2007 - the year of the iPhone
Apple sent a clear message at the beginning of 2007 that the Mac was to take a back-seat in 2007, the iPhone would be a major focus for the company.  It all started at last year's Macworld keynote when Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced that the name of the company was changing from "Apple Computer" to "Apple Incorporated.  Other key events or non-events (depending how you look at them) in 2007 included:

• the unveiling of the iPhone
• no mention of the Mac, Mac OS X, or Mac software at the 2007 Macworld keynote
• Mac OS X Leopard was delayed until the end of October
• the iMac redesign was unveiled in August
• iLife and iWork updates were released for the first time in 20 months but were classified as "08" versions
• the Mac Pro only gained an 8-core option in April
• the MacBook Pro line was updated once (with the exception of a faster processor option in November - not really an update in the classic sense)

2008 - the year of the Mac
What does the 2008 have in store for the Mac?  In my view, Apple will place a significant focus on the Mac and Mac OS X during 2008.  The seeds for the most powerful growth phase for the Mac have been planted over the past few years.  2008 will be a significant growth year for Apple as the company is well positioned to capitalize on the ever expanding popularity of the Mac and Mac OS X.  Apple will unveil new Macintosh models and products that will leverage a more enhanced and featured Leopard operating system.  It is our position that Leopard will see significant updates during 2008 to include features that the company was unable to deliver when the operating system was released in October 2007.  Mac OS X will continue to gain market share and will continue to take share away from Windows.  The rate of growth will top the rates achieved during 2007.  Mac and Mac OS X growth will accelerate in 2008 as more people and businesses will make the switch.

Furthermore, the Apple ecosystem will continue to evolve as new devices and technologies will make their way out of the lab and into the hands of consumers.  Apple will leverage Mac OS X in these products and penetrate more aspects of our daily lives.  Rest assured that the ubiquity of the Apple brand will be much more relevant and obvious this time next year thanks to 2008 - The Year of the Mac.

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