Are Vista’s failures the boost Apple needs to kick Redmond's ass?

Are Vista's failures the boost Apple needs to get ahead in business?.jpgApple is poised to launch the greatest offensive on the Microsoft stronghold in computing history. Though Apple’s popularity and support in consumer homes has reached an all-time high, the only way Apple can successfully overthrow the Microsoft regime is to couple in-home dominance with office superiority.

We all remember the first “I’m a Mac vs. I’m a PC” commercial. Many curiosities were aroused, and as Mac fanatics of old know, those who satisified their curiosities have found that Apple’s OS X, iLife, and iWork are simply more intuitive, aesthetically pleasing, and problem-free than Microsoft’s Windows or Office software.

As more and more people have realized the simplicity that Macs bring to computing life, even more have become displeased with the direction Microsoft is heading.

After 5 years in development, Windows Vista has left a bad taste in many mouths; most common consumers either don’t have the hardware necessary to utilize the new features of Vista that distinguish it from XP, or don’t care to upgrade when the benefits aren’t that ground-breaking.

Furthermore, most businesses are also disenchanted with Microsoft’s new OS; though Office offers some creative changes, the bugs, flaws, and lack of drivers or support for the new Windows OS have swayed businesses from upgrading their current systems to Vista.

This has left Apple in a potentially advantageous position; as Microsoft’s recent efforts leave users dissapointed and wanting something new, Apple has been gaining public favor with the simplicity and creativity of OS X, iLife, and iWork.

For the first time in years, Apple is facing the opportunity to convert PC users to the Mac users on a large scale. To do this, Apple must gain control of a few key markets:

1. The business and professional world

2. The home

3. The gaming industry

4. The digital media industry

The key to Apple’s victory over Microsoft is controlling the majority of these markets. Each individual industry must be considered an asset that will affect, either positively or adversely, each player’s progression towards total industrial dominance.

It is no great secret that Apple controls the digital media realm. Graphic designers, video editors, and musicians would all agree that Apple computers simply outperform PC’s in this field. It seems Microsoft and other leading software manufacturers have conceded this asset to Apple, what with the overwhelmingly lack-luster show of “competing” software (Note, when I say competing, I am referencing software that is not cross-platform, and is PC-specific).

With the digital media industry squarely in its pocket, Apple’s recent campaign on the home has proven quite successful as well.

Though most homes do employ PC’s at this point, Apple’s sales numbers since switching to Intel have displayed a public shift towards Macs’ safety, ease of use, and aesthetic appeal. Recent optimization of virtualization software like Parallels has granted home users access to Windows applications on primarily Mac platforms.

Apple has two possible routes it might follow with the ideal destination of computing dominance.

First, Apple could wage a marketing war against each individual industry, pursuing professionals, gamers, and average consumers on separate plateaus; individualized campaigns, specialized incentives, and even more “I’m a Mac” commercials. This path involves millions in marketing, a good deal of luck, and most importantly, time.

Alternatively, Apple could concentrate a large amount of resources on the business realm. The business world’s reliance on Windows and Microsoft Office productivity tools is the dam holding back Apple from flooding the gaming and home markets, and a concentrated push for business integration could be the key to total industrial dominance.

Though Microsoft still dominates this market, many feel Microsoft is rapidly losing ground to the appeal of Macs; many feel that Macs offers greater network security, a safer and more intuitive operating system and strong, user-friendly productivity tools.

Additionally, Microsoft’s latest and greatest, Windows Vista, is flopping royally in the home and the professional world. Vista offers nothing to the professional realm, save hardware upgrading costs, a lack of drivers, and a host of new problems to identify and rectify. Office 2007 is improved, but both Office 2007 and Vista are simply an effort to emulate the simplicity and creativity of OS-X and iWork.

Some companies are seriously considering spending the money needed to upgrade their systems to Vista on completely revamping their offices with Macs; many are losing faith in Microsoft, and fear sticking with Microsoft will present greater long-term upgrade and maintenance costs.

http://mac.blorge.com/2007/04/09/are-vistas-failures-the-boost-apple-needs-to-get-ahead-in-business/