Modérateurs: Garion, Silverwitch
Business Week a écrit:How Do You Like Them Apples?
The computer maker silenced skeptics with an avalanche of notebook sales. iPod sales held steady—and brought PC users into Mac stores
Apple Computer showed that concerns about its sales are overblown. The company reported a 48% surge in profits year over year, while holding steady on iPod sales volume, which had been the subject of some concern among analysts. For the fiscal third quarter, Apple's revenues came in at $4.37 billion vs. $3.5 billion a year ago. Net income was $472 million, or 54 cents per share.
But Apple (AAPL) turned in a huge surprise when it came to sales of its Macintosh computers, particularly in the area of notebooks. The company sold 798,000 notebooks, an improvement by 300,000, or 61%, over the year-ago quarter. "They absolutely blew my expectations away with notebook sales," says analyst Charlie Wolf of Needham & Co. in New York. "And to think they only had six weeks with the new MacBook."
The surge in laptops offset a drop in desktop sales, largely attributed to weakness in the pro desktop sector, where Apple has yet to ship a new machine based on Intel (INTC) processors. Introduced in 2003, the PowerMac G5 was last updated in Oct. 2005. A new machine is expected to be called Mac Pro and should be out by the end of the summer.
BEST QUARTER EVER. Overall Mac sales came in at 1.3 million units, a 12% improvement over the year-ago quarter. Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer called the quarter the "best 13-week sales period of the Mac in the company's history." He also described the quarter as the second-best in Apple's history in terms of revenue and profit.
Still, Apple gave guidance for the current quarter that was slightly below the $4.94 billion consensus estimate. The company said it expects revenue of $4.5 billion to $4.6 billion.
That didn't seem to turn off investors. In after-hours trading, investors bid the stock up by more than $4, or 8%. "Normally a stock does not go up after the company guides below the estimates," says Shaw Wu, analyst with American Technology Research in San Francisco. "But the stock was so weak intra-quarter, so the market is responding with confidence." Wu has maintained a buy rating despite persistent concerns among other analysts that Apple could face potential weaknesses, particularly in iPod sales.
CONVERTING PC USERS. Another interesting figure to come out of the conference call was that 50% of customers polled at Apple's retail stores described themselves as "new to the Mac," indicating a surge in interest from people more accustomed to using computers running Microsoft's (MSFT) Windows operating system. This figure has been the subject of much conjecture that Apple might begin to turn around its sagging market share figures versus Windows-based PCs from Dell (DELL), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), and others, if only slightly.
It has also served to prove the so-called iPod halo effect, under which iPod owners become Mac owners. Running Windows as an option—which the Mac now does using an Apple program called Boot Camp—hasn't hurt the Mac's attractiveness to Windows users either.
Apple says it is on track to complete its transition to using microprocessors from Intel in its computers, saying a replacement for the PowerMac G5, which uses chips from IBM (IBM), is expected before the end of the year. An Intel-based server in the XServe family also is expected before the end of the year.
IPOD ROCKS ON. IPod sales held their own at 8.1 million units or 32% more than a year ago, accounting for $1.5 billion or 34% of sales. Overall, Apple's music business—iPod sales and music downloads from the iTunes Music Store—accounted for $1.95 billion, or 44% of sales. "You have to say that iPod sales held up really well, considering they haven't had anything new since October," Wolf said.
Something new is expected. A "true video" iPod sporting a larger screen than the current model and more fully dedicated to video is reportedly in the offing for the coming months, as well as a refresh to the iPod and iPod nano products. The back-to-school season, coupled with an expected boost in sales to Apple's core constituency—graphics and video professionals awaiting the Intel-based professional Mac—should combine to give Apple a boost as it heads into the remainder of its fiscal year.
Green Hornet a écrit:et depuis peu Windows peut être lancé sous les petits Apple, elle est pas belle la vie
Reuters a écrit:Apple says likely to restate results, delay filing
Thu Aug 3, 2006 8:52pm ET147
By Sue Zeidler
LOS ANGELES, Aug 3 (Reuters) - Apple Computer Inc. (AAPL) said on Thursday it would likely need to restate earnings and will delay filing its quarterly report because of additional irregularities it found in its accounting of stock options and its shares fell 6.6 percent.
Apple first announced on June 29 that it was conducting an internal probe into irregularities related to stock option grants, hired an independent counsel to conduct its own investigation of the irregularities and notified the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
Apple, maker of the iPod digital music player and Macintosh computer, is now among the most high-profile companies caught up in a stock options scandal that has swept through the technology industry. The SEC has more than 80 investigations underway to determine if companies manipulated the prices of stock options given to executives.
Cupertino, California-based Apple will likely need to restate results to record noncash charges for compensation expense relating to past stock option grants. Apple said it had not determined the amount of the charges, resulting tax and accounting impacts, or which periods may require restating.
Apple also said in a SEC regulatory filing Thursday that all financial communications issued since Sept. 29, 2002, should not be relied upon. The irregularities are related to the issuance of stock option grants made between 1997 and 2001.
"We are refraining from any further comments until the independent investigation is concluded," said Apple spokesman Steve Dowling on Thursday.
Apple said in June that one of the stock option grants was to chief executive Steve Jobs, but it was subsequently canceled and resulted in no financial gain to Jobs.
As part of its ongoing investigations, the SEC last month filed civil fraud charges against the former chief executive and two other officials of Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD), a San Jose-based company that makes hardware for computer networking storage systems.
The former CEO, Gregory Reyes, and former human resources vice president Stephanie Jensen also face criminal fraud charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and $5 million in fines. Reyes' attorney, Richard Marmaro, has said his client is innocent.
Shares of Apple rose $1.43, or 2.1 percent, to close at $69.59 on Nasdaq. In extended trade, the stock slid 6.6 percent to $65.00.
Ted Lee a écrit:When bad customer service turns good - August 3
Steve Jobs saves WWDC for me
If you read my previous post, you know that my 4 month old Macbook Pro had an issue last week, and had to be sent in for repair. I explained to the tech on the phone that I needed the notebook returned to me by Friday Aug 4 so I would have it for WWDC. He explained it wouldn’t be an issue.
As Monday rolled around and I didn’t have my laptop back, I became worried. A few additional calls to the tech support line revealed on Wednesday that my repair was waiting on a part and would probably not be returned to me by Friday. I was not going to have a notebook with me for WWDC, which makes the experience kind of pointless.
In a fit of desperation, I fired off an email to Apple’s executive team and detailed my problem. I was realistic in my requested, and only asked that they do something to get my laptop back to me by Friday Aug 4. By the close of Wednesday, I hadn’t heard anything and resigned myself to plan B. I was going to have to buy a Macbook to have something during the trip, and when I returned, I would unload it on eBay and take whatever hit in price that I needed to.
Today I got a call from a man from Apple who identified himself as Steve Job’s personal assistant. Jobs had gotten my email and instructed his assistant to make the necessary calls to get my laptop fixed and returned back to me in time for WWDC. His assistant also mentioned that Steve found my line about “going to WWDC without a laptop is like going to war with a bannana” funny. Ha. I made Steve Jobs laugh today. How about that.
I was equally surprised when his assistant called back later in the evening to let me know that the repair was completed, and that it was shipping out tonight and I’d have it back in my hands tomorrow.
We often hear horror stories of horrible customer service, so I thought I would share this story about excellent customer service. I believe the key in any customer service crisis (if you are the customer), is to keep a level head, don’t get nasty, and get your crisis as far up the food chain as possible to someone who can cut through the red tape.
So, again, thanks Steve….thanks Tim. WWDC is gonna rock.
Hugues a écrit:Laissons donc les utilisateurs de Mac connaitre les problèmes de compatibilité, les virus, les messages d'erreurs, le personnage Bill.
Hugues a écrit:Merci à toi cretino. Je n'avais pas du tout envisagé ce sens.. Ca m'a donc complètement échappé. J'édite le texte.
cretino a écrit:Sinon Hugues, penses-tu que "I'm PC" est aussi un clin d'oeil a "I'm Politically Correct" ?
cretino a écrit:En tous cas merci a toi pour ce topic.
Avant je n'imaginais meme pas migrer sous mac os... Maintenant je revise mes arguments pour que ma prochaine station de travail soit un mac pro... Le fait que la config dell equivalente soit 1500 euros plus chere en est un.
New York Times a écrit:August 10, 2006
BASICS
Weighing a Switch to a Mac
By THOMAS J. FITZGERALD
Ten years ago, if you were a Windows user, the idea of switching to a Macintosh might not have seemed enticing. An abundance of new Windows software was arriving on store shelves, while the selection available to Mac users seemed to be falling behind, often relegated to a back corner of the same store.
Today the calculation is different. Apple Computer, through a series of transitions, has reinvented itself. With a new operating system, its own chain of retail stores, the iPod and now a new line of computers that run on Intel processors, this new and more mainstream Apple is catching the attention of Windows users, and many are curious about switching.
But is switching a good idea? The answer, as always, depends on the needs and preferences of the user. Apple 19s move to Intel processors has made it easier to run Windows on Intel-based Macs, and thus any software a switcher may want to continue using. But even with that ability, there are pluses and minuses to consider.
Software
The center of the Macintosh experience is Apple 19s operating system, Mac OS X. With Unix at its foundation, Mac OS X is more stable, secure and open than previous Mac platforms, and the current version, called Tiger, offers features not included in Windows. More than 12,000 software applications have been developed to run on the Mac OS X platform since it was introduced in 2001, according to Apple, including popular programs like Microsoft Office, Adobe Photoshop, the Firefox Web browser and many from Apple.
But the world of Mac software is still smaller than what is available in the Windows world. A Windows user curious about switching needs to take an inventory of applications and determine what options are available in the Mac world to accomplish the same. Mac software is likely to be available for most mainstream applications; some may be included on a new Mac and others may require a separate purchase.
Other important applications, especially in categories like business software and games, may run only on Windows. This is where the new Intel-based Macs can make a difference: because they use the same hardware architecture as Windows-based PC 19s, called x86, the experience of running Windows on a Mac is much improved.
Two methods for running Windows on the new Macs have moved to the forefront, and both run considerably faster than Virtual PC, the leading option under the old Mac architecture. The first, a new program called Parallels Desktop for Mac ($80; http://www.parallels.com), enables you to run Windows and Mac OS X Tiger simultaneously. For example, you can run Windows software like Internet Explorer and Microsoft Outlook in a window that can be minimized just like other Mac programs. Data can be copied between the platforms, you can share files and folders between them and you can choose to run Windows in a full-screen mode.
Parallels can run Windows versions as old as Windows 3.1 and through the current editions of XP. You will need to provide your own Windows installation software. A drawback of Parallels is that it does not support 3-D-accelerated graphics, which means some higher-end 3-D games and other programs run slowly or not well. Other factors to consider are a speed reduction of 5 to 15 percent compared with running Windows natively on Intel-based computers, the company says, and the fact that not all peripheral devices are compatible.
The other option for running Windows on the new Macs is made possible by Boot Camp (http://www.apple.com/bootcamp), a free utility from Apple now available in beta testing. (Apple announced this week that Boot Camp would be part of its next operating-system release, called Leopard, scheduled for next spring.) Unlike Parallels, which runs Windows within Mac OS X, Boot Camp creates a partition on the computer 19s hard disk and installs Windows to it. When the computer starts up, you can choose to run either Windows or Mac OS X.
Benefits of Boot Camp include running Windows at full speed; it runs natively on the Mac, as it would on a conventional Windows-based PC, fully using the processor and graphics abilities, and providing compatibility with hardware peripherals and devices designed for PC 19s.
A drawback of Boot Camp, though, is that you must shut down one operating system before using the other. This means you cannot run Windows and Mac applications simultaneously. Another drawback is that it can run only two versions of Windows: Windows XP Home Edition with Service Pack 2, which costs $200, or Windows XP Professional With Service Pack 2, which is $300.
Security is another aspect of Macs that has Windows users curious. In Windows, antivirus and antispyware programs have become essential for defending against a variety of threats. So far, the Mac OS X operating system has not been infiltrated by viruses, and it remains free from the type of spyware threats that spread in the wild and go after Windows users, according to Symantec, maker of Norton Antivirus.
But when Windows is run on Intel-based Macs, for example through Boot Camp or Parallels, it is vulnerable to the same virus and spyware threats that can affect conventional Windows-based PC 19s.
Hardware
The physical designs of Apple 19s desktop and notebook computers are often innovative. The iMac, for example, is a space-saving desktop unit with an all-in-one enclosure that conceals the computer 19s components behind the monitor. And the MacBook, a new notebook with a glossy screen, includes a new keyboard layout. This week, the company introduced the Mac Pro, a line of desktops replacing the Power Mac, completing its transition to Intel chips.
But while Apple 19s selection covers much ground, it is less diverse than what is available from companies like Hewlett-Packard, Dell, Sony and Lenovo. For example, Apple does not offer ultraportable notebooks, a tablet design or as wide a choice in processor types and speeds. And when it comes to pricing, Apple no longer offers notebooks in the sub-$1,000 range, or desktop units in the sub-$500 range, as do other makers.
Consideration should also be given to the compatibility of any devices like printers, external hard drives and cellphones that may be connected to a computer. In some instances, only Windows may be supported.
The Switching Experience
I spoke with a number of Windows users who had recently switched to Macs. Their reasons varied, but their experiences had some notable similarities. In many cases, since they had mastered Windows long ago, learning the Mac interface, essentially from scratch, took more time than expected. Also, many switchers retained strong links to the Windows world, often through computers at their workplace or older units at home.
Danielle Wang, 26, of Austin, Tex., bought her first Mac six weeks ago. She took the advice of a friend and decided to buy a MacBook to replace her Windows-based laptop, a Sony Vaio, which she said had been stolen.
Early in the transition, Ms. Wang said, it took time to get used to the Mac interface; the menus, the location of buttons and other items were different. "It was difficult," she said. "The first three days, I was constantly thinking about returning it."
Ms. Wang uses the MacBook mainly for applications like e-mail, Web browsing, digital music, games and instant messaging; so far, she has not encountered problems finding Mac software, and she still maintains access to Windows-based computers for other programs she prefers to use at home.
In comparing the MacBook and the Vaio, she said the graphics were clearer on the Sony.
"The Sony Vaio is more lively," she said. But she prefers the look and design of the MacBook.
Over all, Ms. Wang is glad she switched. She likes the Mac interface and says she is likely to remain a Mac owner for the foreseeable future. "It was the right decision," she said. "I really love my Mac right now."
Shoemaker a écrit:M'enfin Cortese !!! Tu sais bien ma passion pour la Pomme !!!! Quel rat, ce mec !! Il croit en rien !
The Age a écrit:Now I'm a believer
GRAEME PHILIPSON
August 15, 2006
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A move to Mac is on, and another straggler joins the merry band.
IN THIS column two months ago I mentioned my intention to move to the Apple Macintosh. I have now done so.
When my MacBook Pro arrived I threw myself straight into it. I started using it immediately, for a large and important PowerPoint presentation I needed the following Monday.
It has been an interesting transition, and one that has gone much better than I expected. I knew it would be tricky. Moving to a new computer always entails a fair bit of work, and moving between architectures involves more.
The first thing was to copy all my files across from my old PC. This was a simple enough job - I didn't try to network the machines, but used a 5 GB USB drive I have. Then I installed Microsoft Office for the Macintosh.
I'm not getting rid of Microsoft entirely. It's Windows I can't stand. I'm a heavy user of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, and the fact that they are available on the Mac made my decision much easier.
All these applications actually work better on the Mac. The interface is cleaner. And the files are identical to the PC versions, so any Office file created on the Mac can be read by the PC, and vice versa. No compatibility issues at all. I can report that PowerPoint on the Mac is a little flaky - it has a nasty habit of disappearing and not saving your file.
I checked on the internet and found that this is a documented bug. And one that Microsoft has refused to acknowledge. It's OK if you save your work regularly, but - once again - not happy, Bill.
The biggest job was to move my historical email messages. I used Outlook on the PC and I decided to go with the Mac Microsoft equivalent, called Entourage. It's very similar, but neither Apple nor Microsoft make a utility for transferring emails from one to another, which is a bit pathetic. You'd think perhaps Apple would step in and provide the utility, to make it easier for people to make the move.
A quick Google search uncovered a few methods, all of which involved porting through a third package with better import/export capabilities. A bit cumbersome, but it worked OK. I got my address book across as well, but with some mangled fields in some records.
So much for the actual migration - painless enough, with the minor glitches one expects when moving. But what is the Mac like to use?
In every department, it beats the PC hands down. The machine itself is quite handsome. The file structure and the way all the utilities work are different, but very easy to get used to and far more intuitive than with Windows.
I had no difficulty moving songs off my iPod onto the Mac. Apple doesn't want you to do this - it reckons it increases the chances of piracy. But there are plenty of free utilities on the internet, such us Senuti (which is iTunes spelt backwards) and iLinkPod.
I then set up a 300 GB external drive. I had been using this on my Windows network, and I imagined it would need reformatting for the Mac. No such trouble - I simply needed to plug it in and the Mac did the rest. That's the way it is with just about everything on the Mac, you plug it in and it works. Now, none of this is news to Mac users. They have been smugly asserting for years that the Mac is better and easier. I have often criticised Apple over the years, and commented on the Mac's declining market share, but I have always acknowledged its technical superiority.
I was for many years of the opinion that Windows was good enough, and that the advantages of a much greater choice of software and the ready availability of technical support - not to mention the lower cost - made it the more sensible choice.
But I eventually tired of the endless reboots, the constant threat of viral infection, and the incredibly clunky nature of Windows. I live on my computer, for work and play, and it's important to have the best. Once the Mac went with the Intel processor, my mind was made up.
That means that the Macs can now run Windows. I could set my machine up to boot Windows if I wanted, but I can't see any reason to do so. I need to run the odd Windows application (my wine cellar software is the most important), but my old PC, now relegated to a corner of my desk, can do that. I can see absolutely no reason why anyone should not run a Macintosh. Microsoft ties itself in knots trying to get Vista to market, while Apple has a better operating system now. Microsoft tries to convince the world that you need a thing called Media Center to use your PC as a consumer electronics device, while the Mac does it now.
As I write, I'm streaming a symphony from iTunes on my Mac wirelessly to my stereo. My iPod is updating in the background. I've got Google opened on my second monitor with the Firefox browser, alerting me to breaking news. I have my email client and spreadsheet software open. My files are backed up overnight.
I know I can do all that on a PC, but it's so ugly. The Mac makes it all easy, with maximum integration and with a supremely elegant operating system. And I've had to reboot twice in two weeks, down from twice a day under Windows.
I've been amazed at how many other people I've met recently who have moved to the Mac. There is definitely a move on. The Mac's market share is up. Windows - just say no.
graeme@philipson.info
lovecraft a écrit:pas un moi sur les rappels d'apple à propos des batteries ?
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