As goes the economy so goes Apple

Stan Beer
Tuesday, 14 October 2008 17:52

Opinion and Analysis

Apple Inc had better hope that the recent surge on Wall Street and global stock markets is not just a flash in the pan because if not 2009 could see the Cupertino colossus on the nose. If you think I'm kidding think again.

Better still, think about the products that Apple sells and which ones people need come hell or high water. People who work in the graphics business certainly need Macs (or at least they think they do).

However, think of everything else that Apple sells and they boil down to discretionary purchases.

Do I want an iPod - yes. Do I need one when times are tough, absolutely not. Do I need an Apple TV? No sir.

But what about the Mac range? Surely the resurgent MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and iMac, not to mention the Mac Pro, are not discretionary purchases? They sure are.

I love the MacBook and the other Mac products but right now its much cheaper to stay in the Windows world with a cheap desktop PC and netbook for travelling.

And what of the iPhone, the new poster child of the Apple family. I had one on trial for quite some time and loved it. However, it's a chachka - an ornamental gadget that no-one really needs when times are tough.

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