-
If you’re jumping to Windows – Something to ponder
HP’s Personal Systems Group, which sells PCs, tablets and smartphones, has the company’s lowest profit margin although it accounted for nearly a third of HP’s overall revenues in 2010.
Given the number of people who consider the HP Z400/Z600/Z800 to be their workstations of choice this has to be significant. So when you lament Apple’s supposed “Pro” abandonment and how no other company would ever do such a thing, consider this. They’re all businesses and will do what’s best for their bottom line.
Just like FCP7, your Zxxx isn’t suddenly dead and, in this case, someone will likely pick it up, you’ll have no idea what the eventually buyer’s intentions will be.
-
47 Replies
-
Craig –
Your post is so off the mark it’s a chore to know where to begin. But let’s try –
1. – They’re “spinning off” the line, not killing it. I would be jumping for joy if Apple would spin Off FCP7, instead of putting it to the torch.
2. – Hardware is not software, there is no upgrade path or learning curve that is being thrown away.
3. – HP, unlike Apple, does not have a monopoly on their product line. Anyone who wants a PC workstation has literally hundreds of places to go. And unlike Apple and FCP7 HP has not halted support for products under warranty, if your Z400 goes down and is under warranty, HP will be there to fix it.
It’s been so quiet here lately, it’s really a pleasure to have something to rail against. Thank you.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Herb Sevush] ” They’re “spinning off” the line, not killing it.”
Like marketing spin?
Somebody will pick it up as Lenovo did IBM but new decision makers may make new decisions. They lack of profitability is sweeping the PC industry.[Herb Sevush] “HP, unlike Apple, does not have a monopoly on their product line.”
Actually very much the same (numbers different of course). HP is (was) the LEADING PC manufacturer and the HP Z series popular powerful desktops amongst “professionals.” Sure you can move on to another PC…Just like you can move on to another NLE.
The point is these kinds of machinations happen even amongst industry leaders whether HP or Apple.
Given the shrinking market for desktops and the niche market for “professional” NLEs one might end up right back at Avid with turnkey systems. Keep in mind that market is, relative to the broader market, getting smaller and less profitable.
…and IMHO, like it or not, the very nature of what a “professional” editor is, is changing/expanding/morphing. Apple may be further ahead of the curve for most people’s “comfort zones” but given how things continue to shake out in the industry, I think they’re heading in the right direction…even if some may not see it for a couple of years.
-
[Craig Seeman]…and IMHO, like it or not, the very nature of what a “professional” editor is, is changing/expanding/morphing.
No it isn’t. A professional editor is someone whose primary job is to edit. That’s not changing.
-
“Like marketing spin? Somebody will pick it up as Lenovo did IBM but new decision makers may make new decisions. They lack of profitability is sweeping the PC industry.”
Yes, just like Lenovo. The lack of profitability is a result of the cheap availability of off the shelf parts. Tell me why this is bad for an independent editor?
“HP is (was) the LEADING PC manufacturer and the HP Z series popular powerful desktops amongst “professionals.” Sure you can move on to another PC…Just like you can move on to another NLE.”
No, it’s emphatically NOT just like moving to another NLE. There is no learning curve, there is no cost, there is no downside whatsoever. Yes HP was a large maker of high end workstations, along with Dell and a few dozen smaller companies like Boxx. Now HP sells it’s computer division to someone happy for the smaller margins — in what way is this similar to the Apple/FCP massacre?
“Given the shrinking market for desktops and the niche market for “professional” NLEs one might end up right back at Avid with turnkey systems. Keep in mind that market is, relative to the broader market, getting smaller and less profitable.”
Yes, I’ll worry about this ten years from now. Until then, I figure the PC workstation market is a good deal more secure than the Mac Pro market. I like my chances in an open market, not at the whims of a single manufacturer, especially one with bigger fish to fry.
“Apple may be further ahead of the curve for most people’s “comfort zones” but given how things continue to shake out in the industry, I think they’re heading in the right direction…even if some may not see it for a couple of years.”
Apple is not further ahead, IMHO, they are now further behind, dragging their product line up a blind alley, like the marching band in Animal House, blindly following the shiny baton no matter where it goes. Meanwhile the editing industry has moved elsewhere.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
[Gary Huff] “That’s not changing.”
But a lot of what they need to do may be and the people coming in to the profession may have a very different history and this can have a fundamental impact on GUI.
-
[Herb Sevush] “Yes, just like Lenovo. The lack of profitability is a result of the cheap availability of off the shelf parts. Tell me why this is bad for an independent editor?”
It’s bad for computer makers when their margins are low and they may make decisions regarding design or the practicality of staying in the market.
[Herb Sevush] “No, it’s emphatically NOT just like moving to another NLE. There is no learning curve”
Try installing a Blackmagic card in a Dell computer. I guess you’ve never spend time troubleshooting a new system. The OS may not change but the shifts in drivers and hardware compatibility can be radical.
[Herb Sevush] “Yes, I’ll worry about this ten years from now. Until then, I figure the PC workstation market is a good deal more secure than the Mac Pro market.”
So secure HP, one of the biggest is leaving it as IBM has. The ENTIRE industry is depressed. It’s not secure at all. Margins are falling or, even at best stagnant especially for desktops.
I think you should read some of the computer tech financial reports.
-
Craig, if you’re champing at the bit to do all of your editing by finger on the iPad, then I’m sure it will be coming soon and I’m sure the speed and ease of use of uploading all your footage to the cloud and waving your finger on the screen will leave us all behind in the editing world.
-
“Try installing a Blackmagic card in a Dell computer. I guess you’ve never spend time troubleshooting a new system. The OS may not change but the shifts in drivers and hardware compatibility can be radical.”
Is that really your argument, that the time spent installing drivers on a new pc is equivalent to the time spent re-training on a new NLE. I’m not even going into the cost in time trying to use a NLE not fit for broadcast work. Your argument is absurd.
“it’s bad for computer makers when their margins are low and they may make decisions regarding design or the practicality of staying in the market.”
Fortunately I’m not a computer maker, I’m an editor. Their problems are my profits.
“So secure HP, one of the biggest is leaving it as IBM has. The ENTIRE industry is depressed. It’s not secure at all. Margins are falling or, even at best stagnant especially for desktops.”
IBM left, Compaq left (or got sold to HP) – and guess what – it had no effect on my ability to find a PC. HP will sell off it’s division, Dell could go under, and I’ll still be able to assemble a PC workstation I need from parts suppliers. The lack of margins don’t indicate a lack, they indicate a surplus. By the time it’s gone, I’ll be retired.
“I think you should read some of the computer tech financial reports.”
I don’t have time, I’m studying up on my Avid and PPro manuals. I have shows to edit.
Herb Sevush
Zebra Productions -
I see a more “modular” market in which one might be using a bunch of iMac (or Windows equivalent) workstations hooked into a server/san. The reason why this is financially viable is that the iMac has a broader market.
One might consider MacBookAirs have Thunderbolt ports as well. It will be interesting if that happens on the Windows side whether Thunderbolt or USB.
Sony will be implementing Thunderbolt
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/88370-sony-vaio-z-thunderbolt-price-macs-look-cheapI really believe the computer industry is heading in that direction.
I can’t help but believe Apple has something like that in mind with FCPX metadata and media management in the longer run (obviously not yet implemented but one has to believe the complexity is there for a reason).
The computers will be consumer friendly but can be integrated into a higher power “hub” (server/san) which will be high cost/high margin in the “professional” market.
I think both Avid and Apple are heading in this direction but with different backgrounds and business models. For Avid Unity it might be one thing, for Apple it’ll mean developing some pricey equivalent. The difference is Avid is reliant on other computer manufacturers . . . and how many people are running Media Composer or Adobe suites on HP Zxxx boxes).
Basically lower cost work station which has broader appeal outside the “pro” market into a “pro” specific brain.
The financial reality is that the high end desktop market has been on decline for some time and one might say it even goes back to the move away from SGI workstations to lower cost desktops. It’s just a continuation.
-
[Herb Sevush] “Is that really your argument, that the time spent installing drivers on a new pc is equivalent to the time spent re-training on a new NLE. I’m not even going into the cost in time trying to use a NLE not fit for broadcast work. “
Having been a facility engineer, the cost of trouble shooting is MAJOR. Not only in the hours to trouble shoot but the downtime in the room or the time it takes to get systems up and working. That’s why VARs make money. You’re paying for it one way or another. Given how similar NLEs are (FCPX withstanding obviously) the learning curve is not that severe.
Reply to this Discussion! Login or Sign Up