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I wouldn't expect Apple to care about any single specific professional niche (maybe except application developers), so keeping any sort of professional software

I wouldn't expect Apple to care about any single specific professional niche (maybe except application developers), so keeping any sort of professional software in-house might be even a distraction. But Apple still depends on professionals-as-a-whole — once you add up graphic designers, architects, movie professionals and all others you get quite a lot of people who probably have enough money to buy fancy computers, tablets and phones. As an added benefit, I would sorta-expect the professional market to have significant impact on consumer market — e.g. people's influence on family purchases, brand perception, recommendations.

anjc 15y ago
Exactly. Anecdotally, probably everybody i know, who adopted Apple products, at some point mentioned audio engineering or graphic design or something similar as being a driving force to the adoption, as if they were going to be the next Vangelis/head of Pixar. People go where the cool people go, i can't imagine Apple giving that up too readily...
Daishiman 15y ago
Except that the very top of the professional high end is not really that populated by macs. Most pro 3D designers use 3DStudio MAX (Windows) or Maya (multiplatform with no advantage for Macs). Most architects use AutoCAD (Windows only). Most professional studios use a mix of all three, with a predominance of Linux and Windows at the highest end. Even with audio there isn't much of an advantage to using a Mac unless you depend on Logic Pro.
- LaGrange 15y ago
  Actually, AutoCAD has a Mac version, though that doesn't change that much. But the point still stands — it makes sense for Apple to want professional applications, it doesn't really make sense to try and write own Maya, and distribution dynamics are for large packages are different enough to make using Mac App Store for them less attractive.
- marquis 15y ago
  While a lot of people moved to Windows due to Avid Media Composer issues with Macs in the mid-2000s they've been moving back since hardware support renewed. In the audio post industry it's at least 80% Mac-based in the US.

anjc 15y ago

Exactly. Anecdotally, probably everybody i know, who adopted Apple products, at some point mentioned audio engineering or graphic design or something similar as being a driving force to the adoption, as if they were going to be the next Vangelis/head of Pixar. People go where the cool people go, i can't imagine Apple giving that up too readily...

Daishiman 15y ago

Except that the very top of the professional high end is not really that populated by macs. Most pro 3D designers use 3DStudio MAX (Windows) or Maya (multiplatform with no advantage for Macs). Most architects use AutoCAD (Windows only). Most professional studios use a mix of all three, with a predominance of Linux and Windows at the highest end. Even with audio there isn't much of an advantage to using a Mac unless you depend on Logic Pro.

LaGrange 15y ago
Actually, AutoCAD has a Mac version, though that doesn't change that much. But the point still stands — it makes sense for Apple to want professional applications, it doesn't really make sense to try and write own Maya, and distribution dynamics are for large packages are different enough to make using Mac App Store for them less attractive.
marquis 15y ago
While a lot of people moved to Windows due to Avid Media Composer issues with Macs in the mid-2000s they've been moving back since hardware support renewed. In the audio post industry it's at least 80% Mac-based in the US.