Summary

An iMAC refresh was inevitable and this is a nice step up.  The real news is the spreadsheet program and improvements in other iLIFE software components.

Analysis

A refreshed iMAC was inevitable and Apple has done its usually excellent job.  The real news is the low cost office program competitor to Microsoft office.  This is part of the strategy that Steve Jobs started when he shifted to Intel microprocessors.  Porting iLIFE to the PC will be the next step made much easier by the processor shift.  This will allow Apple to garner additional software revenue from the 98% of the PCs that aren't MACs.  Additionally having a cross platform application will ease the angst of users who are seriously considering switching to the MAC.

There is a real strategy in place at Apple to garner more of the PC marketplace and we are seeing it slowly unfold.  Some additional telling evidence is the availability of the Safari browser on the PC.

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Analyses are solely the work of the authors and have not been edited or endorsed by GLG.