Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Microsoft's Shifting Strategy in Response to Apple
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
As much as I dislike superhero stuff and comics and scifi... etc,
I could not agree with you more =)
I think you're right. Not with the Windows brand, not under the MS umbrella. The thing is, I'm neither stupid nor ignorant -- at least I hope I'm not and I have some reasonable evidence I'm not. In fact, in the past, as a work-for-hire freelancer, I've written enough training, documentation and PR copy for PC software and hardware companies, I have the knowledge, or know how to get the necessary additional knowledge, to easily maintain my own Windows PC and home/office network. And a Windows Mobile cell phone, too. Factoring in there is a lot more choice and a lot less idiot-proofing in MS products. But I am willing for Apple to take me for an idiot in the are of PC hardware and software, to provide what THEY think I need rather than grant me total latitude to cobble together what I think I need... Because no matter what I know how to do or can learn how to do, the ubiquity of PCs, the fact that even if you are as willfully as Luddite as possible, in almost every field, and certainly any field that must operate it's own "business side", PCs are indispensable tools... Like Hammers, if you'll pardon the old saw. I don't mind spending a couple minutes oiling a hammer once a month to keep it from rust. But no matter my ability, I do not want to invest a great deal of time maintaining my hammer, or my PC.
Slackware: updated in June. Not gone.
Caldera: now SCO. Not gone
FreeBSD: still going strong, I personally have worked on over 50 machines running it in the past 7 months. Not gone or going.
Mandrake. now Mandriva. Not gone.
SuSE: bought by Novell and contender for most used enterprise level Linux. Not gone.
Novell: replaced with the acquisition of SuSE. Most often considered a positive change. Gone.
Red Hat: still around, another competitor for most used enterprise Linux (Red Hat Enterprise) and backs the Fedora Core open source project as a test bed for new technologies, programs, and hardware for their enterprise offering.
Look stuff up first, buddy.
*facepalm*
Did anyone actually read the memo?
Look, it's pretty straight forward really:
Actually it's probably about 25 to 1.
In other words Apple build their own PCs and only allow OSX to run on it. They have standard builds and if you want variation outside the limited options available it's "tough beans".
On the other hand MS have let Windows run on any old bucket of crap whether it can or can't. This resulted in a big scandal over 'Vista ready' machines which quite obviously weren't.
This does not mean that they're goign to piss off all the manufacturers by building their own machines. What it means is that in order to be allowed to run a Windows licence the hardware manufacturer is goign to have to demonstrate that it's capable of doing so and the components used are certified by MS and of a high enough standard.
In other words, no more 'Vista ready' scandal.
And, again, this doesn't mean that they're bringing out a Zune phone, it means that they'll set standards for handsest running WinMo to ensure they're powerful enough to support it and of sufficient quality. No more putting their name to sub-standard iPhone copies methinks.
Did anyone actually read the memo?
Look, it's pretty straight forward really:
Actually it's probably about 25 to 1.
In other words Apple build their own PCs and only allow OSX to run on it. They have standard builds and if you want variation outside the limited options available it's "tough beans".
On the other hand MS have let Windows run on any old bucket of crap whether it can or can't. This resulted in a big scandal over 'Vista ready' machines which quite obviously weren't.
This does not mean that they're goign to piss off all the manufacturers by building their own machines. What it means is that in order to be allowed to run a Windows licence the hardware manufacturer is goign to have to demonstrate that it's capable of doing so and the components used are certified by MS and of a high enough standard.
In other words, no more 'Vista ready' scandal.
And, again, this doesn't mean that they're bringing out a Zune phone, it means that they'll set standards for handsest running WinMo to ensure they're powerful enough to support it and of sufficient quality. No more putting their name to sub-standard iPhone copies methinks.
Zunephone will be just as successful against the iPhone as the Zune is against the iPod.
However, this overall strategy shift tells me that monkey boy might not be quite as stupid as he appears to be.
However, this overall strategy shift tells me that monkey boy might not be quite as stupid as he appears to be.
Microsoft has hardly dealt with the hardware issues. I've recently become an Apple fan and have huge regrets for making my most recent purchase a Sony VAIO rather than a MacBook. After SP1 was released for Windows Vista, my machine still took 10 minutes to restart. That's not even an exaggeration. It's not a slow machine either, I 'upgraded' to XP and the thing flies through the restart process.
Sounds like they are trying to tell people that it is alright to test the poisoned water. Which will only result in a more dislike for Microsoft = more Macs sold.
On second thought. I like this plan.
Sounds like they are trying to tell people that it is alright to test the poisoned water. Which will only result in a more dislike for Microsoft = more Macs sold.
On second thought. I like this plan.
i don't get your point. in some ways because MSis a software company they have to sell more OSX to stay in the market. so it's like comparing apples and oranges so to speak
jesus dude, WTF is bootcamp.
used vista 32bit for 2 months on my self built desktop. but the meta data search was Consistently crap; it forced re-searches to reorder by date or size and maintained listings of files i had deleted. it forgot windows view settings. i recently tried vista 64bit on my dell lappy, i could not get it to network, where my windows XP could be found easily on the network. i am currently using server 2008 workstation edition, which is much better, and apparently written on vista sp1 codebase. it's ok, those i still dislike windows for a number of interface and usability reasons.
you seem to forget that ms has restrictive contracts with companies, and also it's difficult to purchase a PC with XP, or other version of vista, they they are indictating that the success of vista boiled down to personal choice and people were actively choosing it, then it was actually bundled on a PC. a more accurate statement would be the current users, therefore ruling out those they switched to another OS after purchase.
Yeah! This new "committment" on the part of Microsoft makes me want to run out and buy a Zune, Zune-Phone, and a Windoze PC!
NOT!
What a load of $h!+......
NOT!
What a load of $h!+......
You proved my point.
X now Y, no more X. Linux changes face so much, you can't keep up so writing software for them is well mind boggling and you can't gurantee your platform will be around.
Atleast with mac and windows there is a standard people agree to.
Linux - there is so many implementations and fragmentations that you cannot be totally guaranteed that it will run on the other implementation. Atleast with mac and MS (well, until vista) there is backward compatibility and a sense that if I move something from Windows 2000 to XP, it will run 99% of the time. Same with tiger to Leopard. With Linux, you are left with well... take a chance it may run.
On the other hand, open source has so many contributers that someone will come up with a version pretty quickly - just hope you do not need support.
Maybe I need to reread your comments on Apple, but it seemed to me you were regarding business decisions, such as the one to buy NeXT and bring Steve Jobs back, as lucky. I see it as a good business decision, not luck. The fact that it worked out so very well for Apple might be luck on some level, but again I am making a different distinction I believe.
The reason I find this to be exceptionally quirky is the lack of success of this model virtually anywhere else it has been tried, even by Microsoft, and they should be past-master at it. The events leading up to this success were a one-off, and could not be duplicated. Apple has used the far more traditional industrial product development model which we are calling "end-to-end." Take any product off the shelf randomly and think you'll find it got there by this method.
Apple was goaded into trying the licensing approach because it had become the conventional wisdom that this was the path to success in the computer business, although in reality, only one company had ever succeeded that way, and their exploitation of it was based on unique circumstances.
All successful enterprises own at least some of their success to being at the right place at the right time, but few more than Microsoft IMO. I think it is really worth re-imagining the technology industry without the accident of IBM-PC clones. It would have been an entirely different place. A much better one, I think.
you can compile from source if there is not package for your exact distro of linux.
i have seen a few apps that are currently unavailable in UB, and will not work on 10.5 so u can face the same problems in OSX. Also a major hurdle with vista was the lack of hardware drivers for certain devices, dispite the face it's a hardware manufacturers problem, it still means some people were forced to get new hard ware for vista; and could not use old stuff with it
i know linux is not perfect, but the method you are using to attack it is flawed
You've got to love Ballmer, the guy's hilarious, he's a real life comedy character. I still can't get over the developer's conference episode, and would give lots of money to hear the de-briefing of that "event."
Zune Phone, oh lord, can't wait!
Of course Ballmer wants MS to be more like Mac, he's always wanted to hang with the cool kids.
Zune Phone, oh lord, can't wait!
Of course Ballmer wants MS to be more like Mac, he's always wanted to hang with the cool kids.
and Parallels and VMware........ Hey, I admit I still have some MS based apps I have not converted to using only mac based yet (money holding me back, or there is not a mac version and I need something for work). and what am I doing. Running it in Windows through Parallels.
So as usual, your point, bongo, is pointless.... I am not forced to use OSX. I use it because I like it and it is better. I could have easily bought a mac for the better and quieter hardware and chose to never boot in OSX..
I'm surprised at all the people saying this. If you want a dedicated GPU, you're going to have to pay for it and get a MacBook Pro. The MacBook is cheaper for a reason in that it doesn't have as many options. Everyone wants wants wants but to get it, you'll have to pay for that extra something. And no one seems to want to do that. Everyone wants a computer with top of the line specs but for $1000
The largest issues will be related to Copyrights. Microsoft's change is more of a follow the leader strategy. As they move forward they will attempt to make the experience/product more Apple Like.
Microsoft does not innovate. They attempt to replicate.
It's all about the OS, and Redmond ain't even close.
Microsoft does not innovate. They attempt to replicate.
It's all about the OS, and Redmond ain't even close.
That historical anomaly lasted, what, 20 odd years?
Microsoft cannot emulate this, unless they get into the PC business themselves and stop selling their OS to other PC manufacturers. Control the whole chain, so to say. Like Apple does. BTW, how are you doing?
Or maybe they want a 13 inch with dedicated GPU? Its not that hard to understand. The people want options, which is not what Apple is giving us... Its either this, or that. I just don't get why they have some hierarchical model that they try to believe everyone fits into.