I read your article entitled, “Why Apple Always Had A Bitter Taste to IT” online and, well, it has elicited a response. I have used computers since the days of the Tandy TRS-80 (what we called “trash 80s”) and the Apple ][. I am an Engineer by profession and I routinely use computers of all makes and models. My technical background and experience make me the default “fix-it” person wherever I work. I personally prefer and own a Macintosh. |
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Apple has made many mistakes in its history; of that there is no question. When I read your article, I got the impression that you feel that the key element missing from Apple's game plan is corporate approval. I would like to go over several points in your article as well as some things which betray your real feelings about the subject (OK, OK, it was the fact that you write for PC Week that gave it away =:-) ). |
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First of all, I disagree with the premise that Apple’s only hope for the future is with the corporate world. To argue this is akin to arguing that Boeing has no hope if it can’t sell to the military. There are lots of other market segments. Also worth noting is that Apple is a personal computer, not an intimidating machine which only IT professionals are allowed to touch. People like things which are approachable, which give them warm fuzzies. This is part of the magical appeal which Mac users feel and partly why the Macintosh has enjoyed its relative success. What’s that? You don’t go for “warm fuzzies?” Are you reading this letter on your Windows 95 or NT 4.0 workstation...? |
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At one point in your article you introduce the fallacy that shelf space in computer store XYZ carries some meaningful message. This I consider a “low blow” since it has no bearing whatsoever on Apple’s success or failure. Ever go into CompUSA and try to buy a switch or FDDI cards? How about finding parts for that Aston Martin parked in your driveway at Pep Boys? Not having shelf space merely means that the item is a “specialty” or beyond the scope of the store, not obsolete. Unfortunately, this false notion of shelf space is perpetually thrust upon the masses by the different media and many users actually believe it. I’m sure you’ve heard this before, but many Mac users purchase accessories and software via mail order. Perhaps the PC world should consider this course since I have yet to find local suppliers of anything, be it PC or Mac related, that really, truly know their stuff. |
Not having shelf space merely means that the item is a “specialty” or beyond the scope of the store, not obsolete. | |
On to a different level. I have found that PC users, stereotypically speaking, seem to opine that it’s an all-or-nothing world out there, which leads many Mac users to feel like every PC user is out to exterminate the Mac’s existence. Mac users, being the minority, feel like they are fighting just for the right to coexist, to be recognized as an acceptable alternative to the Windows cartel. This is especially true in the work environment where many IT professionals feel like they are spread too thinly over too many computers. I have known many such professsionals, and about 75% of them had little or no experience with the Mac. Understandably, they were not particularly excited at the thought of having to support yet another, different platform. This leads us to what CAD vendors have long used in their marketing: people buy and recommend what they already know. They’d rather exclude the Mac from their departments because it will be less hassle for them (they usually state it as “saving the company money”). Does this mean that there is such a thing as the “perfect” product? Not in my experience, and that goes for the Mac as well. There is no one-shoe-size-fits-all. Should one IT person make tool decisions for potentially hundreds of others? To what point have we allowed ourselves to come? |
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One other related fallacy which I frequently hear is that Windows, in all its incarnations, constitutes just one platform. I don’t think that I have to go very far into this since we all know the problems caused by the differences between Windows 3.11, 95, and NT versions 3.51 and 4.0. If one company can manage to support what amounts to four different platforms, the argument for excluding the Mac for those who would like to use it carries a lot less weight. |
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As for your commentary on Apple’s migration to the Next OS, I felt that it was totally unfounded in light of Apple’s track record. Consider this: if Microsoft had even half the success with Windows 95 as Apple did with moving to the PowerPC chip, I wouldn’t still be debugging my coworkers’ Windows 3.11 machines. Talk about your fear factors! |
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Personally, I don’t like Windows. BUT, my opinion is that everyone should be allowed to use whatever hardware and software that they’re most comfortable with—freedom of choice. If some individual wants to use WordPerfect 5.0 for DOS, fine. Want to do your work on a Unix workstation? Great. After all, aren’t we technologically advanced enough to tolerate variety in hardware and software? I mean, all this so-powerful computer equipment and we can’t tolerate diversity? And here I thought that computers were just means to accomplish various ends! |
After all, aren’t we technologically advanced enough to tolerate variety in hardware and software? | |
You know, perhaps you’re right: when it comes to IT professionals, Apple never got it. But I’m glad that they didn’t. I don’t want to drive a mainstream Ford when I can choose to have a Porsche or an Alfa Romeo or a Honda instead (this example is supposed to make you realize that people have always wanted to differentiate themselves and express their individuality). I’m also glad that Mainframe computers didn’t make it into the home market, and those definitely qualify as pleasing the IT professionals (or they used to). In short, do IT professionals really know what’s good for all the rest of us, even at home? I sure hope you don’t think so, but that was some of what I got out of your article. Overall, your article was intriguing. But, if you would, I’d really appreciate you clearing up some of the false notions out there among your PC friends—I find discussions and opinion exchanges with PC users so much more productive when we all speak from fact. Thanks. |
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Matt Warner |
Mac OS X Server • Macintosh • Matt's Hack TV
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