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.
:evil: 
i think microsoft are beter.Billy g came up with the computer idea then apple copied .Microsoft os computers are cheaper than those Apple computers.You get far more choice on PC (microsoft)than apple.VISTA IS MORE BETTER THAN OSX OR WHATEVER.
OVERALL OUTCOME:MICROSOFT ARE BETTER
as a warez downloader, I say I win!
I can download OS X, WinXP, WinVista even the not released Windows 7, lol!
Ok now Apple’s Mac vs PC for Windows
I go for PC if it wasn’t for all the warez appz, mp3z, gamez and videoz that can be played on any player like MediaCoder, winamp, windows media player with all the codecs. hehe!
the only thing I like Apple is the iMAC coz it’s handy(if I can just put all the PC parts at the back of the iMac screen, lol!)
About the iTunes… hmmmp, that’s y I prefer my Nokia N95 than an iPhone or iPod, bleh~, coz I don’t need to convert it in itunes. also, Mp4/mp3 players now are bit same as iPod, d only thing is that it’s easy to import music rather than converting…
So who win?
d WareZ Site admin coz dey get traffic and d warez downloaders…lol
in times like these…Recession…only thing that can save u for ur appz, games, moviez, mp3s needs are warez sites…lol!
How can you judge apple products when you only use and ipod? thats ridiculous. and maybe apple wasnt the first to come out with touch screens and portable internet (like ipod touches) but its all about the advertising that apple did. Apple took the smart approach and went for the youth, and now microsoft is the copy cats by now trying to advertise to the youth (By putting 4 yr olds on comercials? come on thats a little young) there is a reason why people put apple on a pedestal and its because they did all the right advertising and overall their products are better.
Apple sucks…I’ve used them a lot and grown to hate them. They only use one software while 100s of computers use microsoft. They also have to come out with something new every week while microsoft is just there to help. Over all I find microsoft more user friendly. Microsofts are also more personable.More businesses use Microsoft too. The only businesses that use apple are artsy ones. GO MICROSOFT
Microsoft is always best. WHy does apple always target microsoft on their ads. They must know that microsoft is better and the only thing they can do is make fun of M$.
I don’t understand all the fuzz about who is better. Let the market decide. Both are good companies with fine products. I don’t think either company is worst or better; they just have different perspectives on computer and their applications. My verdict: they’re tied, no winners.
I love how you wrote this not using Apple products. Brilliantly stupid on your part. I would take you more seriously if you used both.
Hey,
Apple as a copycat:
For more than a decade multitouch interfaces, similar to the iPhone’s, have been *demonstrated*. -> only Apple could make it perfect
“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.” -> I wanna see your windows computer do everything a Mac can do…
it all comes down to your personal preference, i, prefer apple, and if you have the money, why not? MS is good for differrent things than apple is.
I agree Omar… no winners here. I see both actually targeting different markets at this point, and so there isn’t really a way to do a fair comparison. Especially since Apple makes both the hardware and software for their computers.
“I wanna see your windows computer do everything a Mac can do…”
I wanna see a Mac that can right click.
I just find Macs too awkward to use. My HP does everything faster and generally in a less frustrating way than Macs can.