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> “Apple is doomed any day now”. That’s been the narrative for over 40 years. And they almost went out of business at least twice, once they survived because M

> “Apple is doomed any day now”. That’s been the narrative for over 40 years. And they almost went out of business at least twice, once they survived because MS bailed them out. Apple pre-iPod was a source of amusing commercials. Pre iPhone they were the catalyst for change in the music industry, but they were still a consumer goods company with one product that had pretty wide, but still overall limited appeal. Apple still doesn't have a diversified revenue stream. If Microsoft had to stop selling Windows today, they'd still make a fortune from Office. If Microsoft had to stop selling Office and Windows today, they'd still make a (much smaller) fortune from Azure.

scarface74 4y ago
Just Mac revenue by itself would be the envy of most companies. But you can easily look at Apple’s revenue breakdown between Mac, iPads, services, wearables, etc and see that it is well diversified. And Microsoft never “bailed them out”. Before the MS deal was signed, Apple had already gotten a line of credit for a couple of billion. The $250 million that Microsoft invested in Apple was nothing. Apple turned around and used $100 million to buy out PowerComputings Mac license. It didn’t become profitable for another two years. The little money that Microsoft invested didn’t make a difference.
- brookst 4y ago
  Microsoft’s financial contribution was nothing, but Office on Mac was huge. Had there been some third OS that was thriving so Microsoft didn’t feel the need to prop Apple up for antitrust reasons, the world would be different. But so what? I can’t believe someone is seriously arguing that the failures of the Scully era are somehow damning to Apple under Cook. Sure, every company can fail. Apple is the most profitable company in the world right now, so it’s an odd time to sing doom songs.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    Office had been on the Mac since the 80s. Microsoft didn’t just wake up one day in 1997 and decide to port Office to the Mac. They promised to keep doing what they were already doing.
- com2kid 4y ago
  What % of those wearables and services are tied to devices? If iPhones vanished tomorrow, how much trouble would Apple be in? Wearables are 100% attach rate to iPhone, and I'd presume so are the vast majority of service subscribers. > Before the MS deal was signed, Apple had already gotten a line of credit for a couple of billion. The $250 million that Microsoft invested in Apple was nothing. As others said, the software support, browser + office were huge.
  - scarface74 4y ago
    They would still have Mac revenue that is more than they ever had pre-iPhone.
lokar 4y ago
No one picks azure unless they are a windows shop.

scarface74 4y ago

Just Mac revenue by itself would be the envy of most companies. But you can easily look at Apple’s revenue breakdown between Mac, iPads, services, wearables, etc and see that it is well diversified. And Microsoft never “bailed them out”. Before the MS deal was signed, Apple had already gotten a line of credit for a couple of billion. The $250 million that Microsoft invested in Apple was nothing. Apple turned around and used $100 million to buy out PowerComputings Mac license. It didn’t become profitable for another two years. The little money that Microsoft invested didn’t make a difference.

brookst 4y ago
Microsoft’s financial contribution was nothing, but Office on Mac was huge. Had there been some third OS that was thriving so Microsoft didn’t feel the need to prop Apple up for antitrust reasons, the world would be different. But so what? I can’t believe someone is seriously arguing that the failures of the Scully era are somehow damning to Apple under Cook. Sure, every company can fail. Apple is the most profitable company in the world right now, so it’s an odd time to sing doom songs.
- scarface74 4y ago
  Office had been on the Mac since the 80s. Microsoft didn’t just wake up one day in 1997 and decide to port Office to the Mac. They promised to keep doing what they were already doing.
com2kid 4y ago
What % of those wearables and services are tied to devices? If iPhones vanished tomorrow, how much trouble would Apple be in? Wearables are 100% attach rate to iPhone, and I'd presume so are the vast majority of service subscribers. > Before the MS deal was signed, Apple had already gotten a line of credit for a couple of billion. The $250 million that Microsoft invested in Apple was nothing. As others said, the software support, browser + office were huge.
- scarface74 4y ago
  They would still have Mac revenue that is more than they ever had pre-iPhone.

lokar 4y ago

No one picks azure unless they are a windows shop.