Why Apple Doesn’t Care About the Pro Market Anymore

Former Shake product designer Ron Brinkmann:

And back then the same questions were being asked as now – “Doesn’t Apple care about the professional market?”

In a word, no. Not really. Not enough to focus on it as a primary business.

[…]

So if you’re really a professional you shouldn’t want to be reliant on software from a company like Apple. Because your heart will be broken. Because they’re not reliant on you. Use Apple’s tools to take you as far as they can – they’re an incredible bargain in terms of price-performance. But once you’re ready to move up to the next level, find yourself a software provider whose life-blood flows only as long as they keep their professional customers happy. It only makes sense.

I think Brinkman is exactly right. When Apple depended on the pro video editing and print design markets, it catered to them. The same thing was true for the educational sector. But now, with millions of consumers gobbling up its products, Apple’s allegiances have shifted. Look no further than products like Final Cut Pro X and OS X Lion if you don’t think this is true.

As someone who has been a fan of the company for a long time, this makes me more than a little sad. Hell, it makes me a little angry. But on paper, it make sense.

But my heart is still hurting.

[via Mac Rumors]