[Ham-Mac] ARRL discrimination - Think different

[Chris Smolinski]

Volker Grassmann wrote:
> 
> Hi fellow hams,
> 
> I don't want to make this issue even more complicated but considering
> your impressive drive in this matter, I wish to suggest another idea -
> a stupid idea perhaps ...
> 
> What do we want to achieve? The answer is simple: we want more Mac
> software available in ham radio.
> 
> Who is the person or organization we need to talk to? From my
> perspective, we need to talk to those people capable to push this issue
> in the desired direction.
> 
> Who is this? Apple, of course, and ... Steve Jobs.
> 
> I can imagine, that Apple may consider radio amateurs an interesting
> target group: 1) there are 100.000s of hams in the U.S. and in the
> world, 2) hams may be considered early users of innovative
> technologies, 3) hams may be considered multipliers in the market
> because we interface private and professional users in various aspects,
> 4) Mac OS X is gaining more and more momentum in ham radio (see
> Steve's, NI5V, growing list of OS X applications), 5) ham Mac users may
> generate lots of awareness (see, for example, this email forum or,
> alternatively, the 'human race' TV documentary driven my a 'MacHead'),
> 6) ham Mac users represent a very large number of operational Mac
> systems (sum the amount of Mac computer systems we are using at home
> and in our companies and we can say: "see, ham Mac users represent more
> than 100.000 Mac systems in the market" - wow!, 7) .... (add your
> personal arguments here) ...

My humble opinion follows:

Apple isn't going to be interested in the ham radio market. First, it is
extremely small. Second, it is entrenched with Windows and Linux. Third,
the reason for this entrenchment is that the average ham, while more
than willing to spend kilo-bucks on a new radio (I subscribe to the Icom
list here on qth, where more than a few members seem to get a new rig
every few months), is a tightwad when it comes to computers and computer
software. Indeed, linux is the *perfect* OS for the average ham. It's a
free OS, with free software, that can be run on a machine pulled out of
the dumpster. Compete against that. 

I would even ventue to guess that there are more hams still using
ancient Commodore 64s today than Macs.

> What I want to say: there are many smart people in this forum and
> therefore I am convinced we can prepare an attractive and juicy package
> of arguments convincing Steve Jobs to consider radio amateurs an
> attractive target group, worth to be mentioned on their webpage and
> worth to be sponsored in OS X software development, dxpeditions, public
> activities and ... eductational initiatives. If we can initiate some
> sort of cooperation or project, we may go back to our national ham
> organizations and they will definetly listen to us, guaranteed.

They will listen to you if you can present a solid business model of how
they will generate a decent return on their investment, if they spend
their money on these various things. 

You'll need some solid numbers. How many hams are there in the US and
worldwide? That number is easy to find. How many of them actively use
computers? What percentage use the various platforms? These numbers are
a little more nebulous. Now for the biggie: How many hams can you
convert over from Windows/linux to the Mac? How many more Mac systems
can you get Apple to sell to hams?  That is the bottom line Apple is
interested in.

73
Chris
N3JLY