3 ms·

Seems like Google and Intel and many other tech companies are self-destructing, but I don't see Apple in this list at all. My prediction: between government re

Seems like Google and Intel and many other tech companies are self-destructing, but I don't see Apple in this list at all. My prediction: between government regulation efforts and plain incompetence in the C-suites, along with a complete lack of willingness to apply antitrust law to Apple for some reason, in 5-10 years Apple will become a monopoly in western nations and it'll be completely unavoidable to own an iPhone or use non-Apple computers or operating systems. So while people under Chinese rule will be stuck under the Great Firewall, westerners (and especially Americans) will be stuck inside Apple's Walled Garden.

tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago
Americans maybe. According to https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/united-states-of-america https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/united..., Apple has a market share of ~58% in the US, but (https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/europe https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/europe) ~36% in Europe.
- FredPret 4y ago
  Could be due to Europe’s lower GDP per capita. Here’s the chart for Switzerland, which is on par with the richer areas of the states: https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/switzerland/#monthly-202112-202301 https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/switze... TLDR - Apple market share is 58%
  - tomcam 4y ago
    That’s market share for mobile, not desktops
NoPicklez 4y ago
Lots of leaps and bounds made in what you've written there. Connecting Google and Intel self destructing leaving a company that isn't on the list of firing its staff becoming successful enough. News flash, almost every company in the world is mostly Microsoft, using either Windows machines and/or running Windows servers and/or using Microsoft Cloud services. Yet I don't see you mentioning them as part of this walled garden. When you slap together Active Directory, a Domain Controller, Microsoft Sentinel and a feet of Windows machines, you have yourself a heavily Microsoft reliant company. I think we will be fine in comparison with what China have implemented.
- midoridensha 4y ago
  So it sounds like we'll have a few different realities then: 1. An Apple near-monopoly for mobile devices and personal computers (i.e. laptops) owned by individuals, and probably big inroads into corporate desktops too. 2. A Microsoft monopoly for enterprise crap and most business computing. 3. Linux for internet stuff and rebels. The problem here will be poor hardware availability if you aren't building servers, unless that Asahi Linux project (Linux on Mac M1/M2) works out.
  - shagie 4y ago
    https://www.statista.com/statistics/816458/shipment-share-pcs-united-states-vendor/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/816458/shipment-share-pc... Apple is only 17% for personal computers. Do you have other data that shows the near monopoly for laptops owned by individuals?
    - midoridensha 4y ago
      That's the situation right now. But Apple is pulling way ahead of Intel/AMD in laptop CPU technology with their M1 and M2 CPUs. I don't currently see a good future ahead for Intel, and AMD doesn't seem to be doing much except continuing to push the obsolete x86 ISA, while Apple has freed itself of this by moving to their ARM and achieving far better MIPS/watt performance. Maybe we'll get lucky and Samsung will decide to become a real competitor in the CPU space and come up with something much like the M-series, and get Microsoft to make a version of Windows to support it (while Linux of course would have no trouble switching).
  - NoPicklez 4y ago
    I don't think these realities are completely black and white. 1. While Apple is popular they're not in EVERYONEs hands, Samsung still has a large hold on consumers globally. Not just in the computing space but appliances as well. 2. Microsoft is still the operating system of choice for gamers and many other enthusiasts. I can quite easily build myself an excellent PC using an enormous market of hardware that is highly compatible, if not even more compatible that it has ever been. 3. Linux for a long time as it always has been will be for enthusiasts. Furthermore Linux is used in many corporate environments as it is an extremely reliable operating system. I don't like this idea of breaking things down into distinct supposed realities from complete conjecture. I also don't see why there is so much hate for SOME monopolies. If a company continues to make excellent products that people buy, then they inevitable become a monopoly. It is OKAY for a company to hold a large market share. It is NOT OKAY if they use that power to reduce competition. I have had Macbook's since 2008 because I think they're excellent products. I have switched from Nokia to Windows phones, to Android and back to iPhone and I have stuck with Apple because I've had the best experience. I have built PC's for the last 13 years because I enjoy it and I enjoying gaming.
devwastaken 4y ago
Apple is unwilling to participate in scummy OEM schemes like Dell and HP does. Therefore they can't take over everything PC side yet. Windows OEM's are all about selling useless IT solutions, "support", and lying to get people to buy their products. They shove defectively designed things all the time, yet corps around the U.S. still buy the crap.
thefz 4y ago
> or some reason, in 5-10 years Apple will become a monopoly in western nations and it'll be completely unavoidable to own an iPhone or use non-Apple computers or operating systems In Europe, Apple is way less common thank you think.
- midoridensha 4y ago
  For now... what happens when Google implodes after shooting themselves in the foot too many times? We're not that far from having a choice between Apple and Chinese smartphone makers. We do still have Samsung though, and they can fab their own silicon, so maybe they'll take over the Android ecosystem outside of China.

tgsovlerkhgsel 4y ago

Americans maybe. According to https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/united-states-of-america https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/united..., Apple has a market share of ~58% in the US, but (https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/europe https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/europe) ~36% in Europe.

FredPret 4y ago
Could be due to Europe’s lower GDP per capita. Here’s the chart for Switzerland, which is on par with the richer areas of the states: https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/switzerland/#monthly-202112-202301 https://gs.statcounter.com/vendor-market-share/mobile/switze... TLDR - Apple market share is 58%
- tomcam 4y ago
  That’s market share for mobile, not desktops

NoPicklez 4y ago

Lots of leaps and bounds made in what you've written there. Connecting Google and Intel self destructing leaving a company that isn't on the list of firing its staff becoming successful enough. News flash, almost every company in the world is mostly Microsoft, using either Windows machines and/or running Windows servers and/or using Microsoft Cloud services. Yet I don't see you mentioning them as part of this walled garden. When you slap together Active Directory, a Domain Controller, Microsoft Sentinel and a feet of Windows machines, you have yourself a heavily Microsoft reliant company. I think we will be fine in comparison with what China have implemented.

midoridensha 4y ago
So it sounds like we'll have a few different realities then: 1. An Apple near-monopoly for mobile devices and personal computers (i.e. laptops) owned by individuals, and probably big inroads into corporate desktops too. 2. A Microsoft monopoly for enterprise crap and most business computing. 3. Linux for internet stuff and rebels. The problem here will be poor hardware availability if you aren't building servers, unless that Asahi Linux project (Linux on Mac M1/M2) works out.
- shagie 4y ago
  https://www.statista.com/statistics/816458/shipment-share-pcs-united-states-vendor/ https://www.statista.com/statistics/816458/shipment-share-pc... Apple is only 17% for personal computers. Do you have other data that shows the near monopoly for laptops owned by individuals?
  - midoridensha 4y ago
    That's the situation right now. But Apple is pulling way ahead of Intel/AMD in laptop CPU technology with their M1 and M2 CPUs. I don't currently see a good future ahead for Intel, and AMD doesn't seem to be doing much except continuing to push the obsolete x86 ISA, while Apple has freed itself of this by moving to their ARM and achieving far better MIPS/watt performance. Maybe we'll get lucky and Samsung will decide to become a real competitor in the CPU space and come up with something much like the M-series, and get Microsoft to make a version of Windows to support it (while Linux of course would have no trouble switching).
- NoPicklez 4y ago
  I don't think these realities are completely black and white. 1. While Apple is popular they're not in EVERYONEs hands, Samsung still has a large hold on consumers globally. Not just in the computing space but appliances as well. 2. Microsoft is still the operating system of choice for gamers and many other enthusiasts. I can quite easily build myself an excellent PC using an enormous market of hardware that is highly compatible, if not even more compatible that it has ever been. 3. Linux for a long time as it always has been will be for enthusiasts. Furthermore Linux is used in many corporate environments as it is an extremely reliable operating system. I don't like this idea of breaking things down into distinct supposed realities from complete conjecture. I also don't see why there is so much hate for SOME monopolies. If a company continues to make excellent products that people buy, then they inevitable become a monopoly. It is OKAY for a company to hold a large market share. It is NOT OKAY if they use that power to reduce competition. I have had Macbook's since 2008 because I think they're excellent products. I have switched from Nokia to Windows phones, to Android and back to iPhone and I have stuck with Apple because I've had the best experience. I have built PC's for the last 13 years because I enjoy it and I enjoying gaming.

devwastaken 4y ago

Apple is unwilling to participate in scummy OEM schemes like Dell and HP does. Therefore they can't take over everything PC side yet. Windows OEM's are all about selling useless IT solutions, "support", and lying to get people to buy their products. They shove defectively designed things all the time, yet corps around the U.S. still buy the crap.

thefz 4y ago

> or some reason, in 5-10 years Apple will become a monopoly in western nations and it'll be completely unavoidable to own an iPhone or use non-Apple computers or operating systems In Europe, Apple is way less common thank you think.

midoridensha 4y ago
For now... what happens when Google implodes after shooting themselves in the foot too many times? We're not that far from having a choice between Apple and Chinese smartphone makers. We do still have Samsung though, and they can fab their own silicon, so maybe they'll take over the Android ecosystem outside of China.