So the recent WWDC had a lot to say about Vista. They spent there time telling people how Vista is so much like OS X, while the rumour mills went crazy about a bigger iPod Nano, a video iPod and all that jazz. First think to mention is that in comparison to the past few WWDC Key Note Speeches, this years was just boring and disappointing. Seriously. Arjun if you ever try to drag me there, I’ll unleash… *ahem*
Even though there are lot of things about the new Apple marketing and their new Micro$oft bashing angers me for being over simplified, I do enjoy the fact that it is a very well done marketing scheme. One has to admit that over simplification does make all the average users think that ‘this is it’. Apparently, however, some mac fans forgot to notice that the Mac apparently crashed during a demo this WWDC. And of course we all knot that some of the Get A Mac campaigns can easily be turned around, but Apple obviously does not want to notice those.
What I think, however, Apple is worried. They are worried that Microsoft can win back whatever they lost to the pretty Apple. On the other hand, Apple is getting ready to go down and dirty. All the Intel Mac are actually priced much more reasonably, and also there was an unannounced price cut for all the Apple Cinema displays. Which could mean that they have new ones on the way, or it could mean they are ready to take on the Dell competition which are almost as good. For a good week, Apple’s 30″ display was cheaper than Dell’s 30″.
I’m pretty sure that there is a lot more to come in the OS X vs Vista front. So let us sit back, grab some popcorn and enjoy the show.
Competition is good for the consumer. In the end a Microsoft OS that has a viable competitor will be better for everyone. I prefer a situation where consumers can choose between OS X and windows easily and effortlessly. It will force apple and Microsoft to innovate.
Also – Its amazing that within a week of Apple dropping their display prices, Dell followed. That’s the effect of competition for you. I see no reason why Os’s should be different.
You have to admit though, leaving all the marketing crap out, it is true that most of what Vista promises next year, OS X can do now. I don’t think anyone disputes that. But your point is well taken – Like always you can trust Apple to blow their own horn
and sometimes just lie..
Also its true that the Mac crashed (another BS claim by Apple is that OS X doesn’t crash). But what I was impressed by was that unlike M$soft Apple presenters are prepared and don’t look like idiots on TV. Before people realized what was happening, the guy quickly switched to a backup system and the incident was immediately forgotten. If it was Micro$oft, an idiot product manager would have stood there blubbering while the audience laughed.
Frankly – An apple scared by Microsoft and Microsoft scared by Apple is good for us. We can enjoy lots of great high tech toys and goodies:D!!!
I think it’s awesome that they crashed… Apple developers are human, afterall!
Speaking on M$ presenters looking like idiots, did you notice their speech recognition live demo. The guy was totally baffled at what aweful dictation it was taking.
This was a “Developer Conference”. I think it’s absurd that people & the press were upset about the lack of a new ipod. Instead, the developers who paid to attend were told about some new features in the OS that they can take advantage of – imagine that! While I was somewhat under-impressed with the announced features, I was impressed w/ Time Machine. That’s seriously cool and useful. It also signals the likelihood of a new file system. I’ll try to blog about it… I’m anxious to see Leopard release. I just hope I can hang onto my G5 imac a while longer…
I too thought the vista bashing was a little tacky but I can understand them getting upset. OS X looks like a fine lady while vista is 100% trailer park that nags you a lot. It is good that MS is getting some competative pressure. Too bad they dropped most of the interesting features from the early announcements years ago (when OS X was being run by real users).