http://www.apple.com
http://www.sonystyle.com
http://www.gateway.com
Today, Apple released it’s lastest version of the iMac (picture above). The new design integrates all the guts (motherboard, processor, RAM, hard drive, CD-RW or DVD-RW, video, optional Airport, optional Bluetooth, networking, and modem) into a 2 inch deep, picture frame. The models come with either a 17 or 20 inch LCD.
In the interest of equal time, Gateway and Sony also make all-in-one systems, but compared to the new iMac, they look UGLY. So why can’t/won’t someone make an attractive and powerful all-in-one computer? I’m glad you asked.
In the Windows world, compatibility is king and margins are razor slim. With so much competition, it doesn稚 make sense to dump a lot of money into Research and Development and then make a computer that no one will buy or that you can’t make a profit on. If I spend money to design a computer, I have to add the money to the price of the computer in order to turn a profit. In addition, when I figure out how I want it to go together, I have to have my supplier make the parts. Do you think they want to dump money into rebuilding their manufacturing process so you can take a chance on a new computer? No. So Sony and Gateway have to make the standard parts fit into an different shape. In this case, a mother board, processor with heat sink, hard drive, optical drive, and all the other stuff into a flat area. It doesn稚 work and you get computers that look like the ones from Gateway and Sony.
Apple is not burdened by these manufacturing or pricing problems. People pay a higher price for Apple hardware and expect to get a great looking piece of hardware. So Apple can spend the money on R&D, add the cost to the final price, and the Apple faithful will buy it. That does not happen with Gateway or Sony. People don’t have Gateway World in Paris, Japan, or San Francisco. People don’t wear Sony t-shirts or buy posters with Sony computers on them.
However, I make a plea to you. Create a computer that is simple, clean, beautiful and powerful and the people will buy it. Take out all the ports you no longer need (serial and parallel) and spend some money on R&D, manufacture some of your own hardware, make it sexy. You will own the PC market. But don’t release it as a Sony or Gateway. Instead, release it as a brand new computer company, looking to change the world. I’m sure you will.