[Macworld]

Post your comments for Five things Apple needs to do at Expo here

[Luis_Alejandro]

Michael...
Once more time you did what almost every person has tryed to do with Apple...
...that Apple be like the other companies!
"Trim prices..." "Plot a course..."
You forgot to suggest "Allow clones!"
Did you remember the "Think Different" campaign... with all due respect, Try it!

[HyperMactive]

How about trimming prices by not gouging us on accessories and peripherals? Why should I have to buy an iPhone dock separately, for $25??? Why the huge price premium on LCDs? And please add value to computers by bumping up the base specs in RAM and HD storage (and iPhones?). Or toss in some free software (and free MobileMe). Low cost for Apple, better value for customers.
You don't want to slash prices on your core products, even during tough times, as it would be hard to increase those prices later. Maintain your well-earned price points, but increase the value of the purchase.
Like throwing in a free fries and drink with a burger purchase when business is slowing. Everybody wins!

[dreyfus]

While this was certainly one of Computerworld's better "5/6/7/8/9/10 things Apple should ..." lists - it is quite obvious that they do not understand Apple.
If Apple would lower margins, they would not gain nothing. Because of all the businesses that still cannot buy Macs, growth is limited. If growth does not outweigh lower margins, there is no point in declaring them a must. Apple's reputation includes factors such as customer satisfaction, good support ratings and low failure rates. Going for volume over quality would destroy that and damage the company for decades (say Dell).
Apple does barely point out future strategies, and certainly not during a consumer tradeshow. If they want to say something like that, they do it during the quarterly earnings call or just announce it in a press release.
Phil Schiller (even if I do not really like him) is the marketing head of one of the most sucessful and most hyped companies in existence - he does not need to proof anything to anyone. And I really do not think Cook, Ive and others would feel that urge either.
They will introduce some products, maybe preview something coming up soon, tell us how sucessful 2008 was, and then predict the whole lot of cool and exciting products they have in the pipeline for 2009 that they cannot wait to show us without giving any details. The real question is, if 2009 will deliver that – 2008 did not and they still outperformed all their markets every single day. If anybody thinks, that this was SJs achievement alone, he/she should better remain quiet, as this is simply not remotely possible and it is not Apple's job to beat reason into analysts.

[webraider]

I would just be happy with Blu-Ray capabilities for playing back Blu-Ray media!

[dfs]

In regard to Apple's pricing and profit margins, it is worth remembering that in marketing one is always faced with a choice: sell relatively limited number of units with a large profit margin or sell more of them at a lower one. Sometimes the latter strategy winds up making you more money (Dutch Schultz was right, nickels and dimes do add up). Then again, Apple needs to position itself to take maximum advantage of Microsoft's problems. If Windows 7 lays a Vista-sized egg, as it well might, Apple stands to reap a potentially huge windfall in terms of market share. You don't have to believe the rumors that are going around about forthcoming huge Microsoft layoffs to be able to sense that they are a company in serious trouble. Attractive pricing might do wonders to help Apple capitalize on this.

[XMattingly]

The act of Apple shaving prices "just because" is not in the cards, bud. What they could do is offer a mid-range product that is less expensive, but not as fully featured as current hardware. Dan Frakes' suggestion of a lower cost tower makes the most sense, to me.
"Plot a course?" I believe Jobs already did that this morning, and that's all the information we need. It's also all the info we're going to get, until Steve and/or the board of directors decide it's time to change leadership.
I do agree that Apple needs a "one more thing" moment at the show, though. Apple and Macworld have a long history, and this one will go down in the books, regardless of how good or bad it goes. Something very positive or possibly a great new product would be a nice capper of the relationship, and history will look on Apple favorably. Don't hold your breath waiting for Jobs though.

[Macalways]

Why is it that it is always APPLE THAT NEEDS TO DO IT?
Perhaps it is something that Macworld should need to do.
Perhaps it should have supported Apple more in its editorial content.
Perhaps it should have supported Apple more against the trollers that constantly berated those that stood by their beloved Mac.
Perhaps it should have stood by Jobs desire to keep things tight to the vest.
Perhaps it should have been less beligerent, whining and more patient in its demands
Perhaps it should have shown more respective to the man who put bread on their tables.
Perhaps it should remembered that it has only one product to sell.
Perhaps it should have listened to their own rhetoric.
Perhaps it should revisit the condescending ending to this article.
Perhaps it is just too late.
"Be nice to people on your way up, because you'll meet them on your way down." - Wilson Mizner

[jjdiii]

I agree. It is taking too long to get this capability.

I am not buying a new system until it supports the playback of Blu-Ray movies.

[dennishenley]

It's always about Apple lowering prices. And it's always stated in terms of what Apple MUST DO. Face it, dudes. If Apple were losing money, they would come up with a way to make more. The fact is that they don't have to lower prices. There are enough customers who keep buying their product that Apple is profitable. That's the bottom line. It might be nice to have midrange models, lower prices, free peripherals, etc., but it's not anything Apple HAS TO DO. They are doing fine as it is.

[pcharles]

What use is a blu-ray player on an iMac or Macbook? Really? Sure, if they put one in an AppleTV or MacMini Theatre and you have a 60 inch plasma I can see that. Even then, I have to wonder how if it is worth the risk given the rate at which HiDef downloads are improving.
I even question the value of Blu-Ray recording. Sure, maybe 5 years ago when its capacity was of some use, but even as a home user I have a couple of TB of backup drives. There is no way I am moving that to Blu-Ray for storage, particularly when you consider the cost of recordable Blu-Ray media.

[jjdiii]

Should not a Mac with a removable media drive read as many media types as possible?

I don't have a TV. All my viewing happens on my G5. Why should I get a separate Blu-Ray player to watch a movie on a different media type. I don't even think a separate player will work on my 32 inch Apple displays.

This just seems like some power play by Apple to get people to download their 720p movies. I want to buy 1080p movies.

I need a Blu-Ray player.

[dreyfus]

jjdiii said:

Should not a Mac with a removable media drive read as many media types as possible?

I don't have a TV. All my viewing happens on my G5. Why should I get a separate Blu-Ray player to watch a movie on a different media type. I don't even think a separate player will work on my 32 inch Apple displays.

This just seems like some power play by Apple to get people to download their 720p movies. I want to buy 1080p movies.

I need a Blu-Ray player.

32" Apple display?

If you mean the 30" Cinema Display, a Blu-Ray player will not help you, as it only has DVI in. Protected BDs will only play in full resolution, if the entire signal chain supports DRM. You will still need a display and a graphics card with HDCP support to achieve that. The "power play" is likely less about Apple trying to sell 720p movies (which work on the Apple TV only anyhow, so this revenue should be quite minor), it is certainly more about the BD requirement to implement DRM in hardware and the OS kernel, which was correctly described as a "bag of hurt". The difference between a high-quality 720p file and a 1080p file on a 30" display is almost not detectable, unless you sit only one or two feet away from the display.

The only reason I really see for BD support, is to allow people who have a huge TV and a BD player at home to use their existing BDs on the laptop while traveling... as BD-playback will drain laptop batteries in no time, this is not too much of an issue either.

[ericole]

ARe you kidding me? "throw in some free software" :)

Let's see - ilife, MacOSX, etc, etc, etc It's the software that MAKES a Mac, not the hardware.