Leopard will open the Mac OS X floodgates (and embarrass Microsoft)
Leopard--the future of the OS market.
(Credit: CNET Networks)As many of you are aware, I think Windows Vista is a blunder. And with its annoying UAC system and horrifically slow operation, it won't take long before the majority of home users agree with me. If the recent figures showing Mac OS X is already gaining market share is any indication of the future, look for Leopard to outsell Vista by a staggering margin.
Simply put, Mac OS X Leopard is one of the most significant operating system achievements we have witnessed in years. Not only does it add functionality that Microsoft could only have dreamed of, it does so in a snappy environment that doesn't annoy you with pop-ups asking for permission or all of those security threats we have come to know (and hate) in Windows.
But my belief that Vista will soon bow to Leopard goes far beyond the operating system itself. In fact, the major reason Vista will succumb to Mac OS X has little to do with Apple, but quite a bit to do with Microsoft's current focus. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, one thing is abundantly clear: Microsoft fears Google and is doing everything it can to become the Google slayer instead of competing in its core business--software.
The company is on a slippery slope, and to be quite honest, I don't think it can get off too easily.
Reason 1: The Vista debacle
Microsoft Vista is nothing more than a public beta of an operating system that should have been held back until the major issues with the operating system were addressed. Instead, Microsoft--obviously feeling pressure from Leopard--decided to release a faulty operating system. Unfortunately for the company, everyone realized just how bad it was and its own major allies (computer manufacturers) all asked that XP continue to be an option for consumers, because, as Acer CEO Gianfranco Lanci explained in an interview, "The entire industry is disappointed by Windows Vista. I really don't think that someone has bought a new PC specifically for Vista."
Vista the blunder
(Credit: Microsoft)For the first time, PC manufacturers are staging a miniature revolt and Microsoft has seemed nonchalant about the entire ordeal. Of course, the reason is quite simple: it has too much capital invested in Vista, and an outright cancellation or public apology would be too much for Microsoft to swallow. So, instead of doing the right thing, we're left with a shoddy operating system.
But the story doesn't end there. Microsoft has started a stealth PR game that slowly gets us thinking about the follow-up to Vista--Windows 7. First, the company stated that it would not release features from the OS, but subsequent to the release of Vista, details emerged about a pervasive typing line and parallel computing. Even better, the company demonstrated a stripped-down variation of the new Windows 7 kernel (called MinWin) a few weeks ago. Is this all an accident? Not a chance. The company is doing everything it can to take the attention off Vista and its blunders and has already begun the marketing campaign on the next OS. Who would have thought it would have begun so soon?
To make matters worse, Microsoft is in the process of releasing Service Pack 3 for XP which, for all intents and purposes, adds the nice features from Vista to XP. Upon doing so, why would anyone need to upgrade to Vista? If you have an operating system that works and it now includes the good elements of Vista, what's the impetus to buy the Vista upgrade?
Contrast all this to Leopard--a robust, usable, and immensely appealing operating system that is only available on the products created by a company that has created a worldwide fervor for everything it makes. I think it becomes blatantly clear that Apple is in the driver's seat right now.
Reason 2: Google envy
Microsoft is losing its focus. Instead of relying on its core business to take the day, it has tried to move into the advertising and online space to take on Google. And if we've learned nothing else over the past five years, we've learned that Google has a superior business model and corporate culture that does not succumb to poor business deals or strange decisions by management. Even better, the company has huge sums of capital in its coffers and has done its part in making the right business decisions when it was appropriate.
But Microsoft--a company notoriously known for its obsession in squashing opponents--has not made the sound decisions Google has made.
Consider this: Google buys the rights to advertise on MySpace, and Microsoft spends far too much cash on the overvalued Facebook to keep up. Google buys DoubleClick to solidify its stance as the leading advertiser on the Internet and Microsoft decides to buy a no-name advertising firm for a ridiculous amount of money just to keep up.
Now, these moves are understandable if the company wants to blaze its own path and solidify itself as a major player in the online business, but most of them seem like knee-jerk reactions to me.
There's nothing wrong with Microsoft getting in on the online game, but it needs to realize that software (and software alone) was the reason it became such a huge company. And while the industry is taking everything online, Microsoft needs to focus its attention on what it does best and stop spending huge sums of cash on deals that don't make any sense.
Reason 3: It's beyond Microsoft's control
Unfortunately for Microsoft, the cards have been dealt and the future of the operating system market is beyond its control. Vista--its workhorse for the next three to five years--is the only thing standing between Microsoft's command of the operating system market and Apple. But unfortunately for Microsoft, Leopard is a superior product on a "cool" computer.
With the release of the iPhone and its subsequent success, Apple has enjoyed record-setting profits, a significant increase in Mac market share, and continued success in the PMP market. Simply put, Apple is easily the most favored company in the industry. And while Leopard is more of an evolutionary jump than a revolutionary jump, it's enough of a change to justify its purchase.
Leopard was released at the right time. With Apple dominating headlines and becoming a company in vogue, it wouldn't surprise me to see Mac sales jump far beyond expectations in the coming months. And once that happens, Leopard will start its rise and take a significant share away from Microsoft.
Believe what you will, but with sluggish sales and an outright condemnation on the part of retailers worldwide, Microsoft is in trouble.
And with the release of Leopard, Apple is poised to make headway in the operating system market--not entirely of its own doing, but partly due to the current unraveling being witnessed in Redmond.
Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has written about everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Don is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and posts at The Digital Home. He is not an employee of CNET. Disclosure.
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the like are attempts to deflect from functionality to marketing strategy.
Please, learn the difference before embarrassing yourself. I am happy that
your laptop runs Vista. Now I can hack into it ever faster because when it
happens, it takes you 4 yrs to delete all those nasty popup windows in order
to defeat the hack. Believe me, I went to a bakery and sat and with a friend
invaded 3 Vista laptops in seconds. It was not only fun, but frightening. All
done on a Mac. BTW, Apple is beating MS in the business world. Ask leading
analysts who they thing has a better and brighter future.
system. That is understandable since it looks like you are a hardcore die hard
Apple fanatic. Weather you like it or not MS still runs 90% of the world's PC's.
Either it be Vista, XP, or 95. Leopard didn't bring anything new to the table. I
run a Mac myself and I am very disappointed with Leopard and wanna go
back to Vista now. Spaces? Time Machine? Quick Look? Cover Flow? give me a
break. Give me something real I can look at and use. Plus, yes I have a
Macbook. But guess what my desktop at home is running? Vista. You know
why? Because Apple will not be able to market a customizable mainstream
desktop and still make it an "Apple". They don't have the mid range everyone
wants desktop in their lineup. What Steve Jobs said about the products being
software in a pretty box is total crap. If the box is not viable then am not
buying it.
Until Apple is able to get over itself and run its OS X on 3rd party hardware
the don't have a chance with MS. Doesn't matter how many Macs Apple sells
MS is still gonna have the biggest market for custom based PC's, and they
already have the enterprise market, which in reality all that counts.
Wadhah
Small companies run Windows for servers because they don't have the skills to run Linux (It is a matter of education. Once you know Linux it is much easer to manage).
We run all of our servers on Linux. Our executives run OS-X. Everyone else uses XP. I have CentOS, OS-X, and XP-64 on my desk at work. OS-X is by far the best Desktop OS. CentOS is best for cranking out raw numbers (Remember to boot into single user mode). Windows is good for games.
Obviously you are very prejudice against Apple and their operating system. That is understandable since it looks like you are a hardcore die hard Microsoft fanatic. Weather you like it or not MS still runs 90% of the world's PC's.
Either it be Vista, XP, or 95. (AAgggnnnn, lemmings should run the world or cockroaches. whichever is the larger number. :-) )
Vista didn't bring anything new to the table. I run a PC myself and I am very disappointed with Vista and wanna go
back to Tiger now.
Spaces? Time Machine? Quick Look? Cover Flow? give me a break. Its wonderful. Plus, yes I have a PC. But guess what my desktop at home is running? Tiger. You know why? Because MS will not be able to market a customizable mainstream
desktop and still make it "just work". They have the mid range everyone wants desktop in their lineup. What Steve Ballmer said about the products being software ithat rules the world is total crap. If that is not viable then am not buying it.
Until Microsoft is able to get over itself and run its OS in a real manner, the don't have a chance with Apple. Doesn't matter how many PCs Microsoft sells, Apple is still gonna have the best PC's, and they already have the intelligent user market, which in reality all that counts."
Sorry for coping you, but it was so hard not to. Cheeeze, what is worring you people that you have to rant so??? :-(
You opinions are obviously so skewed that nothing in your article can be taken at face value.
I am the first to admit that Apple makes a fun OS, but the competition with MSFT has been over for a long time. MSFT won years ago and the real world is not going to give up MSFT over a colorful overpriced alternative that provides less compatibility with users around the world.
Try writing an article that is filled with a little more fact and little less of your lunatic opinions and maybe someone will take you seriously.
By the way, in case it wasn't apparent to you, you are an Apple drone. Open your eyes to the real world.
Thanks,
josh
I'll stick to playing actual games that didn't come out 10 years ago, not having to upgrade to a new computer everytime a service pack comes out, and not being forgotten about 6 months after I paid 20% more than a typical PC user can pay for (and upgrade independently).
For all the things people bash Microsoft (more often that hardware then the software, sadly) for, the same things are happening to them, they just fail to realize it.
Anyways, people will use what they want to use. I use OS X and Vista, and i've had no problems with either. The people who come on telling me how their calendar works better or their e-mail client or whatever, or maybe that nice feature that lets them fly through space to look at backup files (amazing, maybe we can float through the ocean too to view folder structures) is ridiculous :P
Dear Author,
You comments are obviously so skewed that nothing in your article can be taken at face value.
I am the first to admit that Microsoft makes a .... OS, of sorts, but the competition with Apple is just starting. "IBM won years ago and the real world is not going to give up IBM over a colorful overpriced alternative that provides less compatibility with users around the world." Opps, you said Microsoft didn't you. Er, sort of the same thing, I think. :-)
"Try writing an article that is filled with a little more fact and little less of your lunatic opinions and maybe someone will take you seriously."
By the way, in case it wasn't apparent to you, you are a Microsoft drone. Open your eyes to the real world.
Thanks,
xxxxxx Just a thought. :-)
Many function of Leopard are already in XP and, remember, with any new version Apple simply dont' care about compatibility.
Frankly, let me say, that you dont know much about Vista to judge it and also about Mac OSX.
Apple must be doing something right. This article was a little over the top but
it pissed off you pc guys so I think it was great.
I don't think Microsoft is threatened by Apple or Google, not with the way their business is rolling just now.
You may want them to be but it ain't happening, dude, and it ain't gonna either.
BTW, I have purchased 3 new computers in the last few months, all with Windows Vista, which works very well. I like the OS very much.
Macalope is reporting today,"Leopard's Back To My Mac feature bypasses local login and will allow full access to a machine it's enabled on solely via the .Mac login and password entered into the .Mac preferences pane."
So much for Apple's great security.
OH and Apple had a pretty good quarter too, and they did not have to pay 1 billion to the EU, and 1 billion for Xbox 360 issues, etc, etc, . MS=23$ Appl=185$
Just a thought/ :-)
http://www.contactomagazine.com/computers/endofmicrosoft1007.htm
http://www.paulgraham.com/microsoft.html
http://wolfgang.lonien.de/?p=461
And last, but not least:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6843390913661737077
I'm also getting tired of people bashing Microsoft and Vista. You say Vista is slow? How about more details. I have no problems with Vista. It is very stable and fast on my PC which does not have expensive components. Let's stop the OS bashing and just let people use what they want.
You said," Let's stop the OS bashing and just let people use what they want.". Does that mean that we can still continue to bash Apple, like most of these posts are doing? Just a thought.
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So if Leopard is to beat MS, why didn't Tiger or OS 10.3 for that matter? Probably because they're all nice but totally niche markets.
Also, I've been using Vista for the last 6+ months and it works fine. Your comments about Vista are all generalized FUD and BS.
The problem with Vista is not the technologically savvy user, it's the everyday user who decided has been hurt by Vista's shortcomings. Leopard, while far from perfect, doesn't seem to have the same problems and can only benefit from Microsoft's mistakes.
Keep in mind, we're not talking about Apple having the greater share of PC's out there compared to Windows, but going from 6% to 10-12% is a HUGE accomplishment. Far from the majority, but look what a little browser called Firefox did when it's market share continued to grow.
than unsubstantiated bloviating with little in the way of useful insight.
:-) Hey, I sound just like you. :-)
The internet is empowering people in so many ways, be it the way people interact with their media, the way they get information, the way they interact with each other. There's no way anyone is going to have a monopoly of things for the internet generation.
Two, MS has a stranglehold on OEM licensing so just by sheer inertia, the consumer market will be Vista dominated in a few years.
I like Apple, but there is no way it's going to be an MS killer.
Where oh where do you guys get this fear of Apple??? MS killer??? Is that anything like an iPod killer?? :-)
en
If this is what passes as "analysis" on CNET, time to find new analysts.
Meanwhile, Vista has sold 88 million copies (something Apple only dreams about) and has, yet again, had a quarter that can only really be compared against the mid-sized countries (again, something Apple can only dream about)
Ah well, little kids like the author like to compare the sand castles they love against Buckingham Palace.
Vista is cool but also crap, buggy and rip off to anyone who pays for it. As for mac osx well it works, aint that good enough?? I am a windows user, a web programmer to be exact and i am very annoyed how vista has let me down. Vista crashes & buggers up left right and center. My system specs are: quad core 2.4! 3 gig ddr2 ram! 9800gx2 card - and for some reason vista side of things always ***** up, guess what runs well? XP is that a push saying hmmm Vista is programmed wrong?? ! I cannot help wonder whether the author of this post is correct - mac drone or not - we cannot hide from pure truth & factor in this case - vista runs well for a good period of time & suddenly creates issues that make you think the following (Did that happen because I am using vista?? hmmm it did not normally happen when i was using XP) blah blah blah this guy is a mac drone, well am i windows drone feeling that I got bummed by a camel buying vista.
Good day. - NeoReloaded!
The author's statement "look for Leopard to outsell Vista by a staggering margin" is just plain delusional.
HP alone has a 19.6% worldwide personal computer market share, with 33% growth.
The article was about the operating system, er Vista vs Leopard. And did you just hear that XP will be selling for another year er, cause no one wants Vista. Just a thought. :-)
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It is also important to note that Apple does not try to compete with commodity computer manufacturers. It has chosen to be a highly profitable boutique brand instead.
OS X and Apple hardware are designed to work together. Porting OS X to any X86 computer is not an objective for Apple because of the degradation of the OS that would ensue.
- Silly Silly dirvel
- by ecartman0 October 29, 2007 2:47 PM PDT
- I love my Mac, and I love my Ubuntu machines but this drivel is the stupidest thing I've read in a while. Microsoft is the 800 pound gorilla in the room. I'm sure the taxes Microsoft collects are more than the profits Apple will make off their new OS. Wish it weren't so but it 'tis. Fanboism to the extreme is just plain not entertaining.
- Like this Reply to this comment
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- I just love Microsoft and their wonderful products
- by eldernorm October 29, 2007 3:12 PM PDT
- but just because cockroaches outnumber people, I really don't want to be one. So the 800 lb primate example does not work. IMB was the 800 lb'er and now it does not even make PCs. :-)
- Like this
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OH, and because I said I love Microsoft, I must be right about this and unbias to boot. :-)
en