only worked with Apple’s proprietary hardware. With the
The company develops and creates new products on a yearly basis for all its categories to keep itself in the spotlight, ahead of the game, and constantly moving forward. However with the death of Apple’s founder and innovator Steve Jobs, this has proven to be a great handicap to the sustainability of the company and consumers has become sceptical and concerned about maintaining the uniqueness of Apple devices. Recently there has been the perception of a sacrifice in hardware capabilities for better design and better seen quality thus ruining Apple’s reputation in the eye of tech savvy consumers, who claim other competitors have better technology for a cheaper price (Yun Qing 2012) such as Samsung (Datamonitor 2011).
Nowadays, Apple has positioned itself to be an innovator in the personal computer industry and Apple has developed by offering modern products compared to its competitors. According to Apple’s mission statement last year, “Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App store, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with iPad.” (Business Management,
With Apple being so far ahead of their competition, the only problem one can foresee in Apple’s future is how long they can sustain such innovation before they plateau. Apple does a phenomenal job at releasing their innovative products before their competition, but if their innovation cannot hold steady, this may lead to changes in demand for their products considerably. This can be seen with their release of the iPhone, the first successful touch screen cellular phone. Although people swarmed to the iPhone when it was first released because of its advanced technology, as the years have passed, other similar designs, including those with android and windows based operating systems, have drawn a considerable portion of the market. A clear representation of Apple’s attempt to regain some of this market can be seen when the iPhone was released to Verizon Wireless’ customers in
Apple has always been something of a trendsetter in the tech space. Its product history since Steve Jobs’s return in 1997 gives us a solid list of examples to choose from, from its very first iPod, to Apple’s PowerBook (and later MacBook) lines, to the iPhone and the iPad. Apple’s history is dominated by products that existed before Apple had a crack at them - but it was Apple who simplified them, made them appealing on a much wider scale, and ultimately made them objects of desire for the masses.
Apple’s personal computers are known for their stylish design, ease of use, seamless integration of peripherals, and high performance NEVER were able to capture a great market share partly because of the proliferation of Windows in the business consumer production.
1. Apple is known to provide customers with a personal computer revolution that is easy-to-use machine. It was founded in 1976 by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. Apple was a success at the beginning period of its production due to marketing and technological innovation and the company has invented. Apple grew quickly as the development of the products increases and the revenue continued to grow. Apple’s business strategy is to focus its products on differentiation by providing a unique product that is impossible to clone and charges its products at a premium price. In 1983, Apple faced a difficulty because PC entered the market and was marketing their products at