Vista Slip Spells Opportunity for Apple

News Type: Other — Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:25 PM EST

technology, apple, microsoft, vista, osx

First, my theory is that there's no way they are slipping only a couple of weeks. This far out, you don't have even close to that level of granularity in the predictability of your launch date.

Instead, their announcement to that fact is a move, in my opinion, to take the pressure off Christmas with this move so that vendors won't scream bloody murder this Summer when MSFT announces the real release date of Summer '07.

So what does this mean for Apple? Opportunity. Perhaps the most prime opportunity in their history.

Here's the play: Launch the next version of OSX with tons of gee-wiz features just before Vista launches, and do it on a platform-independent basis. Include in the OS the ability to launch Windows apps natively on the Intel Core chip, and it's a no-brainer for people. Upgrade to Vista which has a 2-year-old feature set (by the time it ships), or Switch to OSX which can run the same apps natively and do so on your existing hardware: it's not even a fair fight.

Apple has just been handed a gift. Vista slipping right into Apple's 18-month revision cycle represents a unique point in Apple's history where they can finally break out of their niche market.

Think about it.

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{"commentId":69878,"authorDomain":"ubernostrum"}

James Bennett

I don't see it happening; Apple doesn't, and shouldn't, aim for the general PC market -- instead, they chug quite happily along in their "premium" niche, and enjoy a profit margin on their hardware that would make Michael Dell sick to his stomach.

{"commentId":69878,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"ubernostrum"}

4 votes

#1 - Tue Mar 21, 2006 8:32 PM EST

{"commentId":69938,"authorDomain":"MacplusPalm"}

Josh Kaplan

As it's clear many would enjoy this Steve Jobs would NEVER allow this OS X on a normal PC it he could help it.

{"commentId":69938,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"MacplusPalm"}

#2 - Tue Mar 21, 2006 9:06 PM EST

{"commentId":70042,"authorDomain":"nickford"}

Nick Ford

Also, there is no way a new version of OS X with everything you're describing could be built to run with all the features you're looking for in this time frame.

{"commentId":70042,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"nickford"}

#3 - Tue Mar 21, 2006 10:49 PM EST

{"commentId":70142,"authorDomain":"crackhead"}

crackhead

Harumph, Mr. Ford!

My theory is that Apple is secretly happy about the recent Windows XP install routine. It opens a small but definite market of people who would purchase Mac hardware when they otherwise would refuse. As a bonus, it exposes those people to OSX. They may like it, and switch for good. But even if they don't they've still bought the hardware...which is Apple's bread & butter.

{"commentId":70142,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"crackhead"}

1 vote

#4 - Wed Mar 22, 2006 12:59 AM EST

{"commentId":70161,"authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

Adam Hobson

If OS X.5 on any X86 computer makes no sense. First, the majority of XP's problems and code bloat come from its adaptability to almost any computer. Taking away Apple's control of the hardware will be a terrible decision for OS X. You also forget that Microsoft has that licensing agreement with desktop manufacturers, that boils down to: you use Windows exclusively or not at all. Thus consumers would be getting Windows for "free", and would have to shell out extra cash for Mac OS X. And then there is the fact that Jobs would never allow that to happen.

Besides, if OS X ever became popular, its largest selling point to the common person, security, has just been voided. A popular OS X would also be a hacked OS X, especially on Intel chips that hackers are familiar with.

{"commentId":70161,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"thevineofhob"}

#5 - Wed Mar 22, 2006 1:39 AM EST

{"commentId":70572,"authorDomain":"janeway77"}

Michael the Great

The solution to all the barriers mentioned above would be to release two versions of OS X-- Apple Hardware with complete support from Apple, and Non-Apple Hardware, with limited Apple support. Sell the Apple Hardware version for $99, and the Non-Apple Hardware for $149.

Now, everybody can be happy. The Full bore apple guys will still have upscale awesome machines, and the Half-Apples will at least get something that works right, and certain works better than Winders.

{"commentId":70572,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"janeway77"}

#6 - Wed Mar 22, 2006 11:58 AM EST

{"commentId":70866,"authorDomain":"rimuladas"}

Rimuladas

I dont think you understand the computer war has already been won by MS. Even if MS never put out another operating system, there would still be more people in the world on Windows software than Apple. Jobs failed years ago. To late out of the gate.

{"commentId":70866,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"rimuladas"}

1 vote

#7 - Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:14 PM EST

{"commentId":70884,"authorDomain":"nickford"}

Nick Ford

^ That's not necessarily true. I, for one, would never count anyone out of anything in today's market. (Short of a return of Enron, that is).

{"commentId":70884,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"nickford"}

#8 - Wed Mar 22, 2006 2:19 PM EST

{"commentId":71409,"authorDomain":"cqtech"}

Cary Quinn

thesonofhob,

The Windows exclusivity clauses were done away with as part of the anti-trust case.

The PC Makers can choose to bundle other OSes with their systems, but the restriction does not keep Microsoft from making lucractive offers with the major brands to sell
more Windows than anything else.

SStringer,

A slip in development of a couple of weeks is enough to predict a make or break on getting into the holiday season, but still leave them months ahead of a release before the end of the year.

The pressure is still on, if not to meet Christmas, then to meet their agreements with the many businesses and agencies that have already bought into the upgrade stream to Vista
and the other products and services that are targeted to run on it.

Microsoft gets the majority of Windows hardware support from the companies that make
the hardware, companies that have not put the same amount (if any) effort into drivers for Mac OS. The Half-Apples (as Michael the Great puts it) would risk getting an OS that
only half recognizes their machines, unless Apple is willing to put a major effort into getting that support built in to (and tested) in some future release of OSX

{"commentId":71409,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"cqtech"}

#9 - Wed Mar 22, 2006 7:04 PM EST

{"commentId":72754,"authorDomain":"ubernostrum"}

James Bennett

Rimuladas: setting aside the factual errors in your post, what leads you to believe that Apple wants to be anything other than the company that utterly dominates the premium computer market?

{"commentId":72754,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"ubernostrum"}

#10 - Thu Mar 23, 2006 7:58 PM EST

{"commentId":75658,"authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

FDBryant3

I do not think this is quite the opportunity you may think it is. The fact is that Windows XP works pretty well. I'm not saying it doesn't have problems or that OS X isn't a better operating system. Only that Windows XP is actually a pretty stable OS. For the most part it gets the job done and people are happy. For those that are jonesing for the Vista features - they can get them pretty easily already through 3rd party add ons. They don't need to go to OS X. Secondly, a lot of businesses are not even using WinXP but Windows 2000. I would say I've probably been in more business with Win2k on their systems than WinXP. Again it suits their needs. Not to mention a lot businesses are not running the hardware to support Vista and are necessarily interested in upgrading. Too be personally honest I wouldn't be surprised if that has as much to do with the delay than anything else. To allow the hardware "recommended" (we all know you can just forget "required" as being adaquate) to support Vista to penetrate the market more.

{"commentId":75658,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"fdbryant3"}

2 votes

#11 - Mon Mar 27, 2006 2:17 AM EST

{"commentId":1242715,"authorDomain":"nickford"}

Nick Ford

I bet Vista comes out a year ahead of Leopard, giving the public just long enough to get sick of it and look to Leopard as their saviour.

{"commentId":1242715,"threadId":"3100","contentId":"141818","authorDomain":"nickford"}

1 vote

#12 - Tue Dec 4, 2007 11:55 PM EST

{"canLink":false,"threadId":"3100","isPrivate":false}

SSTRINGER

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Vista Slip Spells Opportunity for Apple

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