For Apple, it could mean yet another missed opportunity. If Microsoft released another operating system with compatibility issues, Apple’s move to the business market could be swifter, since companies would be searching for alternatives to XP. In the meantime, developers would again be ostracised as yet another Windows operating system broke their software. But since this issue seems to have been resolved, Apple isn’t going to have that advantage.
Windows and business best mates again
One of the biggest issues facing Windows Vista was its lacklustre response from the business market. Many companies decided against switching and hardware suppliers were forced to exercise Windows’ “downgrade rights” to keep customers happy. What’s more Microsoft had been trying to find ways to get Vista into companies.
All will (probably) be forgiven in the business world, with Windows 7, now that it doesn’t suffer from compatibility issues. With its reworked User Account Control system, it isn’t as annoying as Vista, and it is likely to be the most secure operating system that the company has ever released, which is another problem for Apple.
Apple now needs to wonder how (or rather, if) it can inch its way into the business market as more companies than ever will find reasons to deploy Windows 7, putting Mac OS X firmly back in the consumer space.
How does Apple respond?
Apple might hold the high ground now when we compare Windows Vista to Mac OS X, but this won’t last long. The more I use Windows 7, the more I realise just what a great operating system it is.
Though I highlighted three issues Apple faces, there are many more. It will be difficult for Apple to do what Microsoft has done with future iterations of its own operating system. How can it improve its Dock to make it better than Windows 7’s task bar? How does it plan to attract more software developers if it continues its policy of closed-door politics? And most importantly, how does Apple plan to gain a foothold in the business market if it has made no significant moves in that direction?
I know what you’re thinking; Apple doesn’t want to be best mates with developers and it’s happy in the consumer market. And anyway, Apple is a hardware company.
But if you consider the fact that it’s the software (not the hardware) that you interact with, as your computer sits on your desk collecting dust, then I think it becomes clear that Windows 7 could be a real problem for Apple. The way I see it, companies will find more reasons to deploy Windows 7. Employees at those companies will then start using Windows 7 and grow comfortable with it. And once the time comes to invest in another computer, it will be the OS they know from work – Windows 7 – that will be installed on their next home purchase.
All the while, Apple executives will be forced to find ways to trump Windows 7 to bolster sales. Based on my experience with both companies’ operating systems, that won’t be so easy.
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The view that Apple is consumer and is somehow threatened by Windows 7 is so far from the truth as to be delusional.
Apple is, and will make inroads into business, but does not need to become Windows. It's hugely successful on the road it is on.
Microsoft needs 7 to stop the rot. Despite your glowing comments, the jury is still well and truly out on how much of an upgrade 7 is from Vista.
I'm Leopard user but used to be Windows user too for many years, therefor I can compare these two systems. It's is really hard to make people understand how both these OSes work if you use only one of them and the rest of your knowledge are articles or videos you've seen. Comparing new W7 taskbar features to Leopard Spaces is not very good example. If we talk about some desktop features making the work better organized and more transparent for Leopard there is not only Spaces to help doing this but Exposé too and I would really appreciate if someone make really good presentation what these too features actually do. New W7 taskbar has become partly a Leopard's dock by possibility of adding apps icon onto it acting like in Leopard. Showing some small thumb windows of currently running apps is more for fun then for a purpose to compare with Spaces.
This is a shockingly bad article.
Windows 7 Task Bar doesn't even provide the same functionality as Spaces. They aren't even intending to be the same/similar.
As for Task Bar being faster than the Dock, OS X has Expose (for at least a few years) which is even faster than Task Bar. One key press and you see every window open.
The tone of your post suggests you're yet another "Apple right or wrong" evangelist, Jon. The truth is that it's Apple's success in breaking into the business market that is questionable, whereas the jury so far is overwhelmingly positive as regards Windows 7.
I'd correct the statement at the end of the article; the assertion that it is the software, not the hardware that one interacts with.
I recently bought my first Mac when the time came to change my laptop. I'm using Windows at work and have used windows since 3.11 but now have Leopard at home. The biggest surprise for me has been the hardware and especially the MacBook track pad. For those out there who are unfamiliar with this it is an adaption of iPhone technology - the track pad is a large (10 cm by 7.5 cm) touch sensitive glass tablet, twice as big as any conventional laptop touch pad; it has no button as the entire surface is clickable, in addition the bottom right hand corner can work as right click which is great for contextual menus and windows users making the transition to Mac OS.
However the real plus of this track pad is that it accepts 1, 2, 3, and 4 finger gestures as it can distinguish between how many fingers you are using. Dragging 4 fingers down the screen allows instant visualisation of all open app windows, which can be selected and switched to in an instant. I won't go into more detail - this is simply a hardware solution to switching between apps that is intuitive and split second fast.
I don't believe that there there is anything that Windows can do to its task bar that could compete with this.
In addition as a laptop user who always hated touch pads and always used a mouse I have now retired my mouse. In fact if I could buy a version of the the Mac track pad as a piece of hardware for my desktop I would and give up the mouse altogether. I hate the hardware I have at work now.
There is some irony here as the author mentions Apple is also a hardware company (and a good one!) but clearly dismisses the importance of hardware.