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QUOTE (grabageek.net)
The US government proved that Microsoft illegally exploited monopoly power in the “antitrust case of the century” They have an OS that just doesn't want to get finished and a V1.00 browser called Firefox that's nipping at its heels and highlighting major security flaws in the Windows armour. In stark contrast, Apple’s share of the US desk top computers market was up by half from 2003 to 2004. Over the two year period commencing March 18, 2003, Microsoft shares rose 5.3 per cent; Apple’s 373 per cent. Are these signs of a historic shift in power?
I've long held the belief that how good something is has little to do with how popular it becomes. This was highlighted back in the days of Betamax and VHS, the inferior format won. The Amiga platform was far superior to the PC but the PC still became the dominant system. The Atari Lynx console was way ahead of its time, resembling a Sony PSP but flopped to mediocre offerings from Sega.
All of these examples illustrate how marketing is the dominant factor in deciding which format wins and unless you have two products that have an equal amount of cash behind them, you can predict with some level of certainty that showing the money wins.
And so it is with Apple, who just don't have the kind of resources Microsoft have but against all odds are winning the hearts and minds of more users than ever before while Microsoft seem to be making more enemies and showing an ever decreasing ability to cope with competition.
Can we extrapolate from this that Apple is on its way to becoming the format used by everyone? That's a real stretch of the imagination to push that far but let’s just imagine for a moment that the signs over the last 3 years are pointing to this.
If this was the case, why the shifts in public opinion which classically will follow the biggest dollar sign? Is it more the amazing work done by Apple to innovate or the continued failings of Microsoft that are changing the direction of both companies?
I believe the shift is coming from the public’s dissatisfaction with Microsoft. A year ago my mother had not even heard of Microsoft. Today she is often heard prefixing Microsoft with the word bloody. It’s funny then to consider, while she doesn't really know who Apple are, she has Apple wallpaper.
Microsoft announced recently that it would not be updating Internet Explorer again and focusing on the will-it-ever-arrive Longhorn. Firefox announced it was well on its way to a 10% share of the browser market and suddenly Microsoft announces they are updating Explorer after all.
Anyone who follows the world of I.T could have told you at the time Microsoft announced it would not update, that Firefox was increasing exponentially in popularity, again exploiting the dissatisfaction the public has with the vulnerabilities in Explorer.
So it would appear Microsoft have grown too flabby without any real competition over the last decade to be able to react or even see coming threats.
This is a strange time for Microsoft; they seem unable to address the concerns of their users and do in fact ignore them quite blatantly. Here comes Apple who not only address user issues but pre-empt them before they happen.
I wonder if we really are entering into a new playing field on the internet, where money is no longer the deciding factor in the success of a product. Advertising online happens more through word of mouth than any banner ad.
With this in mind, is it really such a stretch to believe that Apple could very well become the world wide format for desk top computing?
I've long held the belief that how good something is has little to do with how popular it becomes. This was highlighted back in the days of Betamax and VHS, the inferior format won. The Amiga platform was far superior to the PC but the PC still became the dominant system. The Atari Lynx console was way ahead of its time, resembling a Sony PSP but flopped to mediocre offerings from Sega.
All of these examples illustrate how marketing is the dominant factor in deciding which format wins and unless you have two products that have an equal amount of cash behind them, you can predict with some level of certainty that showing the money wins.
And so it is with Apple, who just don't have the kind of resources Microsoft have but against all odds are winning the hearts and minds of more users than ever before while Microsoft seem to be making more enemies and showing an ever decreasing ability to cope with competition.
Can we extrapolate from this that Apple is on its way to becoming the format used by everyone? That's a real stretch of the imagination to push that far but let’s just imagine for a moment that the signs over the last 3 years are pointing to this.
If this was the case, why the shifts in public opinion which classically will follow the biggest dollar sign? Is it more the amazing work done by Apple to innovate or the continued failings of Microsoft that are changing the direction of both companies?
I believe the shift is coming from the public’s dissatisfaction with Microsoft. A year ago my mother had not even heard of Microsoft. Today she is often heard prefixing Microsoft with the word bloody. It’s funny then to consider, while she doesn't really know who Apple are, she has Apple wallpaper.
Microsoft announced recently that it would not be updating Internet Explorer again and focusing on the will-it-ever-arrive Longhorn. Firefox announced it was well on its way to a 10% share of the browser market and suddenly Microsoft announces they are updating Explorer after all.
Anyone who follows the world of I.T could have told you at the time Microsoft announced it would not update, that Firefox was increasing exponentially in popularity, again exploiting the dissatisfaction the public has with the vulnerabilities in Explorer.
So it would appear Microsoft have grown too flabby without any real competition over the last decade to be able to react or even see coming threats.
This is a strange time for Microsoft; they seem unable to address the concerns of their users and do in fact ignore them quite blatantly. Here comes Apple who not only address user issues but pre-empt them before they happen.
I wonder if we really are entering into a new playing field on the internet, where money is no longer the deciding factor in the success of a product. Advertising online happens more through word of mouth than any banner ad.
With this in mind, is it really such a stretch to believe that Apple could very well become the world wide format for desk top computing?
http://www.grabageek...php?storyid=357
Personally I don't like either Mircosoft or Apple, they are both globalisation companies. LINUX FOREVER! I don't like Microsoft because they make crappy products for high prices. I don't like Mac because they refused to support Tog's rally for new levels of computer interface.
This post has been edited by Dr Lecter: 25 March 2005 - 05:21 PM
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