I attended the Linspire-sponsored Linux Desktop Summit last week, where the discussion included reasons the folks who build PCs don’t want to do Linux. Indeed, some of the commentary at the event related to Microsoft and its vulnerability when it comes to large business and government accounts. There was also a lot of discussion about what Linux should become, with some of the most interesting commentary coming from Geoffrey Moore, author of “Crossing the Chasm.”
This is one of the better things I've read on the 'net in a while. So much blogging has turned into so much blather. . For me, Linux (which I use) has become like Christ: I believe in 'em both; it's their followers I have a hard time with. Example: they still argue over which text editor is best, mainly because config file editing is cool. . I suspect that at some point distro vendors are going to have to turn their backs on the faithful to increase overall market share. . I'd like to see Microsoft's market share drop from 90% to at least 60%, simply because it would make them better. (The original post's comparison of Microsoft now to IBM then is spot on.) I've seen the pricing for Vista - Exxon & Chevron have obviously showed them the way. Once you got 'em, gouge 'em. . And do we really want a heavy-handed Steve (Jobs) running the world?
Another "last chance for Apple" post ... > If Apple can't at least double its small share during this > unique event it should abandon the Mac OS as a dead end, > because this kind of opportunity will never come again. ... > 2008 will be a critical year for Apple, Microsoft, and the > Linux contingent. If Apple can't significantly expand its > presence by then in the PC market it is likely going to be > finished with this segment. If Apple expands their market share, great! But why on earth does not expanding market share mean death for OS X and Macs? You are missing a few links in your chain of reasoning there. Apple is profitably selling millions of computers every year. There is no reason for those numbers to go down in their near future. Quite the contrary. There are more reasons than ever for people to buy Macs. And from past sales/profits they are sitting on billions of dollars of cash. I think that Mac is going to expand its market share, possibly dramatically, if they can get Windows virtualization running cleanly. But even if they do not, why stop doing what makes $$$ for their shareholders and pays their employees and delights all of us Mac-heads just because they can't aspire to be monopolists in the PC world (like they can in the music world :-).
I don't think it's quite fair to say Apple needs to back out of the computer industry if it doesn't double its market share in the near future. As Apple's two-decade history shows, market share has never been a major concern. Despite the fact that Apple computers make up a small percentage of computers in the world, it is well-known that Apple users are extremely faithful to their Macintosh. Apple is still extremely important in many fields, from graphic design to film-making. Bottom line: even though Apple isn't popular among regular consumers, it still appeals to many "artsy" people who rely on them and has a strong (albeit small) base of fans. In my opinion, Apple's demise is far from realistic.
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Linux vs. Windows Vista vs. Leopard
Posted by: Rob Enderle May 1, 2006 05:00 AMI attended the Linspire-sponsored Linux Desktop Summit last week, where the discussion included reasons the folks who build PCs don’t want to do Linux. Indeed, some of the commentary at the event related to Microsoft and its vulnerability when it comes to large business and government accounts. There was also a lot of discussion about what Linux should become, with some of the most interesting commentary coming from Geoffrey Moore, author of “Crossing the Chasm.”
.
For me, Linux (which I use) has become like Christ: I believe in 'em both; it's their followers I have a hard time with. Example: they still argue over which text editor is best, mainly because config file editing is cool.
.
I suspect that at some point distro vendors are going to have to turn their backs on the faithful to increase overall market share.
.
I'd like to see Microsoft's market share drop from 90% to at least 60%, simply because it would make them better. (The original post's comparison of Microsoft now to IBM then is spot on.) I've seen the pricing for Vista - Exxon & Chevron have obviously showed them the way. Once you got 'em, gouge 'em.
.
And do we really want a heavy-handed Steve (Jobs) running the world?
> If Apple can't at least double its small share during this
> unique event it should abandon the Mac OS as a dead end,
> because this kind of opportunity will never come again.
...
> 2008 will be a critical year for Apple, Microsoft, and the
> Linux contingent. If Apple can't significantly expand its
> presence by then in the PC market it is likely going to be
> finished with this segment.
If Apple expands their market share, great! But why on earth does not expanding market share mean death for OS X and Macs? You are missing a few links in your chain of reasoning there.
Apple is profitably selling millions of computers every year. There is no reason for those numbers to go down in their near future. Quite the contrary. There are more reasons than ever for people to buy Macs. And from past sales/profits they are sitting on billions of dollars of cash.
I think that Mac is going to expand its market share, possibly dramatically, if they can get Windows virtualization running cleanly. But even if they do not, why stop doing what makes $$$ for their shareholders and pays their employees and delights all of us Mac-heads just because they can't aspire to be monopolists in the PC world (like they can in the music world :-).