I'm not convinced, of Nick Wingfield's argument, frankly. Just because the new version of iWork contains a spreadsheet program (Numbers), corporate IT departments are going to flock to replace their thousands of bare-bones computers with iMacs? I'm happy for my company, because Numbers fits in with our workflow, and will probably will useful to the department that currently uses Excel (me). But we have less than ten employees (fluctuates with available projects), so are not a typical corporate environment, especially since we already have all Macs.
Apple's New iMacs Aim for Windows Users - WSJ.com:
CUPERTINO, Calif. -- Apple Inc., known in recent years for its eye-catching iPod and iPhone gadgets, moved to return attention to its heritage -- computers -- with a new line of consumer machines and software aimed at winning over more users of Windows-based PCs.At an event at its corporate headquarters here in Silicon Valley, Apple Chief Executive Steve Jobs unveiled a sleek new aluminum-and-glass look for its main desktop computer line, the iMac, that reflects the company's emphasis on design panache. It also revamped a line of consumer software for the Mac for creating home movies, Web pages and other content that Apple believes will further distinguish Macs from rival PCs running Microsoft Corp.'s Windows operating system.
Indeed, the Apple products, including a new spreadsheet program called Numbers that will compete directly with Microsoft's Excel program, are part of a years-long campaign by Apple to convert Windows users through spiffy products and high-profile television commercials. “A lot of Windows customers are going to switch because of this stuff,” Mr. Jobs said.
It isn't clear how many users of Windows, which runs the vast majority of the world's PCs, have switched over to Macs. But Apple's Macintosh business has been on a tear lately, outpacing industrywide growth in new PC shipments of 13% in the second quarter by nearly three times. Apple sold $2.53 billion in Macs in the second quarter, or 47% of the company's total revenue in the quarter.
