Microsoft’s latest sales tactic: The Apple Tax

In the same week that Apple pegged Vista’s problems as a factor in Mac sales, a senior Microsoft executive has launched a harsh attack on his rival. Brad Brooks (pictured right), the man in charge of Microsoft’s consumer marketing, claims Mac buyers face a series of extra costs that he dubs “Apple tax”.

Speaking to CNet news, Brooks said Macs worked out to be more expensive, and not just on the list price. He claimed there were extra costs for:

• choice (mentioning the limited range of colors and configurations of Macs compared to the PC market)
• applications (in terms of limited choice as well as [...]

  Notebook Event Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers
  Image: http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/17/notebook-event-rumor-wrapup-winners-and-losers/) Image: http://images.macrumors.com/article/2008/10/14/140358-newlaptops_400.jpg With even more media attention on Apple and the rumors surrounding the latest release (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/14/october-2008-notebook-event-keynote-stream-available/), more sites have gone out of their way to call (http://daringfireball.net/2008/10/todays_claim_chowder) out (http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/14/the-800-rumor-that-spoiled-apples-party/) those who got things wrong. While this has given an opportunity for some (http://chuqui.typepad.com/chuqui_30/2008/10/thoughts-on-the.html) to say that you shouldn’t listen rumors at all, I think it just goes to show that sources matter and not all rumors are created equal. Much of the blame is being targeted at the Inquistr site who initiated the false rumor (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/09/apple-to-launch-an-800-laptop/) that Apple would be releasing an $800 MacBook based on what they described as a “reliable” source. Since we are unable to question these sources directly, the reliablity and reputation falls on the reporting sites that vet these rumors. As has been shown in the past, sites that have little experience in handling Apple rumors have proven to be less reliable. The Inquisitr was not the only source to suggest price drops, however. Analyst Piper Jaffray has been expecting (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/22/apple-to-drop-prices-of-notebooks/) price drops on both MacBook and MacBook Pros since July. Initially they expected more modest drops (MacBook $1099->$999 and MacBook Pro $1999->$1799), but in the week before the release suggested (http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/09/analyst-new-macbooks-will-start-at-899-999/) the prices would fall to as low as $899 even for the aluminum models. It’s no secret (http://normalkid.com/2007/05/24/on-apple-analysts-and-their-research/) that we put less value in analyst reports as its difficult to distinguish what is speculation, original information or simply the reciting of circulating rumors. *Winners* The Chinese/Taiwanese web continues to be a major source of photos of unreleased Apple products. Apple.Pro (http://tw.apple.pro/) was the most surprising source of legitimate Apple product images this round. Unfortunately, the site has been inconsistent. While their original MacBook Pro images (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/07/aluminum-macbook-pro-case-photo/) and aluminum casings (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/08/more-brick-macbook-case-images/) were spot on, their MacBook images (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/04/leaked-aluminum-macbook-case/) and video (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/10/two-tone-macbooks-and-a-questionable-macbook-video/) were clearly wrong. Meanwhile, detailed images of the MacBook Pro “brick” enclosure (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/08/macbook-pro-brick-casing-photo/) originated from Chinese forums with high quality images (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/12/higher-quality-macbook-pro-case-photos/) finally appearing on MacHome.com.cn. 9to5Mac (http://www.9to5mac.com) proves itself once more with their long-running “brick” rumor (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/22/macbook-brick-codename-speculation/). 9to5Mac revealed (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/04/brick-refers-to-the-macbook-manufacturing-process/) that Apple had moved to a new manufacturing process for the new MacBook and also first described (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/28/next-macbook-to-include-glass-trackpad-due-in-september/) the inclusion of a glass trackpad. While they did miss a few other details (plastic MacBooks) (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/10/two-tone-macbooks-and-a-questionable-macbook-video/), the specificity of their accurate information is hard to ignore. AppleInsider remains a consistent source of accurate Apple rumors. They were the first to reveal (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/04/07/apple-notebooks-to-see-major-design-changes/) that Apple’s notebooks would adopt aluminum enclosures akin to the iMac and MacBook Air. Early spottings (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/25/aluminum-macbook-and-macbook-pros-spotted/) of MacBook Pros on Apple Campus accuratly described the elimination of the Firewire 400 port and “what appear[ed] to be” a mini-DVI port, which turned out to be a mini-DisplayPort. AppleInsider was also the first to report (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/07/28/apple-to-adopt-alternative-chipsets-for-next-laptops/) the surprising news that Apple was migrating away from Intel chipsets and was able to later confirm (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/11/apple-migrating-to-nvidia-chipsets-in-new-macbooks/) the NVIDIA chipsets. Daring Fireball’s John Gruber accurately predicted (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/10/apple-notebook-updates-on-october-14th-120gb-macbook-air-hdd/) that October 14 would be the release date for Apple’s new notebooks. Gruber later had (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/14/more-apple-notebook-details-clickable-glass-trackpad-gpus-pricing/) a detailed description of the new laptops, though this information didn’t come until the evening before their release. Despite a lively forum debate (http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=580034), it’s also clear that Engadget’s JR source (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/13/macbook-pro-photo-no-mouse-buttons/) has had access to photographs of new Apple hardware immediately prior to their launch. *Losers* - Inquisitr (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/09/apple-to-launch-an-800-laptop/) - $800 Apple MacBook - Piper Jaffray (http://apple20.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/10/09/analyst-new-macbooks-will-start-at-899-999/) - $899 Aluminum MacBooks - PCPer (http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=626) - MacBook Air shown but not released until January - PhoneNews (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/08/14/apple-to-update-macbook-air-to-penryn-soon/) - Apple to update MacBook Air with faster processors (August) - Kevin Rose (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/11/macbook-with-blu-ray-networked-hdtv-from-apple/) - Blu-Ray in notebooks (though to be fair, Rose suggested this was from a “bad” source) - Jason Calacanis (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/11/macbook-with-blu-ray-networked-hdtv-from-apple/) - no Apple networked television (though no timeframe was given for the product) - Fake mockups: one (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/09/17/unlikely-macbook-pro-photo-circulates/), two (http://valleywag.com/5054933/new-macbook-pro-photo-maybe-++-its-french), three (http://www.modmyi.com/forums/mac-news/365281-leaked-pics-new-macbook-pro.html) *Up Ahead* The next major Apple event that is scheduled is Macworld San Francisco 2009 in January 2009, though there has been a suggestion (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/17/new-imacs-still-coming-before-holidays/) that we may see minor iMac updates prior to then. Article Link: Notebook Event Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/17/notebook-event-rumor-wrapup-winners-and-losers/)

  

  

  With even more media attention on Apple and the rumors surrounding the latest release, more sites have gone out of their way to call out those who got things wrong. While this has given an opportunity for some to say that you shouldn’t listen rumors at all, I think it just goes to show that sources matter and not all rumors are created equal.

  Much of the blame is being targeted at the Inquistr site who initiated the false rumor that Apple would be releasing an $800 MacBook based on what they described as a “reliable” source. Since we are unable to question these sources directly, the reliablity and reputation falls on the reporting sites that vet these rumors. As has been shown in the past, sites that have little experience in handling Apple rumors have proven to be less reliable.

  The Inquisitr was not the only source to suggest price drops, however. Analyst Piper Jaffray has been expecting price drops on both MacBook and MacBook Pros since July. Initially they expected more modest drops (MacBook $1099->$999 and MacBook Pro $1999->$1799), but in the week before the release suggested the prices would fall to as low as $899 even for the aluminum models. It’s no secret that we put less value in analyst reports as its difficult to distinguish what is speculation, original information or simply the reciting of circulating rumors.

  Winners

  The Chinese/Taiwanese web continues to be a major source of photos of unreleased Apple products. Apple.Pro was the most surprising source of legitimate Apple product images this round. Unfortunately, the site has been inconsistent. While their original MacBook Pro images and aluminum casings were spot on, their MacBook images and video were clearly wrong.

  Meanwhile, detailed images of the MacBook Pro “brick” enclosure originated from Chinese forums with high quality images finally appearing on MacHome.com.cn.

  9to5Mac proves itself once more with their long-running “brick” rumor. 9to5Mac revealed that Apple had moved to a new manufacturing process for the new MacBook and also first described the inclusion of a glass trackpad. While they did miss a few other details (plastic MacBooks), the specificity of their accurate information is hard to ignore.

  AppleInsider remains a consistent source of accurate Apple rumors. They were the first to reveal that Apple’s notebooks would adopt aluminum enclosures akin to the iMac and MacBook Air. Early spottings of MacBook Pros on Apple Campus accuratly described the elimination of the Firewire 400 port and “what appear[ed] to be” a mini-DVI port, which turned out to be a mini-DisplayPort. AppleInsider was also the first to report the surprising news that Apple was migrating away from Intel chipsets and was able to later confirm the NVIDIA chipsets.

  Daring Fireball’s John Gruber accurately predicted that October 14 would be the release date for Apple’s new notebooks. Gruber later had a detailed description of the new laptops, though this information didn’t come until the evening before their release.

  Despite a lively forum debate, it’s also clear that Engadget’s JR source has had access to photographs of new Apple hardware immediately prior to their launch.

  Losers

  - Inquisitr - $800 Apple MacBook
  - Piper Jaffray - $899 Aluminum MacBooks
  - PCPer - MacBook Air shown but not released until January
  - PhoneNews - Apple to update MacBook Air with faster processors (August)
  - Kevin Rose - Blu-Ray in notebooks (though to be fair, Rose suggested this was from a “bad” source)
  - Jason Calacanis - no Apple networked television (though no timeframe was given for the product)
  - Fake mockups: one, two, three

  Up Ahead

  The next major Apple event that is scheduled is Macworld San Francisco 2009 in January 2009, though there has been a suggestion that we may see minor iMac updates prior to then.

  Article Link: Notebook Event Rumor Wrapup: Winners and Losers

  Apple shuns MacBook price-slashing

  MacVelope Case for MacBook Air
  Designers really like the idea of plopping the ultra-thin MacBook Air into cases that look like envelopes. Here’s Grantwood Technology’s rough and tumble version, made to mimic a manila envelope. The MacVelope, in vinyl, with nylon lining and Velcro closure, has a cute red string tie, furthering the theme. At $24.99, it’s a nice way to [...]

  

  Designers really like the idea of plopping the ultra-thin MacBook Air into cases that look like envelopes.

  Here’s Grantwood Technology’s rough and tumble version, made to mimic a manila envelope.

  The MacVelope, in vinyl, with nylon lining and Velcro closure, has a cute red string tie, furthering the theme.

  At $24.99, it’s a nice way to tell the world you’ve got mail.

  

  Android is a Playa, Not a Killa
  Early reviews on Google’s Android smartphone indicate the Mountain View-based company may not knock Apple’s iPhone out of the ring, but Blackberry could soon look like an afterthought. Walt Mossberg, the Dean of Technology writers, says Android is in the same class as iPhone, but allows the two devices will probably attract different types of users. [...]

  Early reviews on Google’s Android smartphone indicate the Mountain View-based company may not knock Apple’s iPhone out of the ring, but Blackberry could soon look like an afterthought.

  Walt Mossberg, the Dean of Technology writers, says Android is in the same class as iPhone, but allows the two devices will probably attract different types of users. For him, the physical keyboard is the notable differentiator, but he finds the T-Mobile G1 - Android’s lead-off batter, set to debut October 22nd - “only fair…with keys that are too flat and that can be hard to see in bright light.” Mossberg says the G1’s touch interface is “slick, clever…fast and smooth” and provides “much more flexibility in organizing your desktop than on the iPhone,” and he notes it includes some key features omitted on the Apple phone. The G1’s limited copy and paste functionality, and the ability to send photos via MMS may not convert the Apple faithful, but unlike AT&T, T-Mobile will allow users to legally unlock the phone after 90 days and start using it on another carrier, with a hefty early-termination fee.

  Rachel Metz, writing for Associated Press, says the Android is “smart” but it needs work. She found the phone’s built-in support for YouTube “underwhelming” and complains that video and song playback is hampered by “a major hardware shortcoming”: no standard headphone jack. The G1’s earbud headset plugs into the same mini USB port used to charge the phone, which poses several problems for Metz, “as you can’t use your favorite headphones without an adapter and it’s impossible to charge the G1 while listening to music or watching videos, unless you want to use the included speaker.”

  Tech Radar notes the G1 has a “kill switch” similar to the iPhone and is impressed that it is explained openly in the terms and conditions. They also like the fact that if you don’t like an app you’ve downloaded, “Google kindly lets you refund your money within 24 hours of purchase, which means you can try all the probably rubbish location based ‘find your friend’ apps without worry.”

  T-Mobile has reportedly sold 1.5 million of the Android G1’s by pre-order, but buyers may be surprised that when they open up their boxes they will be getting what BusinessWeek writer Stephen H. Wildstrom calls “a developers’ release: a preliminary, unfinished version of a program that lets engineers kick the tires and gauge its potential.”

  

  Make a Steve Jobs Poster - Sheppard Fairey Style
  The iconic HOPE poster of Barack Obama by the artist Sheppard Fairey has inspired a slew of knockoffs and imitators, many of which have been collected at Rene Wanner’s poster page. I took a shot at it using a widely known Steve Jobs portrait and the how-to tutorial from Vectortuts, and invite Cult of Mac readers [...]

  

  The iconic HOPE poster of Barack Obama by the artist Sheppard Fairey has inspired a slew of knockoffs and imitators, many of which have been collected at Rene Wanner’s poster page.

  I took a shot at it using a widely known Steve Jobs portrait and the how-to tutorial from Vectortuts, and invite Cult of Mac readers to do the same.

  Send us your Fairey treatments of Jobs, or Jony Ive, Phil Schiller, Tim Cook or any of your favorite Apple luminaries, and we’ll feature the best here on the site.

  To kick start your inspiration, here’s a gallery of some we like from Wanner’s page:

  
  
  

  

  Snow Leopard to Get Cocoa Finder and ImageBoot
  Image: http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com) AppleInsider reports (http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/08/10/17/apples_snow_leopard_to_sport_cocoa_finder_and_imageboot.html) that Apple’s next version of Mac OS X Leopard will introduce a “massive rewrite”. According to the rumor site, Apple will rewrite Finder, as well as other Apple applications, from Carbon to Cocoa. —Quote— Apple has reportedly tapped select members of its developer community to begin testing the updated graphical file system manager as part of a new pre-release copy of Snow Leopard belonging to the build train 10Axxx. In addition, many of the Apple-authored applications accompany the new build are also said to have been wrapped completely in Cocoa. —End Quote— Other changes expected include broader support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 within Snow Leopard’s apps such as iCal, Address Book and Mail. Meanwhile, a new ImageBoot feature should allow Macs to boot from a disk image and store multiple different configurations on the hard drive. This latest version of Snow Leopard is expected to be broadly seeded to Apple’s developers as early as this weekend. Aside from these new improvements, Snow Leopard is expected to bring more multi-processing and GPU support. Article Link (http://www.macrumors.com/2008/10/17/snow-leopard-to-get-cocoa-finder-and-imageboot/)

  

  AppleInsider reports that Apple’s next version of Mac OS X Leopard will introduce a “massive rewrite”. According to the rumor site, Apple will rewrite Finder, as well as other Apple applications, from Carbon to Cocoa.

  Quote:

  Apple has reportedly tapped select members of its developer community to begin testing the updated graphical file system manager as part of a new pre-release copy of Snow Leopard belonging to the build train 10Axxx. In addition, many of the Apple-authored applications accompany the new build are also said to have been wrapped completely in Cocoa.

  Other changes expected include broader support for Microsoft Exchange 2007 within Snow Leopard’s apps such as iCal, Address Book and Mail.

  Meanwhile, a new ImageBoot feature should allow Macs to boot from a disk image and store multiple different configurations on the hard drive.

  This latest version of Snow Leopard is expected to be broadly seeded to Apple’s developers as early as this weekend. Aside from these new improvements, Snow Leopard is expected to bring more multi-processing and GPU support.

  Article Link

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