Ten reasons why are Macs hot right now

One thing that's jumped out at me over the Christmas break is how hot the Apple Mac currently is.

I noticed this first hand when I popped into Myer to have a look at the EeePC, there was a reasonable number of people looking at the Asus device, but the real crowds were in the Apple section. The PC section was very quiet indeed.

The experience of Peter Kafka at Silicon Alley Insider over Christmas indicates this was a world wide phenomenon.

Added to this Amazon claim the Mac was their hottest selling computer up to Christmas.

It's interesting how the Mac's regaining ground. The question is why and how. I suspect there's a number of reasons.

1. The iPod and iPhone: These devices have exposed millions of users to Mac products who simply wouldn't have bothered otherwise.
2. Reduced prices: The switch to Intel chips has reduced the price of systems. While they are still pricier than similarly specced PCs, the price difference isn't the issue it once was.
   
3. Viruses and spyware: People are sick of this garbage. Families don't want their kids infesting machines with offensive and damaging malware.
4. The failure of Vista: Microsoft have bungled the roll out of Vista. It's a major turn off for consumers but the alternative in the Windows world is the malware prone XP.
5. Boot camp: The ability to start into Windows gives switchers an exit. If they aren't happy with the Mac OS, they can always go back without having wasted a couple of thousand dollars.
   
6. Increased use of web applications: One of the big objections to the Mac was being unable to run Windows based applications. With the rise of web based apps, this argument loses ground.
   
7. Ease of use: The difference between Windows and the Mac has reduced over the years, particularly since the improved GUI of Windows 95, but the Mac still has the edge. Put simply, most things work on the Mac.
8. Good design: Apple's designs look and work better.
9. Good engineering: This is reflected in points seven and eight. The Mac is better put together than most PCs, this means things work better.
10. Better marketing: I hated the Mac versus PC ads and still do, despite the odd triumph (the bloated PC skit). But the marketing is more than the ads; the packaging looks good, the stores look good and the resellers look better.
    

All up, Apple are just offering a far better experience for both consumers and power users. All of that said, their market share is still a fraction of that held by Windows.

Personally, I doubt they will ever overtake Windows in the PC market place. However this is not such a bad thing.

The big risk in computing is getting stuck in the commodity end of the market. Dell made that mistake as did HP, Packard-Bell and Gateway. It ends up eroding your margins and trashing your reputation.

Apple haven't gone there and it doesn't look like they will.

This means better margins for Apple and better computers for the customers who are prepared to pay a few bucks more.

It's a pretty good story for Apple. No wonder their shares are up.