Uh-oh.... Anybody following WWDC?

[Chipp Walters]

Richard,

This is one of the best and most concise explanations of Apple's 
marketing strategy I've ever read.

You could also mention Apple's well known marketing tactic of greating 
'artificial demand'-- which goes hand in hand with 'artificial supply.' 
They manipulate the supply to create the demand. Probably learned it 
from Microsoft, who seems to announce their new XXXX product only days 
after their competition.

Since 'Switching' to PC's in 96 when Apple went a full year w/out being 
able to supply our company with laptops, I can only hope they 'decide' 
to offer the Intel OSX on white-box computers. But, I'd be surprised if 
they did, as Jobs seems intent to provide both the hardware and software 
for all Apple products.

IMO, if they did offer an Intel OSX for *other* computers, they *might* 
be able to give MS (and esp. the much delayed and underpowered Longhorn) 
a run for their money.

best,

Chipp

Richard Gaskin wrote:

> Artificial demand is how Apple keeps itself and its vendors in sales. 
> They can't do it just a 2.5% marketshare, and if you take iPods out of 
> the picture their revenue position rather bites.
> 
> Apple can only stay afloat by selling the same product to the same 
> customers over and over.  We pay an annual OS X tax of $139, even though 
> the first two (arguably three) releases were of beta quality.  Sure, 
> there are the occassional switchers.  But I doubt many of the 2 million 
> Tiger sales went to them.
> 
> For vendors, Apple was the only major vendor who transitioned to USB 
> without continuing support for legacy ports.  This created an artificial 
> demand for new peripherals, and a lot of vendors who were leaving 
> decided to stay to cash in.  Apple needs vendors, vendors need 
> disproportionate sales to justify the disproportionate R&D.  It's good 
> for everyone -- except the consumer who gets the bill.