"With [the Win95] release, Apple was tested - and they failed miserably. Not only did I warn Apple to take 95 more seriously, I also accurately forecast the massive decline that would happen to them if they didn't do just that. The MS platform has changed dramatically and it is much greater than just the operating system these days. Apple, on the other hand, hasn't advanced nearly as much but they are predominantly consumer-based today and less vulnerable to this comparative weakness as a result. Just like the last time, they will largely leverage hardware this time, and, as before, they will be up against companies with resources that eclipse their own."
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Member since:2005-06-29
We know, everyone except you has read the article. Read on down to where he tries to say that if Apple and Linux would work together they could beat Microsoft.
He doesn't bother to mention how they are to "work together."
Just, read the article. It's bereft of facts and flow. Each sentence seems crufted into the next and it all fits (sic) together to form something. But not something that makes much sense at all.
It's just ... badly written. It's like he's starting with a great thesis: "Hey Apple, remember Win95, don't let it happen again." But it doesn't bother to show a real comparison to 1995 and 2006.
And I thought that before I checked who the author was!
Member since:2005-09-15
I saw his point - he's a MSFT fanboy. And his whole article just reeks of it. Apple users get along just fine with OS-X + AppleWorks and Linux users get along fine with *nix + OpenOffice. So Vista + Office 12 is NOT some kind of magic one-two punch like he claims it is. BS article, nothing more, nothing less.
Member since:2005-07-06
Well, just from some of the quotes already posted here, I guess he is saying how MS, Vista, IE is wonderful. I don't know about you, but I'm reading a lot of "[MS-something] is better than [non-MS equivalent]" in that article. Without an explanation of what it does better, to boot.
Of course he's also saying "Oh, I knew years ago everything that would happen later, but did anybody listen? Oh, no, they didn't, and look at what happened to them! Ha, ha." which makes him look kind of silly anyway.
Member since:I agree with you.
I also think that is easy to miss the point in the article, because if next year Microsoft offers the same technological advances that Mac OSX and Linux, is very difficult to compete against Microsoft, in terms of the market size.
Basically, If joe user, have the same technology for Microsoft, why he bothers to use Linux or MacOSX?
Even if I think that is easy to miss the point in the article, the article is bad written and is very Microsoft (and USA) biased, because it doesn't mention several things:
1. That can be very difficult to upgrade to Vista from current Hardware (mostly in third-world countries)
2. Several governments try to use open source platforms.
3. The upgrade will be very expensive (in comparison to Linux) in third-world countries
4. The anti-piracy measures will affect the market share in countries where piracy is elevated.
5. Who will use the reduce version of windows (that can run max 4 programs at the same time) when it can use linux, instead.
The case of Apple is different. The next version of MacOSX must be prepared to compete against Windows Media Center Edition. So, Apple must innovate. But is very different right now.
Steve Jobs is leading Apple right now.
Member since:2005-07-06
Member since:>Even if I think that is easy to miss the point in the article, the article is bad written and is very Microsoft (and USA) biased, because it doesn't mention several things:
>1. That can be very difficult to upgrade to Vista from current Hardware (mostly in third-world countries)
Starter Editions, altought they suck are planned for those countries. Todays top models(which cost more than 2000€) can run Vista in very good performance and we still have 1 year to go before releasing Vista. Plus Microsoft has time to optimized code more aggressivly. It's very likely that basic models(which cost less than 1000€) will run Vista in 2006.
>2. Several governments try to use open source platforms.
Goverments will try to do that but mostly it's been publicity stuff. There hasn't been any major succees in migrating to open source platforms. Microsoft will probaply lose some of it's public sector incomes but they will still be strong in private side.
>3. The upgrade will be very expensive (in comparison to Linux) in third-world countries
Same as first part. Usually computers are upgraded to better ones every 4-5 years. It's likely that most of migrations to Vista will be done in 2-3 years after releasing it, that means in 2008-2009. Some companies have started to move to XP just couple of years ago.
>4. The anti-piracy measures will affect the market share in countries where piracy is elevated.
This isn't fact and it's impossible to say if anti-piracy measures will move users to other platforms, mainly free open source ones. Often consumers buy computer with pre-installed Windows, so it's no problem. Also Microsoft has talked about lowering price of Vista.
>5. Who will use the reduce version of windows (that can run max 4 programs at the same time) when it can use linux, instead.
Actually not many since reduced version is only available in few countries. Averega Joe doesn't use that many programs same time, usually they use web browers and IM-software (readers of OSnews aren't Average Joes 
). Most people will choose Windows because they are familiar using it and it's easy to use.
Member since:2005-09-25
I like the way you think about computing it is very analytical. Vista is aimed at the developed countries when most of the world will not have access to new hardward even if it is "cheaper" than the past. I don't want to talk about a feature comparison, but I the appropriate subject of comparison is markets and general trends in computing. Here are some important points the author missed.
1) As mentioned above the developing market is much bigger and probably growing faster than the U.S. or Europe combined, which is where Vista will be heavily martketed.
2) This is not 1995 when the when the desktop was the center of the computing universe. The Internet is the center of the computing universe and webservices not software on the desktop is what is most important. Appple receives most of it's profits not from OS X, but from the iPOD and itunes sales. Google is the current King of the internet centric universe. Microsoft has recently announce a reorganization because of the Google threat. Computing is moving out from the desktop into the broader consumer electrics market and Apple is leading the way.
3) Microsoft's biggest competition maybe itself. Many people do not upgrade, because to most people if the computer works why should I upgrade. When it's time to upgrade maybe there will be a cheaper easy to use Linux computer that does everything they need for less than half the price, but most people don't care that it is Linux just that it is easy to use. Most people are not enamored with technology as the author or most of the readers in this forum. It's not what is under the hood it is how it works.
As in economics past performance (Win95) is no indication of future (Vista) performance. The world has changed this is a not 1995 it maybe 2006 when Vista ships. Anybody ever hear of "Internet time"?
Member since:
As usual, on any topic involving Apple.
He is making a business forecast. He is not talking about how wonderful anything is, whether he or anyone else likes it.
He is saying, W95 nearly sunk Apple, because they were geared up to compete with 3.1, and did not correctly appraise the threat.
He is saying, this is a greater threat.
He is not saying, the product is better, the company is nicer. He's saying, its a threat to revenues and profits, given the market as it it. He's saying, its a threat that demands actions of a kind Apple is probably not going to take. He qualifies that, by saying that it may not be a threat to the whole company, just to the PC product line.
If Cupertino thinks as sloppily as the Mac people who post here, he is most likely right.