This is how disconnected I have been

Murasama
https://mjtsai.com/blog/2016/10/27/new-macbook-pros-and-the-state-of-the-mac/

I just came across this.  I also never bothered to watch this particular “Hello Again” event because a larger majority of Apple’s recent media events have been mostly unexciting non-events that has been filled with rehashed progress updates that took way too long before Cook and company would get to the real meat.  Jobs could get away with that because his charisma would go into overdrive once he did get into the actual announcements.  The majority of Apple presenters now don’t command that sort of presence (the exception being Federighi more because he is funny).

In some regards, I’ve gotten a bit too complacent with actually keeping myself plugged in to the actual pulse of the community (so this whole thing with the Mac Pro has kicked me in the rear because it has me questioning big time, Apple’s leadership team).  And it turns out so many more individuals from Apple’s core base of Mac users are feeling the same way.

Let me just get to the point; there was a time when I felt that Tim Cook was the right person to lead Apple post-Jobs.  He’s a great operations person in terms of running a tight ship and that has been reflected in shareholder value.  But it is becoming more obvious that Apple is really losing its way when it comes to where they are focusing their energies at and making the right decisions on them.

I can’t really complain because the focus on mobile has been rewarding as a shareholder.  But all of that cannot come at the expense of forgetting and neglecting your roots.  No matter which way Apple executives have tried to paint it recently with words (about the Mac being important), the action in terms of how long many Mac product lines have gone without updates (or when updated, not being as well received as they thought it would be) is far more telling.

The above page has a huge number of snippets from many of Apple’s core demographic from several months ago.  Something like this did not happen overnight after that event either.  It’s been something that has been brewing over the last 2-3 years.  One name I recognized was Ted Landau (long time author/writer of many things Mac since the 80’s including creator of the MacFixIt web site) who stated “Apple’s desktop Mac lineup is headed for the graveyard. Dead. Done. Over.  Why do I believe this? Because of the unstated implications of what Apple announced (and didn’t announce) at its media event yesterday.”

So when you see even the most longtime loyalists coming to this type of conclusion, it is clear that Apple has (at least to the executive team) lost its way with what the Mac is about to where they have gone overboard with form over function.  And that completely shakes confidence in the executive team starting at the very top.  Basically, for all the talk many executives (who were also Jobs handpicked execs, but ones that are now coming across as rudderless without his presence) give about not forgetting the DNA that Jobs instilled into the company, they are exhibiting the things Jobs mentioned regarding why Xerox failed when it came to moving beyond the copier business (starts around the 2m30s mark).


Apple today seems to be run by sales and marketing.  And it is concerning when the CEO says stuff to the press like “why would you buy a PC anymore?”  I realize that is in relation to the iPad Pro and Apple’s willingness to cannibalize their own products which he also clearly states.  The problem is that this shows a lack of understanding as to the needs of those customers that do a lot of work on traditional desktops and notebooks (which are still huge in numbers).

I realize this is all months old now (but new to me since I had become this disengaged) but it is now really clear that Apple execs have their work cut out for them when it comes to repairing the damage that has been done with their core demographic of long time Mac users.  If they get their future Mac’s wrong, the backlash may be strong and have a longer lasting impact beyond just the Mac because Apple is on the verge of losing many of their creative professionals, their technical and scientific users, and their technical enthusiasts that influence purchasing decisions when it comes to the Apple ecosystem (which as I mentioned, is not as sticky and strong as Apple leaders thought it was).

Microsoft’s Windows 10 Creators Update is supposed to come out this spring.  The irony is clear when they are the ones trying to appeal to creatives (Apple’s stronghold) by coming out with compelling products like the Surface Studio Pro (albeit pricey) along with software features in the update.

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