June 7: Article Four

article used:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/technology/companies/05apple.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=technology

The amazing Apple has seemed to have won over consumers and investors; however, how long will that charm last? Well Apple will have to do something to make sure they are still number one in the technology world. They will try to win everyone over again in the upcoming annual Worldwide Developers Conference. However, it will be harder for them than usual because Apple’s chief executive Steven Jobs, won’t be there.

Nevertheless because Apple is so good at what they do, they have to meet very high and unrealistic expectations. They have to make sure that there competitors don’t catch up to them. The reason why the applications for the phone and iPod are so incredibly popular is because they are viewed by consumers to be far ahead of other phone services and they feel like they are worth having. However, now Apple is shacking in their shoes because Palm, Google, Microsoft, Nokia and Blackberry are catching up introducing their own version of the iPhone. And some companies are releasing a better variety of phones. Apple has to keep their impression up and make sure they are still the best of the best, which puts so many expectations on them (Stone 1).
Benjamin Reitzes, an analyst at Barclays Capital said that “If they start making products people don’t want and start losing users and Apple will run into problems.” In the last two years Apple has sold over 37 million iPhones and iPod Touches and their stock has nearly doubled in the last six months (Stone 1).

I think Apple allows people to be excited about technology because they create new fun exciting things but I also think that this is envied by other companies in the industry. Apple is obliviously giving our society what they want and I hope they still will be able to. And when it comes to stock if it has doubled, then that is good for consumers who invest in Apple because the stock has been very bad for our society lately. Apple topped the rankings for both laptop and desktop support, beating out Lenovo, Dell, Toshiba, Gateway, Sony and HP. They also received the highest ranking of “Better” in all three areas for both laptops and desktops the only company to do so. I think as long as Apple makes consumers happy then they should be still ahead of the competition (Cohen 1). Our society is all about competition whether it’s between each other or technological companies and I think that is good for our society because it gives us better results.

References:
Cohen, Peter. Apple tops Consumer Reports tech support ratings. 5 May 2009. 7 June 2009 http://www.macworld.com/article/133293/2008/05/consumer.html.

Stone, Brad. Apple Races to Keep Ahead of Rivals. 4 June 2009. 7 June 2009 http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/05/technology/companies/05apple.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1&ref=technology.