Macintosh vs. Microsoft battle heats up

November 20, 8:14 AMDenver Technology ExaminerKevin Rook, Ph.D.

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Macintosh vs. Microsoft.  The battle is heating up. (dvice.com)

In Computer-World on November 18th, an interesting article about the struggle for market-share between Apple and Microsoft was exposed in a new light.  In an article titled ”Microsoft feared Mac vs. Vista comparison in ’05, insider email shows."  Evidence of early Microsoft concerns were revealed. 

In a Microsoft insider’s memo from 15 months before the October 2005 Vista roll-out; it turns out that Microsoft officials were already worried about potential comparisons between the Mac operating system and Vista. This information was revealed on November 17th of this year (just days ago). 

The concern was based on a column titled, "What PC to Buy If You Are Planning On a Vista Upgrade" that was written by Wal Street Journalist columnist Walter Mossberg focusing primarily on one paragraph which read "You won't have to worry about Vista if you buy one of Apple Computer's Macintosh computers, which don't run Windows," he wrote. "Every mainstream consumer doing typical tasks should consider the Mac. Its operating system, called Tiger [at that time.], is better and more secure than Windows XP, and already contains most of the key features promised for Vista." 

I have to admit that I have always found the Macintosh to be an elegant hardware and software environment, but not being wealthy, it has always been extremely difficult for me to justify the cost of the Macintosh systems over PC “Windows” systems.  Now the worm may be starting to turn.  While the majority of mainstream business systems will most likely continue to be Microsoft based for the foreseeable future, Apple has a real chance to take a serious attempt at storming the Microsoft “castle” for the first time in a really long time.  If they continue lowering the entry price point of their desktop and laptop systems Microsoft may have some legitimate worries.

Like they taught me on Saturday morning TV when I was small, “Competition makes the pie bigger for everyone.”  Let’s hope that adage remains true in this vastly competitive modern economy.