Hardware change Apple could make to put itself in a better postion.

1) A value Seres.
Apple may make great hardware but it is too upscale in terms of both price and performance for the overwhelming majority of users. As I said in the previous blog, they are also difficult to find for all but the most determined switcher. I propose they deal with both issues at once while retaining Apple's profits and image. by introducing a retail only value line of computers available preferably at Target. I choose Target for three main reasons. First They are present in most metropolitan and even some larger micropolitan areas. Second, they are upscale of the discount retailers like Wal-Mart and the electronics retailers. Lastly, since they do not deal in computers at the retail level as present, there would be no low paid PC zealots to steer customers to a nice HP instead. It would be in their best interest to sell the customer a Mac rather than Wal-Mart or Best Buy sell them a PC.

The computers themselves would be simple modifications of the low end Macbook, iMac, and Mac Mini. The CPU would be changed to a far cheaper single core 1.6ghz Celeron M 420, the SO-DIMMs would be 533mhz instead of 667, and in the case of the iMac, the 160 gig hard drive would be reduced to 80. The front row remote would also be extra, but the iSight camera would be retained. Since they would be retail only and not available direct from Apple, BTO configurations would not be available. Prices would be $799 for both the Macbook and iMac and $499 for the Mini. Intended consumers include budget switchers, Mac users who would like a second computer for the kiddies, or those looking for a light duty laptop as a second computer. As of current, not many of these sales are headed towards Apple.

2) A 15.4" (non-Pro) Macbook
One of the largest markets for computers these days are 15" integrated graphics notebooks. Take a guess who's missing the party? While some may argue that such a machine would steal from the MBPs, I don't believe so. Volume customers are not likely to go for the $2000 price tag of the MBP and MBP customers would not take kindly to the slower CPU and integrated graphics of the Macbook. Taking a cue from both the PC side and iBooks, the 15" Macbook would replace the second level 13" machine at the $1299 price point. the low end 13" model would drop $100 to meet the iBook's $999 price point. Both machines would be available in black for a fee. A value series (see above) 15" would come in at $999.

3) A Core 2 Duo Mac Pro
With the advent of the Mac Pro and the 24" iMac, Apple believes it has the perfect lineup to for users to trade in those old lower end PowerMacs. Unfortunately these users would be quick to disagree, let alone converts from the PC prosumer ranks. While neither computer is lacking on power or features, the Mac Pro's $2200 starting price and the nearly complete lack of expansion capabilities of the iMac make these unattractive to higher end consumers and value professionals that make up the prosumer ranks. Apple could change this somewhat easily though by releasing a Core 2 Duo variant of the Mac Pro. A Core 2 Duo/975x combination would allow a feature set similar to the current Xeon/5000x set up for a a much lower price. $500 less to be exact for a single processor 2.66ghz system using the same 1gb of 667ghz DDR2 RAM, 250GB Hard drive, 16x DVD burner and a low end quadro card using Dell's precision series.

4) A few more graphics choices for the Mac Pro would be nice.
For a professional system, the video card choices for the Mac Pro are surprisingly few graphics options. Three to be exact and only one of those is meant for graphics pros. Ironically that single card is also the most expensive on the market. Dell offers seven, all meant for professionals. If Apple, were to offer the GeForce 7600GT, Quadro FX560 Quadro , and FX1500, Apple would have its bases covered for the most part. If they want to offer a ultra high end consumer card, an option for the new GeForce 8800 series couldn't hurt.

5.) Add more options to the server line.
Nowhere does Apple's one size fits all attitude hurt them more is with servers. Yes, the xServe is a great product and it is much cheaper than Dell's equivalent offerings, but for some of a lighter fare $3000 is a lot of money. Apple needs an entry level 3000 series xServe to go with the current system. An xserve blade wouldn't be a bad idea either.

Welcome

I guess I should have posted this first, but that's not exactly the way it worked out. Welcome to Iowa Mac Blogger. My goal for this site is to offer my perspective on all thing's Mac, iPod, or whatever else Apple may pull out of their rear end. First of all, unlike some others, my intent is not to rubber stamp everything Apple does. I will sing their praise when they deserve it and take them to task when warranted. I'm going to keep this brief, so I'd like to close by thanking those who choose to read this.

Five Simple Moves Apple Could Make to Improve its Position.

Apple as a company is doing great. Profits are way up, notebook sales are way up, and the iPod continues to dominate the portable music player market. However it could be even better. Apple's consumer desktops haven't seen the same growth as their portable brethren. Apple, for all the amazing things it does, also has an unfortunate knack for keeping itself down by boneheaded decisions. The aim of this article is to suggest five things Apple could to to help its position. These moves are meant to be things that Apple could realistically make without much effort that would improve the viability of the Mac platform.

1) Include iWork on all new Macs
Until last January I could not remember the last time a consumer PC shipped without a basic productivity suite. Apple unfortunately broke that streak. I don't know Apple's reasoning behind not including iWork or Appleworks with new Macs. It could be a feeble attempt to get another $80 out of the buyer, it could be iWork not being finished, or it could be some misguided ideal that the word processor and spreadsheet are somehow obsolete for the average computer user, the point is it weakens Apple's position. Buyers on the fence are not likely to buy a Mac or recommend one if they know they or their kids aren't able to so much as type a report. Yes, they can download NeoOffice, but doesn't that completely fly in the face of Apple's out of the box and go philosophy? iWork isn't perfect, but it is better than the nothing Apple includes now.

2) Make Macs more available.
Hewlett Packard has one major advantage over Apple: availability. In the windows world, checking out the latest hardware is only as far away as your nearest Wal-Mart, Circuit City, Best Buy, or office supply chain. It is quite easy to see what you get before plunking down the cash. For the Mac it isn't quite that simple these days. In most cases, you have to travel hours to your nearest major metropolitan mall, try to find a parking spot, and then wait in line until the overworked Apple store employees can help you. Most long time Mac users find this inconvenient. Switchers, especially those who are not as affluent might find this to be a deal breaker. Apple has two options here: they can either go with full chain distribution with Best Buy and Circuit City or they can add Apple stores for regional coverage. These regional stores may be less profitable than those in major malls, but it would leave the Mac sales out of the hands of Best Buy Salesmen.

3) Acquire Elgato Systems and systems and integrate their products.
Compared to Windows MediaCenter Edition 2005, Front Row and iLife has one glaring deficiency, the lack of a PVR program. While this is mostly likely to protect iTunes TV show sales, it does more harm than good. Apple could rectify this quite easily by purchasing Elgato systems and its EyeTV line. In terms of full integration with existing software, Elgato has done much of the work. Apple would just have to complete the connections. In addition, Elgato offers quality hardware products to match the software. This purchase would instantly make the iMac a very attractive media center PC and perhaps, even a replacement for the television as well.

4) Acquire Transgaming Technologies or the Cider software.
If Apple is to become a bigger player on the consumer front, they must address the problem of computer gaming. Even in the edutainment and family markets Apple comes up way short. If little Johnny wants to play Half Life and it he can't play it on an iMac, the family isn't getting a Mac. A potential holy grail has been discovered and its name is Cider. Cider allows PC games to be ported to the Mac easily while retaining a single code base with only a small performance hit. In real world terms, this could amount to Mac versions shipping in box with the PC versions. While there was a lot of skepticism at first, reports from very credible individuals say it works exactly as advertised. There are two problems: number one, it's only applicable to Intel Macs. That can be rectified by time and new blood from the PC ranks. The second is a little more complicated. The rights to Cider rest in the hands of a small company called Transgaming Technologies. Since they are small, their fees have to be able to cover development costs. Apple, on the other hand, could afford to practically give away cider in order to gain something far more valuable, hardware sales. Like Elgato, Transgaming could be a relatively in expensive acquisition.

5) Return display pricing to reality.
Apple makes top notch displays to match its computers. However, their ludicrous prices make them nearly impossible to justify for all but the most die hard Mac user. To put this in perspective Apple's 20”, 23”, and 30” displays are $699, $999, and $1999. While not as stylish by any means, Dell offers nearly the exact same displays at $289, $799, and $1499. The $799 model offers the newer 24-inch panel Same one that's used in the iMac by the way While some up premium is to be expected, $400 in the 20” and $500 in the 30” are excessive even for Apple. If Apple were to reduce their prices to say $349, $899, and $1599 Apple would find themselves selling quite a few more displays.

While these suggestions would not guarantee Mac sales, they would take away many of the road blocks potential switchers may face. The ball is now in Apple's court to listen.