Mac OS X could destroy Microsoft?
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Mac OS X
Tom Adelstein writes at LXer: "Apple can alter its business plan slightly and become the well-liked dominant force in the technology market. Everything Apple needs sits right in front of them for the taking. We're just sitting here waiting to restart global innovation and take the PC to the next step." http://astonishingtutors
Comments
Even though I make my living supporting Micro$oft products, I'd like nothing better than to see Apple dominate the market. I myself ousted Windows out of my home after 10+ years and am all Mac now.
The reality is, though, there are a *few* things they need to do to be considered a serious contender for the massive market share windows has.
First and foremost, they need to build *something* into the OS to replace the Windows version of Outlook so it connects to an exchange server and works just like outlook does. There are 3rd party apps out there that sort of work to make iCal and Address Book synch up with exchange, but nothing seamless.
My CEO was admiring my brand new PB 17" when I first got it, and didnt even know that OSX was actually a unix variant under the covers. We talked for about 20 minutes about how great it is, and how the apps he needed were all available here, and then the dreaded question came: "Show me Outlook".
Well, I was able to show him Entourage, but he hated it and also pointed out that "Oh, you still have to buy a Microsoft product to get that". Plus, the truth is, Entourage isn't an exact crossover to Outlook. That was the end of that conversation.
Business market penetration will NEVER happen on any significant sacle unless Apple addresses the real needs of corporate users and make the transition seamless for the end user.
Until then it will be a couple people here and there who made the switch on their own, and can get corporate IT (in my case, ME) to allow it.
Posted by: dingosatemybaby | November 21, 2005 11:21 AM
You have a good point there. With all the extra cash Apple is getting nowdays, I think they are cleverly working on addressing the needs you mentioned. I am absolutely sure that we will see Mac OS X getting more and more of the market share. Btw the rumours about free version of Windows could be true, MS people do see that there are more and more good alternatives to their crappy products. Mac OS X being the best OS around plus Ubuntu Linux has all then good marks and financial backing. We will see...
Posted by: caffe_latte | November 21, 2005 02:05 PM
I see Apple making some competition for Microsoft beyond the OS. You have the iWork package that 90% of the people can use to replace Word and Powerpoint and then there's iLife which takes care of the majority of the home users that need some multimedia capabilities.
It is just a matter of time before we see some serious competition of products the enterprise can use to switch people on a massive scale.
Posted by: John S. | November 21, 2005 02:39 PM
Good article. Great writing. But business won't see Apple until Apple see business.
Posted by: Snotty | November 22, 2005 01:24 AM