Dell (again) and Apple: In Response to Yue Huang’s Blog Post
Dell Apple Photo by Eye on Windows
Today, I would like to comment on Yue Huang’s blog post, in which she also explored Dell’s strengths and weaknesses after reading the interview with founder Michael Dell.
I agree with her on the point that Apple has outdone Dell on many levels, and its innovation in developing operating systems like OS X has made MacBooks into several consumers’ top choice, pushing Dell notebooks into the background.
However… I think there is more to this ongoing Dell versus Apple debate.
Firstly, it is inarguable that Apple has invested a lot into the marketing strategies and brand image of its company. The emphasis on the Apple ecosystem and almost addictive nature of Apple products are huge factors; we find that more and more people buy Apple computers because they already have an Apple iPhone or other device, because they want to follow the trends, because—well, simply because it is Apple. Apple positioned itself in a way so that its products would be desirable to the mass market, and used updates, new product releases, and device-to-device technology to keep users loyal to the brand.
On the other hand, Dell’s strategy sought to provide high-quality and immediate service, offer mass customizations, and put funds towards select components of production and technology development. Unlike Apple’s R&D-focused mission for newness, Dell’s purpose was improvement.
Thus, while it is true that Apple always succeeds at creating buzz amongst the mass market with each new product release, Dell has been more subtly targeting businesses and those who appreciate the brand’s reliability and service. Apple was innovative in its technology development, whereas Dell was innovative with its operations strategy. Ultimately, both companies worked off of that innovation to reach their respective target markets.