Case Analysis Apple Computer

Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures computer software, consumer electronics, and commercial servers. According to Apple Inc.com, the company is best known for its durable hardware products such as iPod, iPhone, iPad, and Machintosh. Some of its most successful products are: -Apple has made many successful stories with its product line. Apple’s first success was the Apple II in 1977 with $ 1 million in sales per year. Apple has launched many products till now from Apple I in 1977 to iPhone 4 in 2010 -The PowerBook 100 – 1991: The PowerBook 100 was a portable subnotebook personal computer manufactured by Apple Computer. -The Power Macintosh 8600 – 1997: The Power Macintosh 8600 is a personal computer that is a part of Apple’s Computer’s Power Macintosh Series. -The PowerBook G4 – 2001: The PowerBook G4 is a series of notebook computers that that were manufactured marketed and sold by Apple Inc. -The iPod – 2001: A portable media player designed and marketed by Apple. -The MacBook Pro – 2006: e MacBook Pro is a line of Macintosh portable computers introduced in January 2006 by Apple. -The iPhone – 2007: The iPhone is a line of Internet-and-multimedia enabled Smartphone. -The iPad – 2010: The iPad is a line of tablet computers primarily as a platform for audio-visual media including books, periodicals, movies, music, games and web content.

However like all companies it has had some bumps on the way some of the most known product failures of Apple are: -The Apple III was one of apples first failures, it had some major design flaws like the lack of fan that caused the computer to overheat and its chips would pop out of their sockets. Apple had to replace several of these computers. -Apple Lisa launched on 1983 price was very steep $10,000 this device wasn’t particularly fast, and its hardware wasn’t particularly cutting edge. Also IBM computers where substantially more affordable. -In 1985 apple refused to license apple to big corporations such as Northern Telecom, AT&T, and Motorola and Gates. Apple subsequently signed a document permitting Microsoft to essentially copy its OS -The G4 cube design is reminiscent of the NeXTCube, a computer produced by NeXT, the company once run by Steve Jobs, but it was arguably a case of style over substance. It cost around $200 more than the more powerful and easily expandable Power Mac G4, and users had to buy a monitor for it separately.

Apple soon moved towards G5 processors, and eventually switched to Intel, leaving the Cube overpriced and obsolete. I believe Apples success is completely based on its culture. Steve Job said that customers cannot tell you what they want. Apple tells customers what they want. Diehard Apple users are notoriously vocal about the superiority of their platform of choice. So vocal, in fact, that research shows Apple triggers a religious reaction in its fans’ brains. Some researchers have even categorized this as a form of the Stockholm Syndrome. While that may be a bit extreme, many Apple fans do exhibit the “If Apple says I don’t need something, then I don’t need it” behavioral pattern (Andorid Authority, 2012). Apple success comes from their idea that its users cannot do simple task and that is why its products have to be easy to use. Apple makes that if it is not easy to use, it is considered worthless to the consumer. The products they create have to be intuitive and easy to understand and learn. Macintosh Distribution and pricing strategy has also contributed to its success. Apple delays and limits shipments to force more sell-outs. Being a Mac owner is like being part of a cult or a part of the cool kids club.

Apple is an innovating company. They are innovators and trend setters. They have a great deal of creativity and they hard work shows up in all its innovating products. I believe this directly relates to this week’s TCOS the Importance of Innovation.