Go Ahead, Microsoft, Flatter Apple Again

BusinessWeek Online ^ | OCTOBER 17, 2001 | Charles Haddad

[CheneyChick]

Mac heads shouldn't get too upset when they see how closely Windows XP apes Apple's OS X. In the long run, imitation can only help Jobs & Co.

Even though Windows XP won't be officially released until Oct. 25, I can hear the Mac faithful howling already. Once again, Mac heads are accusing Microsoft of building its latest PC operating system on innovations pioneered at Apple. And, quite frankly, they have a point. New XP features such as Windows Movie Maker, My Pictures, and the revamped Windows Media Player strike me as awfully similar to Apple's iMovie, Image Capture, and iTunes software.

[Bush2000]

BUFFING APPLE. Ironically, I think it actually helps Apple when Microsoft copies its innovations.

Actually, it makes it even less likely that you'd even want to use a Mac. Why bother when you win on cost and performance?

[CheneyChick]

Why bother when you win on cost and performance?

Ahem. What are you talking about, my dear? Hmmm?

[tubebender]

Jobs is releasing some new gadget tomorrow. Big talk on wall street today. Keep the faith.

[peabers]

You must be forgetting PhotoShop: MacOS is the platform of choice for Photoshop AND PhotoShop was first written for the Mac....

Bzzzt! Wrong. PhotoShop 4, 5, 5.5 and 6 were all released for the Windows platform first.

Next you'll be telling us that Quark is still better than InDesign.

[D-fendr]

And thank you for your courteous reply.

Yes, I think we would agree that the higher the technology, the greater the information/experience/effort required to make the best choice.

That is why there are consultants, yes? A CompuSave salesperson does not a competent consultant make.

My point is that in the mass market most folks lack information/experience/effort to make the best value choice for their uses. Ergo MS has a larger market share than otherwise.

You, of course, politely disagree.

[CheneyChick]

Jobs is releasing some new gadget tomorrow.

LOL, I know. I'm in that bunch that will buy one, whatever it is - just because. CC :)

[Bush2000]

My point is that in the mass market most folks lack information/experience/effort to make the best value choice for their uses. Ergo MS has a larger market share than otherwise.

Well, that would be one way of interpreting it but it's probably wrong. People don't need to understand how a car works in order to buy one. Another explanation would be that Windows simply does what most people want and that people have made a conscious choice. Considering that consumers return to MS time after time, I have to conclude that the latter explanation is more likely.

[Bush2000]

Ahem. What are you talking about, my dear? Hmmm?

C'mon. Who's kidding who? The cost of a machine isn't just the initial price. Whenever you want to upgrade, there's no way that Apple can compete against Wintel on price and performance. I can upgrade my processor and motherboard for couple hundred bucks. Apple can't match that. And doesn't want to: It makes its margins on whole machine sales.

[Bush2000]

PC users prefer viruses.

Yeah, it's not like the Mac has ever had viruses or anything, right?

[bwteim]

Bzzzt! Wrong. PhotoShop 4, 5, 5.5 and 6 were all released for the Windows platform first. Next you'll be telling us that Quark is still better than InDesign.

Bzzzzt! Slap! How about PhotoShop 1, 2, 3..... which was my point.
I never said the second - although you would get disagreement from Quark users.

Which is sort of like the subject of this thread - you say tom-ah-to, I say tomato.....
You like coffee, I prefer Coonawarra Shiraz
:)

[CheneyChick]

You like coffee, I prefer Coonawarra Shiraz :)

Whew. At least you didn't say Zima.... LOL!

BTW, I grind my own beans and I'm a Mac user. However, in the evenings a nice chamomile tea is something I enjoy as well.

Cheers! CC :)

[Bush2000]

And the Penguin in the sky saw Linux, and it was GOOD.

I realize your post was probably tongue-in-cheek ... but, if it wasn't, seek therapy. Immediately. In the immortal words of William Shatner:

"Get a life will ya people, I mean, for crying out loud, it's, it's just [an operating system]."

[Dominic Harr]

What is it about these paid 'Microsoft' defenders?

They can't even admit that an Apple is a superior machine, akin to a Ferrari or a Porsche.

Only with 'Microsoft' defenders -- whom in my experience almost all work for/are financially tied to Microsoft, do I see this kind of 'cult-like' product loyalty.

Blindly, unthinkingly restating over and over again that Microsoft is the best because they sell the most?

"Brittney Spears". "Ford Escort". "Charlie's Angels". "Taco Bell".

How poor an understanding of modern economics does a person have to have to think that the best seller means the best quality?

[CheneyChick]

KMart sucks. Profound statement from Rainman that proves your point. Heh heh. CC :)

[rdb3]

. . .it's, it's just [an operating system].

You're right. Only it's a very good OS!

This penguin's for you. ;-)

[Frumious Bandersnatch]

Were Microsoft to decide to drop Office for the Mac, Apple's stock would tank so bad, they would have to go under.

One of the mysteries of modern marketing is how anyone ever convinced the public that MS Office was so good, when in reality, is stinks to high heaven.  Oh well, I guess it must be the corporate Lemming mentality pervading the P.C. world nowadays.

[Bush2000]

One of the mysteries of modern marketing is how anyone ever convinced the public that MS Office was so good, when in reality, is stinks to high heaven.

Another mystery is why you would make such a charge and then not support it with evidence of any kind.

[Bush2000]

They can't even admit that an Apple is a superior machine, akin to a Ferrari or a Porsche.

LOL. Maybe because it ain't true.

Only with 'Microsoft' defenders -- whom in my experience almost all work for/are financially tied to Microsoft, do I see this kind of 'cult-like' product loyalty.

So what, your loyalty to Sun and Java is tied to your livelihood. Congratulations: It's a pissing match.

Blindly, unthinkingly restating over and over again that Microsoft is the best because they sell the most?

Whoever said that? Microsoft is the best because most everything else sucks.

"Brittney Spears". "Ford Escort". "Charlie's Angels". "Taco Bell".

Don't associate with any of that crap. Sorry.

How poor an understanding of modern economics does a person have to have to think that the best seller means the best quality?

Well since you asked, ... about your level of understanding, Harr.

[peabers]

You like coffee, I prefer Coonawarra Shiraz

I like both, although I prefer to buy a Margaret River red when the budget allows it. = 8 )