So I was thinking about the whole PC versus Mac situation. There are several ways that PCs and Macs are different, not one better than the other just different. The obvious difference is the fact that PCs are generally less expensive for the same technical specifications. But (in my opinion) Macs are better designed and are better in quality. I can attribute this to the fact that Microsoft doesn't make the hardware, where Mac hardware is designed and built by Apple.
But this post isn't about that, this post is about where Microsoft has the upper hand over Apple. Microsoft has been making plenty of money with their video game system. Their console "turned a profit" back in 2008, and has seemingly been doing great in 2009, and 2010. They have been making money not just in hardware sales, games, and accessories (ways to make money with video games traditionally) but also with digital sales of full Xbox 360 games, Arcade games, and Live membership cost. On top of that Microsoft has been making plenty with partnerships with the Xbox. Partnerships with companies like Hulu, Netflix, ESPN, and MSN.
So as I was thinking about the whole Apple and Microsoft comparison, I realized that Microsoft does alot more than just software. Apple of course does a whole lot more than just computers as well. They have alot invested in the IPod, IPhone, IPad, ITunes, Apple TV, and network hardware. Now Microsoft has dipped its toes into the water a little in these areas. Microsoft had three generations of its IPod competitor (the Zune), which was met with some success, but to the public it is considered a failure. Microsoft also has a music store, and had the TV/DVR market before Apple TV (with Windows Media Center). Microsoft has also been in the phone market longer than Apple with the Windows Mobile platform (Previously Pocket PC from 2000, and the first Window Mobile for phones in 2003). We've seen Microsoft have some success in market places now dominated by Apple, but what about the reverse?
But PC Has Games
When ever I hear the classic arguments for PC over Mac, or why a Mac is better; I always think about gaming. While the PC gaming market for Microsoft has been declining (independent games, and Steam seem to grow), one weakness of Macs has always been gaming. There are several reasons for this, and this post won't go into them, but the point is that Macs have been lacking in the gaming department when compared to PC gaming for at least 12 years. Now this may be a tactical move by Apple. They may want to focus more on style, design, and usability of their current products. But what would a gaming market look like if Apple decided to go full force into it?
IGame?
If Apple went into the gaming industry I would like to think that they would do something similar to the Apple TV. Where they would make a video game console, instead of trying to make games for the Mac operating system. I would bet that the system would be running their IOS or some variation of it. This way all the current games for the IPhone/Ipad could be used. Games would likely be available for download, but I think it would be a good idea to have physical medium as well, maybe they would be on DVDs. Blu-Ray could be a possibility, but in the past Steve Jobs has mentioned how he's not a fan of Blu-Ray. However his opinion may have changed since making those comments.
Other things that Apple does well would likely be seen in this video game system. I would imagine this video game system, lets call it the IGame, would also be very easy to use. Most apple products are easy to use, partially because they control the hardware and can control the experience that the user will have. Controllers would be an interesting one. I'm guessing that IPhones, IPads, and IPod touches could be used as a touch screen wireless interface via Wifi. I think it would also be a good idea to have a cheaper controller that is a more traditional analog sticks, shoulder buttons similar to PS2/PS3 controllers.
So what would make this IGame so good? What would make people want to buy it? Coming into a new market would be very hard. Microsoft had a very difficult time with the original Xbox but got lucky with a few good titles, and then hit a home run with Xbox Live. What I think would set Apple apart in this industry already full of contenders is the quality of their games. I would expect the games that come out of Apple to be very artistic, very clean, professional, and fun. They tend to do things right most of the time, because they invest so much time and effort into a project.
I don't have any inside information, it is just something I was thinking about while doing dishes and thought it would be a great idea to play a game designed by Apple, played on an Apple video game system. Now would it be over priced? Probably. Would it sell? No idea. But I would imagine it might be like the Neo-Geo was. A system that was appropriately priced for what it did, but too expensive for most people, causing the market to not accept it.
Edit: So I Googled IGame, and was scared to see that last April there was information about a gaming system from Apple...it was on April 1st. Hears hoping we'll have a real announcement in the future.