3 ms·

I think tech is unique in that once a given company attains enough market share it typically is then around and stable for a very long time, deservedly so or no

I think tech is unique in that once a given company attains enough market share it typically is then around and stable for a very long time, deservedly so or not. Citation Microsoft, which through aggressive business tactics became (and continues to be) pseudonymous with personal computing. Apple isn't a loser anymore but that's because they found a new market in handheld devices, I'd argue in terms of the PC battle, despite how good a Mac is (I'm writing this on one) I'd say they've still firmly lost in this market. But just because you're a loser in the market doesn't mean you lose at everything. Still plenty of money to be made even if you can't make all of the money forever, which seems to be how a lot of VC's define success.

spiderfarmer 10y ago
I'd argue in terms of the PC battle, despite how good a Mac is (I'm writing this on one) I'd say they've still firmly lost in this market. "Measured as sales through the U.S. consumer retail channel, Macs reached rather shocking milestone during first half 2015, according to data that NPD provided to me today. Yes, you can consider this a first, and from lower volume shipments. By operating system: OS X, 49.7 percent; Windows, 48.3 percent; Chrome OS, 1.9 percent. That compares to the same time period in 2014: OS X, 44.8 percent; Windows, 53.1 percent; Chrome OS, 2.1 percent. So there is no confusion, the data is for U.S. consumer laptops." http://betanews.com/2015/08/12/yikes-apple-laptop-revenue-share-exceeds-windows-pcs/ http://betanews.com/2015/08/12/yikes-apple-laptop-revenue-sh... I'd say market share is less important than revenue share, but Apple considered the loser in this market? I still don't get why market share is getting all the attention.
- FussyZeus 10y ago
  IMHO that would be due more to Microsoft completely screwing their relationship with a ton of users than Apple doing anything particular. Not that it invalidates anything you've said, a win is a win. Anyway just because a company has won hard and won hard for awhile that doesn't particularly shield them from losing later on, however I'd say my point stands, from roughly 1992 to 2014 Microsoft dominated the PC market.
- wmil 10y ago
  Apple has been dominant in the non-budget laptop category for a while. PCs still control the corporate market, but that isn't growing like it used to.

spiderfarmer 10y ago

I'd argue in terms of the PC battle, despite how good a Mac is (I'm writing this on one) I'd say they've still firmly lost in this market. "Measured as sales through the U.S. consumer retail channel, Macs reached rather shocking milestone during first half 2015, according to data that NPD provided to me today. Yes, you can consider this a first, and from lower volume shipments. By operating system: OS X, 49.7 percent; Windows, 48.3 percent; Chrome OS, 1.9 percent. That compares to the same time period in 2014: OS X, 44.8 percent; Windows, 53.1 percent; Chrome OS, 2.1 percent. So there is no confusion, the data is for U.S. consumer laptops." http://betanews.com/2015/08/12/yikes-apple-laptop-revenue-share-exceeds-windows-pcs/ http://betanews.com/2015/08/12/yikes-apple-laptop-revenue-sh... I'd say market share is less important than revenue share, but Apple considered the loser in this market? I still don't get why market share is getting all the attention.

FussyZeus 10y ago
IMHO that would be due more to Microsoft completely screwing their relationship with a ton of users than Apple doing anything particular. Not that it invalidates anything you've said, a win is a win. Anyway just because a company has won hard and won hard for awhile that doesn't particularly shield them from losing later on, however I'd say my point stands, from roughly 1992 to 2014 Microsoft dominated the PC market.
wmil 10y ago
Apple has been dominant in the non-budget laptop category for a while. PCs still control the corporate market, but that isn't growing like it used to.