There are a lot of Apple fans out there these days, and I have nothing against them. I don’t use any Apple products aside from the iPod, but I do think it is good that they are emerging successful in the computer market so that there is more competition. And good competition often means that the consumers win.
For those of you who put Apple up on a pedestal there is an article by PC World that you should read. Mike Elgan, the author of the article, lists off reasons he believes Apple is turning into Microsoft…despite being an Apple supporter himself.
I’m not going to quote his entire article because it is quite lengthy, but I thought I would pull out the interesting facts that he made regarding different areas of Apple.
–Apple as a Monopolist–
Microsoft was criticized for bundling Internet Explorer with Windows, yet Apple can bundle iTunes with the iPods and iPhone? Heck, you can’t even make a call on the iPhone without activating it through iTunes first. Not only that but Mac OS X, the iPhone, and the new iPod Touch all come pre-installed with Safari.
–Apple as a Copycat–
Microsoft has always been criticized for copying ideas from other companies, but Apple might not be as innocent as you think:
- For more than a decade multitouch interfaces, similar to the iPhone’s, have been demonstrated.
- Apple’s new iPod Touch now has built-in WiFi, yet both Microsoft’s Zune and SanDisk’s Sansa Connect MP3 players have had that feature for quite some time.
Of course Apple’s implementation of the features are much better than anything we’ve seen prior, but the fact of the matter is that many Apple fanboys shower praise on ideas that Apple didn’t even pioneer.
–Apple as a Bully–
Yes, Apple does its fair share of pushing people around. Recently NBC wanted to charge more for their television shows being offered on iTunes, and when Apple declined NBC announced that they were pulling out. The author of the article says that NBC will come crawling back to Apple after they realize that the only way to succeed in digital downloads is to have your content on iTunes.
I would also like to add one of my own thoughts to this as well. Microsoft has always made Windows an operating system that works on millions of different hardware configurations…even on the new Intel Mac’s. Apple, however, is very possessive over their operating system and require that you purchase one of their high-priced pieces of hardware if you want to run it. So while Windows may cost more to buy than Mac OS X, I don’t think that you can pickup a new Macbook for $500 like you can do for a Windows computer.
It probably sounds like I’m anti-Apple, but that’s not the case at all. As I previously said I love that Apple is providing some stiff competition for Microsoft because in the end the consumer will always benefit.I just thought that the PC World article was a real eye-opener by showing that the two companies may not be as different as you think.
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Tags: Software, Windows, Apple, Cost, Intel, iPhone, iPod, iTunes, Mac, Microsoft, Safari, WiFi
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Apple/Microsoft/Google
You just wait that name will be there soon!
You’re just jealous that Macs are more trendy than other computers.
So what do you call someone who uses both Apple and Microsoft?
Apple, so far, is nice. M$ has always been evil.
Apple has far superior hardware and software, in my opinion, but is way overpriced. Sometimes, it doesn’t matter who is ‘better’ - it matters what’s good value. i.e. the price for an Apple mouse in Australian dollars? $99.00
I don’t care who’s better or that I love MacOS a million times more than Windows, I won’t ever pay $99 for a mouse, and other overpriced hardware.
Not to forget that Apple places wrong announcements about being first in something: I know that at least Opera was prior to bring the full web on a phone and also on music/video players
(I don’t repeat the details about Apples announcements as this just would strengthen the myths)
apple sucks….their ipods and computers may be sleek, but they force you to use their own hardware/software as in the case of itunes…
i personally believe microsoft is good…they may have their share of unfair practices, but i would definitely choose windows to mac anyday or a creative zen vision m to an ipod…
Makes sense but people don’t see that way just yet, but in time maybe.
Trendy maybe, but that’s the least of my concern.
Yeah, their hardware is overpriced, but to be fair PC’s also have their own overpriced hardware. Of course it is mostly targeted at gamers.
That’s what I think…Microsoft is good, but they too have their own faults. Sometimes it is like trying to pick a cellphone carrier where you know that they all have their downfalls, and it prevents you from being decisive on which one to choose.
I thought by now people will have started to “see the light”, but I think Apple’s marketshare needs to get bigger before companies start to take them on as a viable Windows competitor (especially in the business arena).
I prefer Apple over MS (mostly because there are OPTIONS to Apple) but what people need to realize is that these are businesses. They are out to make money.
Apple is a copycat as well. Creative invented the iPod interface, which Apple stole for use in the iPod. Creative sued and Apple paid them $10 million, however Creative continues to lose money because of the iPod. Creative makes great line of MP3 players called the ZEN, which are better the iPod, but get no recogition.
Creative will continue to have these problems though just like how the Zune will never really take off. Companies are making their accessories and applications to ensure compatibility with iPods, but none others. It’s just like some mapping software that I use…it lets me export maps to the iPod if I want.
That’s true, and the competition I believe is a good thing.
What is better? A Mercedes or a BMW? A Nissan or a Toyota? It’s relative, I would say. What I see problematic is when people only use one thing and disregard the rest. Variety is the salt of life. I like Microsoft. I like Apple. Simply because I have used both and can appreciate when something is good or even superb.
I too have used both and when you have, you’re right that you can realy appreciate when something is good. We’ve said over and over again that both Microsoft and Apple have great things about them, but they also have their flaws.
Windows is probably friendlier than apple. I mean they say you get a free iPod but you end up paying £5 in phone calls. In a way they are an evil money grabbing company. But be honest with you apple computers look nicer and are sleeker than most of the Windows computers. Not to mention I find them way easier to use than the Microsoft ones they have at school. Also they are less likely to get a virus than Windows ones are. Overall I think apple computers are better. I think Windows own too much for their own good.
