Posted on 07/05/2006 7:53:30 PM PDT by Swordmaker
In 2004, when Apple Computer showed off its latest ``cat,'' Tiger, it couldn't help but taunt Microsoft.
The Redmond, Wash., software giant was working on its long-awaited next-generation Windows operating system, Vista, known then as ``Longhorn.'' During Apple's annual developer's conference in San Francisco, when its Tiger operating system was unveiled, the company jabbed at its mighty competitor with posters that read: ``Redmond, start your photocopiers,'' ``Introducing Longhorn'' and ``Redmond, we have a problem.''
In roughly the same time frame that Microsoft has labored over Vista -- its predecessor, Windows XP, was launched in 2001 -- Apple is on the verge of rolling out its fourth Macintosh operating system.
Microsoft, meanwhile, has delayed the release of Vista until early next year.
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
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Looks like Apple is doing pretty well with BSD......
Envisioneering Group analyst Richard Doherty believes Apple's new operating system will put pressure on Microsoft."Apple has been delivering compelling upgrades every 12 to 18 months since 2001,'' he said. "During that time, Windows XP has had a Service Pack, and that Service Pack has been more about fixing problems.''
Hmmmmm... "Compelling upgrades"...
Apple is doing great with BSD.
One of the nice things about BSD is it frees up Apple to spend more time on the user experience portions of their operating system. Pre-X Macintosh operating systems required a lot of retooling every time Apple made significant changes in the UI. Modernizing the pre-X OSes cost Apple a pretty penny before they scrapped those efforts and went with BSD.
Microsoft could've done well by shifting to Linux for the basis of their next generation operating system. But, given Microsoft's investment into Vista, I'm curious to see why they chose to remain proprietary for their underlying OS. I'm betting it is going to be something special. I'd be very surprised if they release a lemon like Win98.
Isn't one of the rumors adding a spreadsheet to iWork? Seems like that would be a logical step.
How's that stock options thingy involving Jobs playing at HQ?
Ditto the same with Microsoft.
Major MEOW ping.... LOL
I didn't say anything about Apple and Linux. Reread my post.
I also didn't say that Microsoft could've done better with Linux. I just said they would've done well.
I also said that Microsoft's time and investment in Vista will probably produce something special. I wasn't being facetious. I actually expect Microsoft to produce something very interesting with their investment. There's a ton of room to grow and innovate.
Windows 98 was far better than what apple had to offer at the time. As you move forward you find that microsoft will severly limit what you have a right to do. They will charge you more and more- maybe even getting into leasing windows to you. And they will spy on you more and more. Windows 98 was not so bad.
I was working in a college lab win Win98 was released.
Win98's initial release was a lemon full of problems. The second release of Win98 was a lot better.
Win98 was not far better than what Apple had to offer at the time. That kind of qualitative assertion is purely one of perspective. Mac OS 8, 8.5 were actually definitive improvements over 7.x. Insofar Win98's initial release, it was highly anticipated and failed to meet expectations. It was buggy as hell.
Well it is my perspective. It worked plenty good for me. Alot of the problems that people had were because they were buying junk PC's that would have been unstable no matter what you put on them. Also there are some pretty poorly written software applications out there. If you were using those then anything could happen.
98 was a pretty good operating system for it's time. Also, at that time, there weren't nearly as many viruses, and many computers weren't hooked up to the net. 98 was fairly stable until you started downloading stuff from the internet and installing it. I switched to Apple with OSX and the half basketball iMac. My daughter still uses that system, and it still works fine.
I think Microsoft is entering a very dangerous phase, and that they could be facing some rough sledding. Gates is a business genius. His leaving the company will hurt badly. Ballmer took over as CEO in 1998, when Win98 work was completed. Since then, the company, to me, seems to have lost focus. XP, as a concept, was already pretty well fleshed out with NT. Vista is the first OS that has been his from start to finish, and it seems to be having problems getting out the door.
Also, Microsoft never won out because of technical superiority, but through better business acumen. Ballmer is obviously smart, but I don't think he's anywhere near Gates in terms of figuring out the right move at the right time.
BTW I had a friend who has always been with apple. His computers crashed and locked up quite a bit. Not to mention that in those days apple was always so far behind on hardware, before they would come out with something new. And there was nothing worth mentioning that could be upgraded. You had to completely throw away the old and buy new.
If they add a spreadsheet to iWork, I'll switch over and drop Office. I will say that Office for the Mac is a good production suite. What I would like to see is a software package that truly integrates the spreadsheet and word processing functions.
Your qualitative assessment of Win98 vs. Mac OS 8 was incorrect. I corrected you. And you agreed. It was subjective.
I am also correct that Win98's initial release was buggy as hell. This wasn't due to the software being used. Rev. 1 of Win98 was not ready for prime time. Rev. 2 was fine.
Win98, after years of development was a lemon. After Microsoft fixed the problems, Win98 turned out alright.
As for citing your "friend's" experience as an Apple employee, etc, etc... Please have him post his experiences first hand.
Thanks. It will be interesting to see what this "Vista" is all about. My personal oppinion is that windows 98 was a lot easier to navigate around the control pannel and such even if it was not as powerful. XP is very confusing when it comes to making an option change. Windows 98 actually seems safer on the net now then XP...Mostly because the hackers are all obsessed with XP. Most of the virus's comming out don't affect windows 98.
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