Apple, the iPod, the Mac and the Future

While Apple leads the list of Businessweek's Top Corporate Performers, the magazine points out that Apple was not in such great shape only a few years ago, and gives some interesting perspective as Apple looks towards the future.

"Oh, the company was going bankrupt, all right," recalls ex-board member Edgar S. Woolard Jr. But in mid-1997, Woolard called Steven P. Jobs and asked him to retake the helm of the company Jobs had co-founded in 1976. In short order, Jobs tightened up operations, re-energized Apple's talented troops, and in 2001 oversaw the debut of a magical little device called the iPod.

While many feel Apple's focus has shifted towards the iPod, analysts claim the Mac will continue to be a very important piece in the coming years. While the iPod is a large portion of Apple's sales, they point out the PC business remains a larger target, and if Apple can achieve gains in marketshare in that arena, they could grow considerably over the next few years.

Again, the usual possibilities are trotted out -- some more likely that others. The potential to run Windows along-side Mac OS X continues to be cited as a huge incentive for many reluctant switches to make the leap to the Mac. Meanwhile, the often mentioned possibility of Apple finally licensing Mac OS X to other PC manufacturers is again raised. And the articles reports that "Multiple PC makers have expressed an interest [in licensing Mac OS X for PCs]. It's not just Dell."