Apple Boot Camp’s ‘Windows Insecurity Blanket’ helps buyers decide to switch to Macs
Friday, May 19, 2006 - 12:57 PM EDTDave Caolo explains how he sold two Macs this week over on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW). "I'm lucky enough to work at an all-Mac school. However, the majority of employees (as I'm sure is the case most everywhere) are PC users at home," Caolo writes. "So we talked a bit and I showed them around my iMac, letting them play with a few of the iApps (photo sharing in iPhoto across two Macs via airport was a real crowd pleaser, I can tell you). Still, they couldn't be swayed. Until I dropped the bomb, that is. 'These can run Windows, you know,' I said. 'WHAT?!?' Their eyes lit up."
"I realized what was going on, of course: the security blanket effect. Knowing that their precious Windows is there, even if it's never used (and eventually it won't be) pushed them over the edge," Caolo writes. "They've both since purchased Macs. The whole experience leads me to believe that Apple is going to sell a LOT of computers next year."
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Well, since it's Windows we're talking about here, we've been calling it the "insecurity blanket" for nearly a year, but it means the same thing: Mac sales and market share increases. Before the very literal interpreters weigh in, yes, the example above centers on just two users buying only two Macs. Extrapolate.
Let's face it, Windows-only users have no idea what they're missing and most are not inclined to do a several hundred dollar "test" to see if they really like Mac OS X and the Mac platform. Imagine if they could feel "safe" in buying a Mac that can run their Windows that also happens to let them run Mac OS X. And we all know what happens once someone really gives Mac OS X a try—Windows quickly falls by the wayside. That's why these Intel-based Macs will help expand Mac market share, if average people can be made to understand that the machines can run both Windows and Mac operating systems natively. Remember, it's a good bet most of these average people (we're probably talking somewhere around 70-80% of personal computer consumers) don't even know what an operating system is; they think Windows is a personal computer; you know, the ones who think the "blue e" is the "Internet." For most people, Macs will become the "2 for the price of 1" computer. Even for the nearly illiterate personal computer buyers, with a little Apple-supplied education via marketing, it would make little sense to buy a limited Windows-only machine from the box assemblers like Dell, Gateway, etc. Give them their "Windows Insecurity Blanket" upfront and they'll throw it away themselves after they realize how tattered and threadbare it is in comparison it to Apple's Mac OS X. - Stevejack for MacDailyNews from the article "Intel-based Macs running both Mac OS X and Windows will be good for Apple" - June 10, 2005
Advertisements:
• Introducing the super-fast, blogging, podcasting, do-everything-out-of-the-box MacBook. Starting at just $1099
• Get the new iMac with Intel Core Duo for as low as $31 A MONTH with Free shipping!
• Get the MacBook Pro with Intel Core Duo for as low as $47 A MONTH with Free Shipping!
• Apple's new Mac mini. Intel Core, up to 4 times faster. Starting at just $599. Free shipping.
• iPod. 15,000 songs. 25,000 photos. 150 hours of video. The new iPod. 30GB and 60GB models start at just $299. Free shipping.
• Connect iPod to your television set with the iPod AV Cable. Just $19.
• iPod Radio Remote. Listen to FM radio on your iPod and control everything with a convenient wired remote. Just $49.
Related articles:
Research firm: Intel, Boot Camp powering huge Apple Mac sales surge - May 19, 2006
Needham: Apple Mac sales could surge due to Boot Camp, newfound ability to run Windows apps - April 20, 2006
Cowen & Co survey shows strong Apple Mac sales prospects, Boot Camp impact 'broadly positive' - April 18, 2006
Apple's Boot Camp vs. Parallels Workstation for running Windows on Intel-based Macs - April 14, 2006
Baig: Boot Camp works so well it reminds me why I prefer Mac OS X to Windows XP in the first place - April 13, 2006
Pre-Boot Camp report: Apple could double market share on Microsoft defections - April 13, 2006
Mossberg: 'Every mainstream consumer doing typical tasks should consider Apple Mac' - April 13, 2006
Boot Camp could be big win for Apple Macs in schools - April 12, 2006
Thurrott: Apple's elegant Boot Camp opens up a world of possibilities - April 11, 2006
Apple's Boot Camp is first step towards Mac OS X Leopard's inevitable support for virtualization - April 11, 2006
IT specialist: Apple's Boot Camp 'definitely makes the Mac more attractive' - April 10, 2006
Apple trying to steal customers from Windows with Boot Camp by letting people try superior Mac OS X - April 09, 2006
Apple reseller: Boot Camp could sway a 'huge percentage' of PC users to go to the Mac - April 07, 2006
Analyst: Apple's Boot Camp may bring 'significant benefits' beginning in 2006 holiday quarter - April 07, 2006
Analyst: With Boot Camp, Apple has removed another barrier to switching - April 06, 2006
Analyst: Apple Boot Camp could be an opportunity for Mac market share gains - April 06, 2006
Enderle: Apple's Boot Camp allowing Windows on Mac 'could change PC landscape as we know it' - April 06, 2006
Apple's 'Boot Camp' a watershed, could dramatically expand Mac market share - April 05, 2006
Apple's 'Boot Camp' is bad news for Windows-only PC box assemblers - April 05, 2006
Reuters: Apple's new 'Boot Camp' could draw millions of new Mac buyers - April 05, 2006
Apple introduces Boot Camp: public beta software enables Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP - April 05, 2006
Dude, you got a Dell? What are you, stupid? Only Apple Macs run both Mac OS X and Windows! - April 05, 2006
Intel-based Macs running both Mac OS X and Windows will be good for Apple - June 10, 2005
= 
Because I took the jump willingly and hopefully I didn't think the fear of the transition was such a huge factor but apparently to most people it is. 30 min ago a friend told me she's trying to sell her dell to buy an apple and about 10 minutes ago I helped our on-campus store sell a 15 MBP after explaining that macs run most programs you need, if it doesnt you can run windows and it already speaks chinese. The way people react when you explain boot camp is just astounding.
I'm going to buy apple stock. This quarter's numbers are going to be huge.