Well today the big deal for Apple was obviously the news that Microsoft is going to come out with an 'iPod killer.' It wouldn't be the first time Microsoft came in after a successful market and ended up the dominant player (can you say a leader in operating systems, number two in gaming consoles, and PDAs). They're savvy businessmen. But with Bill Gates no longer at the head, is Microsoft going to be the same company that saw openings to expand into those areas?Apple has a huge lead and entrenched userbase with the iPod. When Microsoft took the PDA market, it was in part because Palm completely fell down several times for its users with failures to ship updated system software that kept up with media needs, and long stretches between hardware redesigns. For an iPod killer to work, Apple will probably have to fumble in order to lose its edge. It has happened, but so far the signs are that Apple is on sure fighting, scratched iPod nanos notwithstanding. It'll be interesting to see what the the Microsoft iPod killer is in the next weeks. Apple closed the day, however, at $57.56, down $1.82, just over 3 percent. A sign that some are probably a bit worried.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
6-17-2006 @ 10:43AM
David Thompson said...
3% is not HUGE--duh
6-17-2006 @ 10:56AM
Robert Farrington said...
Huge fall? hasn't AAPL been doing this numerous times in the past couple of weeks for no apparent reason. I can't believe that the stock would dive simply because of a RUMOUR of a POSSIBLE future product.
6-17-2006 @ 3:18PM
Michael Rogers said...
Interesting how history repeats itself, at least so far. Microsoft is entering the digital media space with the same strategy they used on the desktop: support a wide variety of hardware manufacturers and software (media) distributors. Apple is following the method that worked for them in the PC space: keep a tight control on hardware, and this time they are maintaining tight control of media distribution as well. I'm curious as to whether Apple fans consider these parallels to be accurate.
6-17-2006 @ 7:36PM
Luis Samra said...
MSFT has been succesful taking over other market leaders not because they are good, but because the other guys are too stupid to maintain their lead. A good example of an amazing fumble and complete incompetence/ineptitude from senior management is PALM.
MSFT is in a different space and time and consumer mentality for doing what they did before and conquer markets. This will be another failure to bring down Apple and I am almost sure this time MSFT will not do it or conquer a market.
6-17-2006 @ 7:36PM
Luis Samra said...
MSFT has been succesful taking over other market leaders not because they are good, but because the other guys are too stupid to maintain their lead. A good example of an amazing fumble and complete incompetence/ineptitude from senior management is PALM.
MSFT is in a different space and time and consumer mentality for doing what they did before and conquer markets. This will be another failure to bring down Apple and I am almost sure this time MSFT will not do it or conquer a market.
6-17-2006 @ 8:15PM
joey jo jo shabadoo said...
Look at MS's previous attempt to beat Apple at their own game - the Origami. I can't wait for their iPod-killer to look like that thing. Nuff said.
6-18-2006 @ 2:33PM
Sam said...
Do you really believe the ole' APPLE has fallen from the tree-NOT! MSFT is always follow the leader, they are definitely a day late, and a dollar short-AGAIN. If you don't think APPLE hasn't something new up their sleave as the new state-of-the-art portable player with phenomenal advancements, THINK again. I certainly wouldn't put all my APPLES into MSFT on this announcement, bring it on and best of luck. Just like the ole' XBox, already dead in the water. GO AAPL, I am long and standing tall with Steve Jobs, Mr. Jobs, bring it on baby. I can't wait to hear what is up your sleave this time to silence the A-Hole critics.
6-19-2006 @ 11:58AM
Ihatefakenews said...
yep here we go again...ipod killer every year there is an apple killer ...and it always come from apple ..I hate all this fake news now ..people always making mole hills out of a mole...yep microsoft is coming out with a player the people who should be worried are all those Iriver and others who sign up with urge ...now they not only have to fight of apple but also microsoft think about that ..iriver and the rest should be running for the hills ..but then again this is microsoft ...tablet pc whO? ..origami what ? ...yeah!! to things are selling like hot cakes !! lol....with those kind of great products from microsoft apple should be smiling from fear....lol yeah right!!