Apple’s hits and misses for 2007
Posted by Dennis Sellers 
Dec 31, 2007 at 5:49am
Overall, 2007 was a great year for Apple, especially money-wise. But let’s not talk about the finances. Let’s look at the hits and misses among its product introductions, at least as seen through my eyes.
First, the hits. Obviously, the iPhone has to be included in this list. It’s been a major success despite a controversial price cut less than two months after it was introduced and the controversial move in making AT&T the exclusive wireless provider in the U.S. I’m not an iPhone user mainly because of AT&T’s crappy service in northern Davidson County (Tennessee) where I live. But the folks I know who have an iPhone love it.
Another hit is the aluminum iMac. The 24-inch version—good for prosumers, heck even some professionals, as well as consumers—is, in fact, my favorite Mac desktop ever. However, as much as I love the glossy screen, the fact that a non-glossy version isn’t offered goes into the “miss” category for Apple.
iWork ‘08, with the addition of the Numbers spreadsheet, continues to improve. Sales are up and it now offers a viable alternative to Microsoft Office for some users.
The revamped iPod line-up is a hit. I love the innovative features of the iPod touch and the great value of the iPod classic, but am less impressed with the 3G iPod nano. However, I’m certainly in the minority on that front.
The updates of Final Cut Studio 2, Logic Studio and Final Cut Express were also welcome. As were laptop updates, though there were no product altering announcements in this area.
On the “miss” list for me is iMovie ‘08. Though I love the other components of iLife ‘08, I find the new version of iMovie (which, to me, is the long-beloved product in name only) to be a downgrade from the previous version.
Also on the miss list is the Apple TV, a product that has yet to find its place. However, I think it has lots of promise and potential—and I think we’ll see that in 2008.
I also have to place the lack of new Cinema Displays and substantial Mac Pro updates in the “miss” category. Heck, Apple, at least put iSights in the former and Bluetooth/AirPort as standard in the latter.
Finally, there’s Mac OS X 10.5 (“Leopard”), which falls into both the “hit” and “miss” lists. I love it and have had absolutely no problems with it. However, I know others who have had serious issues with the latest OS update.
That’s my Apple “hit-miss” list for 2007. What’s on yours
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Contributor
Dennis Sellers
Dennis has been a newspaper editor/reporter (seven years) and teacher (seven years). He has over 4,000 magazine, newspaper and online articles to his credit. He has also covered the Mac and tech industries for over a decade for such online publications as MacCentral, MacMinute and now MacsimumNews.
