In other words, "Vista Ready - For Real This Time! No, Really, We Mean It Now!"
Which also probably means the end of bargain-basement $299 PC's.
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Microsoft's Shifting Strategy in Response to Apple
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In other words, "Vista Ready - For Real This Time! No, Really, We Mean It Now!"
Which also probably means the end of bargain-basement $299 PC's.
i think the problem is the case of forced choices, if you tell people just to get a MBP, then you are kinda buying into the apple mentality of provided limited number of options, and having to compromise to get just one feature. i think alot of users would like a pro package in a smaller form factor, but due to apples choices they have to compromise.
Yeah, I definitely don't mean they were pure luck, there were good business decisions. My point was more that some of these circumstances were providential (is that a word?) to Apple, but then they were able to take advantage of those opportunities. I sorta see Microsoft's initial success in the same way- Bill Gates didn't invent the clone market, the original IBM PC, or even write DOS to begin with. But the opportunity was there, and he succeeded at taking advantage of it.
The model was based on the circumstances in which it arose, in that sense I 100% agree with you. But it was the right model for Microsoft at that particular time. And going forward, what is important for MS is to take a good, hard look at current market, and decide what is the best response. Unfortunately for Microsoft, they don't seem to show any inclination towards doing so- they still are trying to be all things to everyone, which is really no model at all.
But I don't really consider any 'model' to be good or bad, independent of the circumstances. I understand your point about Apple and 'end to end' development. But Microsoft did exactly the right thing at that particular time. And every day, some new business springs into life based on whatever particular circumstances govern it.
Thanks, Steve
Uhm, not even the top of the line specs. But if you're paying over 1k for a laptop, it should at least have dedicated graphics and the top of the line specs for that price, meaning as much as they can afford to put with the money you're spending. It's ridicilous having to pay 1k more for a Pro when that's all you want.
Actually the 360 is doing well considering*. The only reason why is due to games and it coming out first. If the PS3 was $100 cheaper, came out in 2005 and had more games this would have been PS2 vs Xbox all over again. MS is trying hard to make money from that division which is why the prices are still as high as they are (note Sony isn't dropping price either).
Apple would have to go through a similar money sink if they wanted to compete in the set top box console market. Unless they pulled a Nintendo and were to have some killer, exclusive, games and experience. At this point Apple would have to better Nintendo's experience without the exclusive games (which as Sony and MS are finding out is quite hard).
* by well I mean that the 360 is seen in good light considering it comes from the most hated Company on the planet. Plus MS isn't just buying up everything like they did the first time around so they are hurting anyone's feelings.
And on a PC you can run Linux, which I think is the point BongoBanger is trying to make.
I see Bongobanger (or is that bong hitter) is on a roll with ripping every sentence of people's post
But he does mostly appear to know what he's talking about, and debating with people who know what they are talking about is interesting.
yesh, he and a few others is what makes this board so dis-tasteful.
If the posters in question are breaking the forum rules then report him to the mods with the /!\ so they can deal with it
.I don't think many people actually care about that, it didn't stop IBM dominating the industry until the 1980's.
If I thought the Xbox was the best console and I was buying a console I'd get one.
lol, MS had to increase their warranty from 1 to 3 years because of many failures. despite that, they still sell alot. i just wouldn't want them to go end-to-end hand have to buy pc hardware off them lol
Exactly.. Its ridiculous
Want a small screen? $1100+ MacBook
Want a dedicated GPU? $2000+ MacBook Pro
Want a light laptop? $1800+ MacBook Air
Want a all-in-one? $1200+ iMac
Want a real desktop? $2800+ Mac
What happens when I want a light laptop with screen <15 inches and dedicated GPU? What about a 15 inch with a integrated GPU? What If I want a desktop, but would like to use my own screen, but don't want to pay $3000?
So they are shifting focus back to Windows, does that mean they are going to shift focus away from their already hampered MacBU/office for mac development?
That could be true. I don't think it is the best console (nor do I think the Wii is the best).
The fear of losing money really screwed the 360 (hardware wise).
Apple expects you to buy one of each. Or not buy any at all.
the impression i get is that they are going to try more end-to-end style packageing with mobile segment.
if anyone had been reading the PC sites, you'll know that MS is pushing hardware manufacturers to get onboard for windows 7. the see the hardware driver issue as a massive problem with vista, and are trying to get tighter integration with hardware, so that people have have a pseudo end to end experience with component software.
if anyone had been reading the PC sites, you'll know that MS is pushing hardware manufacturers to get onboard for windows 7. the see the hardware driver issue as a massive problem with vista, and are trying to get tighter integration with hardware, so that people have have a pseudo end to end experience with component software.
Yup. It is only going to get worse. Especially with Windows 7 coming and a pathetic implementation of Multi-Touch lol. You really think they are going to be able to implement that into all the hardware in a consistent and user-friendly way??? Um NO, lol!
What I think is really interesting is that I can see Microsoft demanding more than ever and trying to push their weight around more than ever in order to accomplish these new Apple goals of theirs, and in the process they will spur a new break off competitor that might even end up making their own OS and hardware (computers and or phones etc.) because the world is so sick of Microsoft bullying everyone around.
That will be very interesting to see! Google comes to mind
AMEN!!!!! Will they get better and copy Apple even more than ever before??? YES. But will they spend billions more in money and resources only to still suck in comparison? YES! Lol, it is really very sad, but yes competition is good.
Ok, that's fallacy at best. Just because the distro "changes faces" doesn't mean it changes how its core technologies work. That's like me changing my name to Larry and then becoming lactose intolerant and blaming the name change. The fact is that Linux advances very rapidly because of its huge user network which is constantly testing and modifying the code in attempts to improve the OS, not because they suddenly are bought/organize into a corporation/decide to rename due to leading group changes.
You see each flavor as it's own island. There are so many islands spread so far that there's no way it could be a cohesive union, right? Wrong. While there are many different distros there are really only a small handful of variants that power the individual flavors with minuscule, often only cosmetic, differences separating them. Underneath it all most *nix distros operate the same and this results in the difference of making most software run on multiple variants as small of a change as compiling the source on the target system rather than depending on a pre-built binary.
Yes, it creates an environment requiring far more user expertise but that's part of the whole *nix mentality. You know what you're doing and thus can set your computer up to run forever with little to no maintenance after the initial, though difficult, configuration.
I have never advocated the mass replacement of desktop OSes with any variant of *nix, save for Mac. It's just far too involved for the common user to figure out. I have, however, touted it as a necessary replacement for almost every server OS I have ever gotten my grubby hands on.
**EDIT - For clarity's sake, I meant that I have never advocated replacing desktop OSes with a *nix format except for recommending the adoption of Mac OS X.
Your basing your opinion on... what?
Oh, yes. That's how the business world works. "We don't like you, so we are going to make a new OS and hardware better than yours ever was!" Get real. That sounds like a comic book...What I think is really interesting is that I can see Microsoft demanding more than ever and trying to push their weight around more than ever in order to accomplish these new Apple goals of theirs, and in the process they will spur a new break off competitor that might even end up making their own OS and hardware (computers and or phones etc.) because the world is so sick of Microsoft bullying everyone around.
That will be very interesting to see! Google comes to mind
Makes me recall an article from about two years ago:
Apple's End-To-End Model Leads to Innovation and User Experience
Funny to see Ballmer using the same words
I think the following form that article sums is up perfectly:
"Apple does not have to rely on an OS vendor or third-party software vendors to write software to allow Apple to innovate. Apple has free will to design and innovate as they see fit and most importantly, how to impact the daily computing experience for its customers. Hardware engineers within Apple can work in conjunction with software engineers to bring forth new technologies and computing features. This provides Apple the ability to build products and technologies that once they reach the shelf, demand a technology premium but more importantly, a user experience premium."
well, numbers are all there, no need to doubt it.
We deliver pre-mature products, and our customers take it w/o complain, the Apple way™
the answer is BUY A PC AND SUCK IT UP or just SUCK IT UP.
if you don't like what apple is doing. leave. i am getting tired of these weird complaints. i'd like a BMW too. but i can't afford it. you know what i do? i SUCK IT UP and get a something i can afford or don't get anything.
Imagine...
Imagine...
Imagine Microsoft coming out with a phone that beats the iPhone hands down...the zPhone
Imagine that the zPhone will have better visual voicemail than the iPhone.
Imagine that the zPhone will make music purchasing and playing easier than iPhone/iTunes.
Imagine that the zPhone will have a huge array of stable applications to download.
Imagine that the zPhone will integrate seamlessly with your computer.
Imagine a touch interface on the zPhone that will blow the iPhone away.
Imagine a user interface that will make the iPhone interface seem archaic.
Imagine the zPhone being an overwhelming success.
...then call me and let me know what it's like because I can't imagine any of these things happening.
Imagine...
Imagine Microsoft coming out with a phone that beats the iPhone hands down...the zPhone
Imagine that the zPhone will have better visual voicemail than the iPhone.
Imagine that the zPhone will make music purchasing and playing easier than iPhone/iTunes.
Imagine that the zPhone will have a huge array of stable applications to download.
Imagine that the zPhone will integrate seamlessly with your computer.
Imagine a touch interface on the zPhone that will blow the iPhone away.
Imagine a user interface that will make the iPhone interface seem archaic.
Imagine the zPhone being an overwhelming success.
...then call me and let me know what it's like because I can't imagine any of these things happening.
Apparently since the Zune has been so successful theyre planning on expanding the end-to-end strategy to PCs. If I were Dell I would be worried Maybe they shouldnt have started selling PCs with Linux. I can see it now . Microsoft VistaBook PowerPC G6 running Snow Vista 2009 2nd Ultimate Professional Edition for VistaBooks.
This reminds me of an article I read a few years ago where Bill Gate allegedly said that the iPod wont last and that people want to listen to their music on their Phone. Sometime later, Steve Jobs responded to a comment regarding Microsoft licensing their DRM to MP3 makers and that if Microsoft ever wanted to compete with the iPod they would have to get into the hardware business. Of course the iPhone and Zune were later released.
show me the forum rule which says people can't complain about apple's business model.
You make no sense. How is wanting a 13-inch laptop with a dedicated GPU a "weird" complaint. And since Apple doesn't offer it, the "I cant afford it" complaint doesn't even factor in... Please, go back in your cave and come back out when you can comprehend some simple English.
Complaining because Apple doesn't have a particular configuration that one wants is not really complaining about their business model, it's a complaint that Apple isn't meeting your personal preferences. Apple has a huge market cap, increasing market share, large cash reserves, and consistently produces innovative, quality products--I would say that their business model, even if it doesn't meet everyone's needs, is quite successful.
If Apple gets MS to look more closely at the end user experience, all the better for everyone.