Running Out of Reasons

Motley Fool has a pro/con type of argument thing going on for Apple. The pro arguments are pretty straightforward. I think that piece neglects some major highlights, but space is limited.

The con arguments are actually more interesting, as they illustrate how few reasons one really has. Unlike the pro argument, the con is half about the author's personal experiences with products, and half financials.

I'll leave the stock analysis to someone else, but I wanted to look at the product comments:

'Think different?' I've always found this key slogan in Apple's marketing to be troubling, and not just because it shows that CEO Steve Jobs needs to brush up on his fifth-grade grammar. (Hey Stev-o, buy yourself an adverb!)

    
I didn't realize people were still contemplating this, but for the record it's "Think 'Different'", as in "Think 'Picasso'". Please none of this "Think Picassoly". But I don't think the slogan is even in use anymore.

Count the PC vs. Mac software packages at your neighborhood Best Buy.

    
I think this would have been a reasonable point of contention five years ago, but the reality is that today, a substantial portion of those packages on the shelf for Windows are simply trying to mimic what Apple is offering in iMovie, iPhoto, iTunes, iDVD, GarageBand, Final Cut, DVD Studio Pro etc.

So you can have any number of cheap imitations or you can have the one that works well. Not to mention the entire category in Best Buy that are "utilities" designed to maintain the machine. That's not a category you want to lead in.

I've worked with Macs for well more than a decade, and though they've gotten more stylish, they haven't necessarily gotten any better, especially compared with the competition

    
Again, I feel like this was written in 1999. Honestly, who can say that Mac OS X is not leading the industry in desktop operating systems?

The author goes on to comment about his experiences with the print-based design industry and how Apple doesn't revolve everything it does around that segment anymore. I believe this is true, and the reason (I think) is largely that print-based design organizations are glacially slow at purchasing upgrades. It's not a good market for Apple to hinge its profits on.

Meanwhile, Apple has swooped in on the video, audio and motion design industries with Final Cut Pro/Express, Logic, Soundtrack, DVD Studio, Shake, Motion, etc. Apple has a real ability to differentiate itself here, as well as the sciences and IT. These are the professional markets it is pursuing right now.

So while I can understand the author's position on his particular industry, his mistake is in assuming that everybody who owns a Mac does what he does for a living. Apple's hardware and software platforms are in the midst of a major renaissance, and things are going to get mighty interesting with Tiger. The author might have to rethink his stance shortly.

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