Filed under: Hardware, Humor, iTS, OS, Software
Dell CEO jabs at Apple, forgets how to count
Michael Dell, amidst lackluster growth reports and a dismal earnings warning, has fired a couple more potshots across Apple's bow. During a recent Q&A, Dell's CEO cited MTV's new URGE music service as one reason why he is skeptical of the iTMS market dominance over the next ten to twenty years. I guess we'll have to see how well Microsoft irons out their Going further, Mr. Dell also bragged about Dell's market share statistics, stating that Apple isn't a threat because they haven't broken into the list of top five market share holders. All debates as to whether Apple is trying to, or even should, dominate the world with their shiny computers aside, Michael is only half right: Apple's market share in the U.S. has actually jumped high enough to rank them 4th in PC manufacturers (again, in the U.S.).
How many times do we have to tell you this, Mr. Dell? Insulting Apple won't make them open up OS X for you.
[via MacNN]
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
ChillyWilly said 5:10PM on 7-24-2006
Michael Dell snubs and slams Apple, but then turns around and says they have small marketshare. So what's he worried about? I understand in business, you need to keep track of your competitors, but that's an odd statement for him to make.
Apple doesn't have much to worry about. Just keep making cool products and eventually sales will happen.
Reply
Arn said 5:24PM on 7-24-2006
I believe that Michael is correct in stating that Apple is not in the top 5 for market share. But they are number 4 in terms of sales dollars. Apple's goal is obviously not market share but sales and profitability.
Reply
digitalintrigue said 5:32PM on 7-24-2006
Something tells me a lot of Dell's market share is made up of cheapie $300 PCs that they make very little, if any, money on. Market share is not all its cracked up to be, especially that the Apple hardware platform is now intel-based.
Reply
Dan said 5:37PM on 7-24-2006
If you read the article, you'll notice there are no actual jabs, even though the Mac media are sensationalizing that way. His comments may have damned Apple with faint praise, but they weren't really denigrating at all.
Reply
jonas said 5:47PM on 7-24-2006
playsforsure = platform
urge = service
zune = from the the divison behind xbox. wont use playsforsure or urge. Engadget says "The corporate culture of the company is such that Allard's team is expected to work outside the confines of Microsoft's typical boundaries, which might otherwise hinder the company getting a foothold in previously unentered markets."
Reply
Splashman said 6:06PM on 7-24-2006
Let's not get carried away, David. We all know Dell is dull, but do you really think it's fair to characterize Michael Dell's comments as a jab?
He complemented Apple twice. Sure, you can argue they were backhanded complements, but they certainly weren't jabs.
MD's remark about ITMS: "I would be surprised if they [Apple] are able to maintain the share they have today over the next 10 or 20 years." Uh, would anyone here like to argue with that? On what basis? 10 or 20 years is a long time. With a few notable exceptions, I wouldn't count on ANY company to maintain 75% market share in ANY industry for the next 10 or 20 years. If you want to complain about MD's statement, then complain that he's making a self-evident statement.
MD's statement about PC market share, as has already been noted, is open to some interpretation ($ or units?). In either case, his point is that Apple's share is comparatively small. Brace yourself: He's right. Seriously, how can you argue the point, or call it a "jab"? Sure, you might believe that Apple's and Dell's share numbers will be reversed in 10 years, but that doesn't change today's numbers.
It's just my opinion, of course, but this post is trying to create controversy where none exists. Hey, if MD starts yapping again about Apple going down the tubes or some such nonsense, I'll happily join in the lynching party, but in the meantime . . . yeesh.
And a minor footnote (again, my opinion): Jobs doesn't want 20% or 30% of the PC market. He wants the top 10%. When he gets it, he'll raise prices. After all, not even Dell wants to be Dell.
Reply
David said 6:06PM on 7-24-2006
David Chartier needs to do his homework Dell's CEO is Kevin Rollins... Well for now it is
Reply
Splashman said 6:09PM on 7-24-2006
And on a completely unrelated topic: Do TUAW contributors get paid by the post?
Reply
JL said 6:24PM on 7-24-2006
The real thread to Mackie Dull is HP! Get it? HP. My IT department is dumping Dull in favor of HP due to poor customer service from Dull! Even some of my co-workers who did not care what kind of box they get are moving toward HP. Once the heard mentality stats switching in mass, Mackie Dull will be in trouble staying on top. The same 10, 20 years rule will apply to every one, even Dull and MicroSh#t!
Reply
SB said 6:53PM on 7-24-2006
The only reason why Dell said they'd run OSX is to please Mac fanboys and put the pressure on Jobs to open up the operating system to include non-Apple hardware. Jobs has everything to gain and nothing to lose by running OSX. He doesn't give a rat's ass about Apple as a competitor to Dell in terms of selling PCs. Apple is, and will continue to be, a very, very tiny marketshare. You can act all smug and think that dangling OSX in front of Dell's face will make him scared or jealous, but the reality is Dell couldn't give a shit about that. What he might be worried about, though, is Apple's ability to integrate music/video/photo into the OS and monopolize the industry like they have with iPods. That scares many people, including me, a Mac user.
Reply
SB said 6:54PM on 7-24-2006
Sorry, DELL has everything to gain and nothing to lose by running OSX.
Reply
zune said 6:55PM on 7-24-2006
under the umbrella of zune there will be multiple devices, like a game boy and small movie player. It will do OK but not take over more than 20% of iPods market.
Reply
Mac Diva said 8:34PM on 7-24-2006
Splashman said what I would have. As he and other commenters have pointed out, entries that misrepresent what the source material says undermine the credibility of the blogger who writes them.
Reply
Reg said 10:03PM on 7-24-2006
#6 > "do you really think it's fair to characterize Michael Dell's comments as a jab?"
He's probably thinking of the sentiment behind the "Apple should close its doors and give the money back to the shareholders" quote, which most certainly was a painful jab, and may justify being a bit critical of the utterer's subsequent comments.
I think the Steve remembers it too, or he wouldn't have sent the company-wide email earlier this year pointing out the market cap of AAPL had exceeded that of DELL.
Reply
Zeke said 10:42AM on 7-25-2006
Looks like Dell should shut down and give the money back to the shareholders...
Reply
Liquidmark said 8:11PM on 7-25-2006
@Splashman
I agree with most of what you are saying. But I beleive that Apple will lower their prices as it becomes more economically feasable to make quality machines. Raising their prices puts them back in the position of being more expensive for less bang.
Tho, I so very much want to see Macs become the best bargain for the byte. Price is a big turn off right now for many users.
Reply