What Windows 7 Means … For Apple

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.