Tuesday, May 03, 2005
Early product releases: Apple vs. Everyone Else
In today's fast-paced tech world, every company is trying to beat competitors with new, flashy products. I have found that so many corporations flood the market with upcoming product details and specs long before the products can be purchased. This seems like a very good trick to appear ahead of the competition and boost the company image. It also allows ample time for the product to be hyped up and information to be circulated. I believe that this technique actually can impair the sales of merchandise because those looking to buy keep looking ahead at the next generation and may choose to wait. I would think that this creates a cycle where a potential buyer may significantly delay a purchase. Let's say John wants a digital camera - he wants Company A's camera (available now), but he hears about one coming out from Company B with more features for the same price. He chooses to wait until he can get Company B's. By the time B hits the market, Company A has a new digicam scheduled for release in a month. What is John to do?
Apple Computer seems to break this 'rush to market' attitude. Renowned for being extremely secretive about major product releases, the company always makes a big splash when it does release something. This can actually generate more sales because the product is able to be purchased while demand and interest is high. I would argue that Apple has a great strategy for bringing products to market... maybe it wouldn't work well with other companies, but I think it's part of what makes Apple so special.
Apple Computer seems to break this 'rush to market' attitude. Renowned for being extremely secretive about major product releases, the company always makes a big splash when it does release something. This can actually generate more sales because the product is able to be purchased while demand and interest is high. I would argue that Apple has a great strategy for bringing products to market... maybe it wouldn't work well with other companies, but I think it's part of what makes Apple so special.
Comments:
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I agree I was in the Apple store yesterday with my friend who was telling me about the new software. Apple has a great marketing strategy, and maybe that is why products like the Ipod sell so much better than the competition.
I do agree with this post. I am a Mac user partly because of their marketing techniques. I did however read an article about how Apple comes out with new software about every year and a half while Microsoft comes out with a new Windows system about every 5-7 years. Perhaps the reason we believe that Apple is so effective is because the main competition, Microsoft, hasn't come out with a new product since Windows XP.
This marketing technique also, and mainly, panders to the attitude we have developed in our instant messager, email, cell phone and microwave motivated world, "I want it and i want it now!" People dont have to look forward to a product they have heard being adverstized, the moment they see it they can (impulsively?) buy it.
The statement about new software... that is both true and untrue. It is true that they do keep coming out with new versions of OSX. But it is just that... new, updated versions of what came before. Mac last had a MAJOR change in their OS when they came out with OSX. A lot of what has come out since then is window dressing. Very pretty, useful window dressing that is influincing my plan to upgrade to Tiger when I get home, but window dressing nonetheless. That said...
The whole Apple marketing concept is very, very different from that of the other computer companies. New releases for them are a big deal, with Jobs or someone of that ilk announcing upgrades at various Macworlds. I like their model, myself... except for those times when an entirely model comes out right after I buy something...that is just a tad annoying. Yet... it is definitely what makes Apple special.
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The whole Apple marketing concept is very, very different from that of the other computer companies. New releases for them are a big deal, with Jobs or someone of that ilk announcing upgrades at various Macworlds. I like their model, myself... except for those times when an entirely model comes out right after I buy something...that is just a tad annoying. Yet... it is definitely what makes Apple special.
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