Apple Jumps Out Front In 2005

OS Mac News

In the intervening years, it's been a regular source of amusement to watch the recurring predictions of Apple's demise, each one deftly turned aside by some new Mac product or application making a splash in the market.

This week Steve Jobs was at it again, launching a new, smaller iPod and the Mac Mini, a high-powered, half-sized, quarter-priced update of the Mac Cube of a few years back. The next day Apple reported a four-fold increase in earnings, mostly thanks to those iPods, that triggered another jump in Apple's stock price--already up over 200% in the last year.

But not everybody has enjoyed the ride. Some of Apple's oldest and most loyal channel partners, who stuck by the company through its lean years, have been stung by the company's push into retail, particularly the emergence of the high-style Apple Stores across the country. VARBusiness' T.C. Doyle spent some time with Apple's VARs, past and present (including some in ligitation with Apple) for his cover story, Bad Apple: Inside The Channel's Battle With Apple. Robert DeMarzo, who knows more than a little about Apple's history with the channel (he was editor of Mac News) says Apple is "Biting The VAR Hands That Fed It."

The Year To Come

Whatever your take on Apple may be, 2005 opens with the promise of fresh opportunities for all. Check in on CRN's Outlook 2005 for predictions on the trends, technologies, people and companies looking to break from the pack this year. VARBusiness' 2005 State of the Market report provides critical research data on just where technology integrators plan to drive their businesses. And Robert Faletra looks at the enterprise software space and says, "get big or get out", as he predicts Fast And Furious Consolidation In Software in 2005.

Best of the Week

This week's CRN cover story celebrates 10 Channel Advocates--top executives leading the channel charge in their organizations. No, Steve Jobs isn't among them.

Digital Connect's editors were all over the CES show in Las Vegas, covering the latest products on the consumer end of the tech spectrum. Their CES news roundup will bring you up to speed.

And it's all over but the restructuring: Oracle's acquisition of PeopleSoft is a done deal.