Apple nibbles at new markets

ComputerWorld ^ | 1/12/2004 | Mark Hall

[Swordmaker]

...with its upgraded server and RAID systems as well as new clustering and grid technologies. What's stunning isn't that Apple Computer Inc.'s engineers can, say, design a server with two 2-GHz G5 processors, 1GB of memory, storage capacity of 80 to 750GB and loads of other goodies all in a slim 1U package (a mere 1.75-in. thick). No, what's stunning is that Apple's marketers will price the Xserve system at $3,999. That makes the long-reputed price-gouging Macintosh maker the price leader for dual-CPU servers by a couple of bucks. But when you add in Windows per-client pricing, the savings become huge. Apple sells its systems with no per-client fees for Mac OS X. In contrast, a 25-user enterprise license for Windows adds $2,495 to the price of a dual-processor PowerEdge 1750 server from Dell Inc.

Apple's approach has won it a few small bites of business among penny-pinching Internet service providers, cheapskates in the scientific and technology communities, and even the money-grubbers on Wall Street. Well, maybe not exactly Wall Street. But one CIO in the financial industry, Jon Moog at St. Cloud, Minn.-based RiskWise LLC, which runs credit checks for large financial institutions, uses more than 250 Xserve systems in his data center and is more than pleased. "We get tremendous performance from them," he says.

Tom Goguen, Apple's director of product management for server software, claims that Moog and others in markets outside his company's bailiwicks of publishing and education buy the Xserve systems because ofApple's slavish support of industry standards. Moog agrees. But he's also enamored with the Xserve's pricing. "Dollar for dollar, the systems are cheaper than Windows machines," Moog points out. Will he upgrade to the new G5 Xserve? "Without a doubt." Savings begin next month, when shipments start.

[rmlew]

I love Mac OS X. I would whole heartedly support Macs if there was more software. Heck, I'd even deal with an emulator, excpet that there will not be one for the G5. (If there were, I'd be very temped to buy one for personal use. My PIII 733mhm 512/mb ram is a little slow.

[The Duke]

Windows is a perfectly fine operating system from which to log into a REAL computer!

[Swordmaker]

I love Mac OS X. I would whole heartedly support Macs if there was more software. Heck, I'd even deal with an emulator, excpet that there will not be one for the G5.

This was posted on Microsoft's Virtual PC site on December 4, 2003.

Virtual PC for Mac and the Power Mac G5 We know Mac users are excited to take advantage of the speed of the new Power Mac G5 processor to run Virtual PC for Mac and PC programs. Microsoft is currently working on the next version of Virtual PC for Mac, which will run on the G5. Watch the Mactopia newsletter for updates.

And THIS was just released in Computerworld!

Microsoft unveils Office 2004, Virtual PC 7

While not here quite yet, it IS coming! You can start saving your pennies...

[Swordmaker]

Windows is a perfectly fine operating system from which to log into a REAL computer!

Some people think that medicine has to taste bad...

and computers have to difficult to operate!

[Iris7]

A very serious move in the game. Apple has turned into a shrewd competitor. A pleasure to see! Unix variant OSX and two G5's is beau coup horsepower. Microsoft cannot afford not to respond. Should be interesting.

[Swordmaker]

Mac ping

[Looking for Diogenes]

I don't follow the computer wars closely anymore, but it seems to me that in this battle Apple has some big potential advantages:

Since they control the manufacturing they can make sure their machines are cool, advanced, and efficient (if they know what they're doing.) Microsoft is stuck with whatever other companies produce.

Since they are selling both hardware and software they can cut the price of one to make the overall package cheaper. Microsoft has to make it's money on the software licenses exclusively.

If Apple can make good hardware and software they could create a nice niche for themselves.

[Grut]

Microsoft is stuck with whatever other companies produce.

'tother way around, I suspect. I like PCs better than Macs, but mainly because most Macs are built in a way that makes it hard to expand them; few drive bays or card slots.

Also, Macs tend to be UGLEEE! The first time we saw an Imac, my wife and I, not knowing what it was, independently came to the conclusion that anything that stylishly ugly had to be French!

That said, Wife loves her beige G3, which she uses mainly for internet access.

[antiRepublicrat]

Bush will probably rant on how awful OS X is, but I wonder how this anti-Mac zealot would take the XServe RAID? Even fully loaded with 3.5 TB, extra cache, cache battery backup and a spare parts kit, it still comes in $3,000 less than Dell's 2 TB offering. Unless you need that little edge in seek times the SCSI drives give, there's no technical reason to buy the Dell anymore.

[N3WBI3]

The switch has created a ton of software, sourceforge.net alone has dozens to hundreds of applications that will run either native or under X11 mode on the Mac. I got my wife a mac and can find just as much software for that as I can for windows.. there is an equivalent in everything from Photoshop to Access..

[N3WBI3]

Or just use open office today..

[HAL9000]

Also, Macs tend to be UGLEEE!

Eye of the beholder and all that. I think Apple's current products are the most elegant, beautiful computer case designs in the history of the industry.

I have to admit they did have some ugly Macs in past years. The Dalmation and Flower Power iMacs of 2001 were just plain awful, although they might have a certain appeal to teenage girls.

The ugliest computer case I've ever seen is probably the Enermax Rainbow Light Case with neon lights.

[Grut]

Well, that Enermax case is surely ugly, but at least it's got square corners. My gripe with computer cases in the mid-nineties was their bulgy lines; when you installed, say, a new CD-ROM player (itself with a bulgy faceplate) into the aimless heaves and billows of a mid-nineties case front, the resulting clash of curves could induce seasickness.

Unfortunately, Apple was quite enthusiastic about the look.

[HAL9000]

They've trimmed down the bulges now. The iMac base is simply a perfect hemisphere. The curves on the eMac are very clean and and well proportioned. The G5's brushed metal case is very nice - even on the inside. They're very classy designs.

[Woahhs]

Apples SUCK! You wouldn't believe all the cutting and tweaking I had to do on our computer amoire to get that crappy double proccessor G5 to fit! [/sarcasm]

Did I mention it has bad breath!