Apple's Tiger stalks Longhorn

SAN FRANCISCO--Apple Computer sees a weak spot in Microsoft's Windows strategy and is looking to pounce.

Jobs displays 30-inch flat panel Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple Computer

With Microsoft's next version of Windows--code-named Longhorn--not due until 2006, the Mac maker has an opportunity to show itself as the company offering more innovation to today's computer buyers.

The company plans to show off the next version of Mac OS X, code-named Tiger, on Monday at its Worldwide Developer Conference here. While Microsoft has released only minor updates and specialized editions of Windows XP since 2001, Apple has released Mac OS X and three further moderate updates, with Tiger marking a fourth.

Huge banners at the conference tout Apple's message, with signs such as "Redmond, we have a problem," and "This should keep Redmond busy" posted alongside pictures of a Mac OS X Tiger CD.

However, Apple has said it plans to slow its own pace of OS releases somewhat in the coming months.

Apple is like...

Apple is like the Scarecrow in the Wizard Of Oz, if they only had a brain. If they only had a brain they would junk the Macintosh and create the OS for the PC, then take the OS market away from Microsoft. If they could come out with a version of their OS that was as stable and reliable as the Macintosh version, but run Windows software they could kill Microsoft overnight. Again, if they only had a brain, or maybe something lower. Maybe if they only had the nads to take on Microsoft. But, instead they keep improving a gimp chicken. The Macintosh no matter how good it may or may not be will never gain in marketshare. It would have done so by now if it was going to at all. It is time for them to make a PC OS.

Robert