It's wrong for a company to learn from another one's success? Look at what Pepsi is to Coke for God's sakes.
There are plenty of things MS excels in that Apple does not, and many of those things stem from their ability to work with other companies so smoothly. For instance, one of the things gamers are excited about is Windows 7 treating the GPU as a "real peer" to the CPU, more efficiently delegating work to 3D graphics cards better than any other OS. In other words, better gaming and a better overall experience throughout the OS when a video card is present. You think they came up with this on their own? They worked with other companies to perfect stuff like this.
I can tell from a number of personal experience, working with MS is not a smooth experience. They suck verses share, they are not a true partner in business, as long as they see you as having what they want they make it look good to you. However, the second the winds start changing directions they will leave you high and dry. MS has destroyed more companies because the suck them into their fake reality and those companies invest heavily in this so call MS vision only to find out later MS move off in another direction and never told their so called partners partners.
I will not say Apple is much between with leaving a partner high and dry but Apple has a better track record of telling their partner which direction they are heading even when it is changing. The only time apple is screwed a partner is when they partner let something leak that apple did not want public.
So yes MS goes out and partners with others companies but they partner with everyone and no one is really a partner in the true sense.
The best tactic for Apple has always been the comparison. Being that they have a superior product, the strategy is simplified to answering: How can we show the market how superior our product is?
For years, we have had the "I'm a Mac" campaign precisely to show this comparison. Now MS, behaving very much like that PC character, comes up with flashing lights and loud noises to try to wow customers who will, because of the proximity, compare.
MS problem is that they have to retain 10 out of every 10 people who walk through their doors. Because 1 out of every 10 is not even bad for Apple (in computers). And being that they are making it so easy for people to compare, a positive outcome for MS is nearly impossible.
When will all you guys get it? Ballmer has really been secretly working for Apple to destroy M$ ever since he took over! This is just more more example of what a genius he is.
MS problem is that they have to retain 10 out of every 10 people who walk through their doors. Because 1 out of every 10 is not even bad for Apple (in computers). And being that they are making it so easy for people to compare, a positive outcome for MS is nearly impossible.
I am surprised that the "very rich" are buying "used macs", "pre-owned" maybe!
I am not surprised at all. My own experience with the "very rich" is that while they will occasionally spend wildly, this is usually done in a very public way. The intent being to show just how rich they are. But on personal items? Often they are so tight they squeak when they walk.
The point being that it doesn't surprise me at all that they are buying used, "pre-owned", whatever-you-want-to-call-it Macs.
I can tell from a number of personal experience, working with MS is not a smooth experience. They suck verses share, they are not a true partner in business, as long as they see you as having what they want they make it look good to you. However, the second the winds start changing directions they will leave you high and dry. MS has destroyed more companies because the suck them into their fake reality and those companies invest heavily in this so call MS vision only to find out later MS move off in another direction and never told their so called partners partners.
I will not say Apple is much between with leaving a partner high and dry but Apple has a better track record of telling their partner which direction they are heading even when it is changing. The only time apple is screwed a partner is when they partner let something leak that apple did not want public.
So yes MS goes out and partners with others companies but they partner with everyone and no one is really a partner in the true sense.
I cannot wait for this! This is going to be hilarious! The Apple store at the Misison Viejo Mall is filled with hot OC moms buying ipods and macs. They buy them because "Oh I can't figure out Windows." Microsoft is going to get killed there by people bringing down their pcs to fix problems. Heck, I think I am going to do it! I haven't used it in about 2 years, so why not- they've got answers right? Oh man I can't wait. I think I know where they are going to put it too.
This will be hilarious. This will be good. I can't wait to hear someone explain why a zune is better than an ipod.
Considering MS won't sell computers, the GURU BAR will not take computers - the whole point of the GENIUS BAR. Reporters and bloggers will eat MS lunch and this will create a HUGE PR night mare for them. People will then examine the point of Apple's Genius Bar and see the real value in that.
Not just Mission Viejo, CA, but Scottsdale, AZ too.
Why is MS opening their stores in higher end markets? It really doesn?t jive with their ?we?re cheap, and Mac is expensive and sexy? line of advertizing.
The problem is, Apple usually picks more affluent areas to open their stores simply because this is where most of their current customers and targeted customers will shop. Microsoft's consumer market sits at the bottom of the economic ladder and most of their customers are at the Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If Microsoft had half a brain, they would throw this money at making deals with BestBuy to open a "Microsoft" section in the store, and have their own people staffed. Maybe even have a few "Gurus" on the Geek Squad for home service, something Apple doesn't currently offer.
I am not surprised at all. My own experience with the "very rich" is that while they will occasionally spend wildly, this is usually done in a very public way. The intent being to show just how rich they are. But on personal items? Often they are so tight they squeak when they walk.
The point being that it doesn't surprise me at all that they are buying used, "pre-owned", whatever-you-want-to-call-it Macs.
I will send an email to Trump to see if he wants to buy my cube.
The problem is, Apple usually picks more affluent areas to open their stores simply because this is where most of their current customers and targeted customers will shop. Microsoft's consumer market sits at the bottom of the economic ladder and most of their customers are at the Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If Microsoft had half a brain, they would throw this money at making deals with BestBuy to open a "Microsoft" section in the store, and have their own people staffed. Maybe even have a few "Gurus" on the Geek Squad for home service, something Apple doesn't currently offer.
Wow! You can get Microsoft based PC's a Best Buy now and sales people will start pushing their products. What a concept.
This will be hilarious. This will be good. I can't wait to hear someone explain why a zune is better than an ipod.
Well when you do go try and start an argument with one of these people over something that can arguably be considered to be based on personal opinion, try to not to let your arrogant fanboism shine through or else they'll pick up on your over-the-top cynicism and not give a damn about speaking with you. You have to sound completely impartial when it comes to this stuff or they'll probably walk away.
I can see it now: people are in line waiting to be helped, and here you are wasting one of the employee's time going back and forth over IPOD VS ZUNE, all the meanwhile knowing you have no plans to purchase a Zune or be an active consumer in anyway. ROFL
I would really love to see that. Have one of your friends video tape everything from a few feet away please.
The problem is, Apple usually picks more affluent areas to open their stores simply because this is where most of their current customers and targeted customers will shop. Microsoft's consumer market sits at the bottom of the economic ladder and most of their customers are at the Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If Microsoft had half a brain, they would throw this money at making deals with BestBuy to open a "Microsoft" section in the store, and have their own people staffed. Maybe even have a few "Gurus" on the Geek Squad for home service, something Apple doesn't currently offer.
Wal Mart sells Apple products. been doing it for a long time. Best Buy sells more Apple products than Wal Mart. my first ipod was bought at Circuit City
Actually isn't the standard answer to window problem is to re-image the drive and start over again. That seem to be the answer I hear at work all the time when the windows machines go haywire.
I tell the IT team that I use my mac at home as much if not more then the PC at work and it is 6 year old and I never once had to reinstall the OS or re-image the drive to recover from a problem.
Or the other standard answer the problem is caused by some other third party software, so remove it or call them for help.
kind of like the standard answer on the apple forums to fix a problem iphone. restore it. if that doesn't work, restore it as a new phone
Not just Mission Viejo, CA, but Scottsdale, AZ too.
Why is MS opening their stores in higher end markets? It really doesn?t jive with their ?we?re cheap, and Mac is expensive and sexy? line of advertizing.
Nothing jives together when you are scrambling to reconfigure your business model after the one that got you to where you are is obsolete.
MS has been on a downward spiral since the very cheapest crap of the shelf emachine could run office just fine. Once their upgrade cycle for office no longer drove the upgrade cycle for the pc industry, it was up to Vista- and that went poorly at best.
Nothing jives together when you are scrambling to reconfigure your business model after the one that got you to where you are is obsolete.
MS has been on a downward spiral since the very cheapest crap of the shelf emachine could run office just fine. Once their upgrade cycle for office no longer drove the upgrade cycle for the pc industry, it was up to Vista- and that went poorly at best.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MEEEE?
I build my systems and Windows is all I have. I could go with a Linux based OS, but it's not the same in terms of driver support and stuff. Until Apple can accommodate me, and geeks like me, they can suck a lemon.
So what do you think? Am I a dying breed along with Microsoft? I dread the idea that some day, rather than learn about what makes a computer work and build their own, kids will learn to just throw money at a company and let them do it because self built machines won't have a viable solution for the OS.
In fact, some of the best father-son memories I have with my father were centered around building a computer the family can use, and learning all about that stuff.
I build my systems and Windows is all I have. I could go with a Linux based OS, but it's not the same in terms of driver support and stuff. Until Apple can accommodate me, and geeks like me, they can suck a lemon.
So what do you think? Am I a dying breed along with Microsoft? I dread the idea that some day, rather than learn about what makes a computer work and build their own, kids will learn to just throw money at a company and let them do it because self built machines won't have a viable solution for the OS.
In fact, some of the best father-son memories I have with my father were centered around building a computer the family can use, and learning all about that stuff.
Ah! You're breed will never die- I am one of those too! There will always be room for an enthusiast who knows what he wants. Personally, I think we will see a reducton in the value of Microsoft, and an increase in apple market share to around 20%- at the same time we will see linux bump up a few points as well. Ballmer will eventually be forced to leave, and someone else will redo windows top to bottom.
The fact is, Apple will never generate the business ecosystem Microsoft does, so it does not matter much.
My point was just that the days of consumer choice being limited by market dominance are slowly coming to an end.
So what do you think? Am I a dying breed along with Microsoft? I dread the idea that some day, rather than learn about what makes a computer work and build their own, kids will learn to just throw money at a company and let them do it because self built machines won't have a viable solution for the OS.
Over many years, I too have constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed many machines. Needless to say, MS has been a big part of that picture, and I?ve installed and configured Linux well before it was ready for prime time.
If someone is a computer hobbyist and wants to spend their free time like this, fine. But I?ve come to the conclusion that a computer is just a tool, and I want to buy it and have it work as expected. I?m done working on getting my tools to work. It?s time to use that free time on other things.
Comments
It's wrong for a company to learn from another one's success? Look at what Pepsi is to Coke for God's sakes.
There are plenty of things MS excels in that Apple does not, and many of those things stem from their ability to work with other companies so smoothly. For instance, one of the things gamers are excited about is Windows 7 treating the GPU as a "real peer" to the CPU, more efficiently delegating work to 3D graphics cards better than any other OS. In other words, better gaming and a better overall experience throughout the OS when a video card is present. You think they came up with this on their own? They worked with other companies to perfect stuff like this.
I can tell from a number of personal experience, working with MS is not a smooth experience. They suck verses share, they are not a true partner in business, as long as they see you as having what they want they make it look good to you. However, the second the winds start changing directions they will leave you high and dry. MS has destroyed more companies because the suck them into their fake reality and those companies invest heavily in this so call MS vision only to find out later MS move off in another direction and never told their so called partners partners.
I will not say Apple is much between with leaving a partner high and dry but Apple has a better track record of telling their partner which direction they are heading even when it is changing. The only time apple is screwed a partner is when they partner let something leak that apple did not want public.
So yes MS goes out and partners with others companies but they partner with everyone and no one is really a partner in the true sense.
Sounds like you're completely impartial and exactly who I'd listen to on the subject
Waah, Waaah, Wah.... Wah, Waah, Waaaahhh
(Sorry, it was just too tempting to resist).
For years, we have had the "I'm a Mac" campaign precisely to show this comparison. Now MS, behaving very much like that PC character, comes up with flashing lights and loud noises to try to wow customers who will, because of the proximity, compare.
MS problem is that they have to retain 10 out of every 10 people who walk through their doors. Because 1 out of every 10 is not even bad for Apple (in computers). And being that they are making it so easy for people to compare, a positive outcome for MS is nearly impossible.
MS problem is that they have to retain 10 out of every 10 people who walk through their doors. Because 1 out of every 10 is not even bad for Apple (in computers). And being that they are making it so easy for people to compare, a positive outcome for MS is nearly impossible.
Excellent point.
I am surprised that the "very rich" are buying "used macs", "pre-owned" maybe!
I am not surprised at all. My own experience with the "very rich" is that while they will occasionally spend wildly, this is usually done in a very public way. The intent being to show just how rich they are. But on personal items? Often they are so tight they squeak when they walk.
The point being that it doesn't surprise me at all that they are buying used, "pre-owned", whatever-you-want-to-call-it Macs.
I can tell from a number of personal experience, working with MS is not a smooth experience. They suck verses share, they are not a true partner in business, as long as they see you as having what they want they make it look good to you. However, the second the winds start changing directions they will leave you high and dry. MS has destroyed more companies because the suck them into their fake reality and those companies invest heavily in this so call MS vision only to find out later MS move off in another direction and never told their so called partners partners.
I will not say Apple is much between with leaving a partner high and dry but Apple has a better track record of telling their partner which direction they are heading even when it is changing. The only time apple is screwed a partner is when they partner let something leak that apple did not want public.
So yes MS goes out and partners with others companies but they partner with everyone and no one is really a partner in the true sense.
God have mercy on Yahoo
HAHAHAhaHAhAHAhaHahahahaHAAHAHahhHA!
Let me reiterate- HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH!
I cannot wait for this! This is going to be hilarious! The Apple store at the Misison Viejo Mall is filled with hot OC moms buying ipods and macs. They buy them because "Oh I can't figure out Windows." Microsoft is going to get killed there by people bringing down their pcs to fix problems. Heck, I think I am going to do it! I haven't used it in about 2 years, so why not- they've got answers right? Oh man I can't wait. I think I know where they are going to put it too.
This will be hilarious. This will be good. I can't wait to hear someone explain why a zune is better than an ipod.
Why is MS opening their stores in higher end markets? It really doesn?t jive with their ?we?re cheap, and Mac is expensive and sexy? line of advertizing.
I am not surprised at all. My own experience with the "very rich" is that while they will occasionally spend wildly, this is usually done in a very public way. The intent being to show just how rich they are. But on personal items? Often they are so tight they squeak when they walk.
The point being that it doesn't surprise me at all that they are buying used, "pre-owned", whatever-you-want-to-call-it Macs.
I will send an email to Trump to see if he wants to buy my cube.
The problem is, Apple usually picks more affluent areas to open their stores simply because this is where most of their current customers and targeted customers will shop. Microsoft's consumer market sits at the bottom of the economic ladder and most of their customers are at the Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If Microsoft had half a brain, they would throw this money at making deals with BestBuy to open a "Microsoft" section in the store, and have their own people staffed. Maybe even have a few "Gurus" on the Geek Squad for home service, something Apple doesn't currently offer.
Wow! You can get Microsoft based PC's a Best Buy now and sales people will start pushing their products. What a concept.
This will be hilarious. This will be good. I can't wait to hear someone explain why a zune is better than an ipod.
Well when you do go try and start an argument with one of these people over something that can arguably be considered to be based on personal opinion, try to not to let your arrogant fanboism shine through or else they'll pick up on your over-the-top cynicism and not give a damn about speaking with you. You have to sound completely impartial when it comes to this stuff or they'll probably walk away.
I can see it now: people are in line waiting to be helped, and here you are wasting one of the employee's time going back and forth over IPOD VS ZUNE, all the meanwhile knowing you have no plans to purchase a Zune or be an active consumer in anyway. ROFL
I would really love to see that. Have one of your friends video tape everything from a few feet away please.
The problem is, Apple usually picks more affluent areas to open their stores simply because this is where most of their current customers and targeted customers will shop. Microsoft's consumer market sits at the bottom of the economic ladder and most of their customers are at the Wal-Mart or Best Buy. If Microsoft had half a brain, they would throw this money at making deals with BestBuy to open a "Microsoft" section in the store, and have their own people staffed. Maybe even have a few "Gurus" on the Geek Squad for home service, something Apple doesn't currently offer.
Wal Mart sells Apple products. been doing it for a long time. Best Buy sells more Apple products than Wal Mart. my first ipod was bought at Circuit City
Actually isn't the standard answer to window problem is to re-image the drive and start over again. That seem to be the answer I hear at work all the time when the windows machines go haywire.
I tell the IT team that I use my mac at home as much if not more then the PC at work and it is 6 year old and I never once had to reinstall the OS or re-image the drive to recover from a problem.
Or the other standard answer the problem is caused by some other third party software, so remove it or call them for help.
kind of like the standard answer on the apple forums to fix a problem iphone. restore it. if that doesn't work, restore it as a new phone
Not just Mission Viejo, CA, but Scottsdale, AZ too.
Why is MS opening their stores in higher end markets? It really doesn?t jive with their ?we?re cheap, and Mac is expensive and sexy? line of advertizing.
Nothing jives together when you are scrambling to reconfigure your business model after the one that got you to where you are is obsolete.
MS has been on a downward spiral since the very cheapest crap of the shelf emachine could run office just fine. Once their upgrade cycle for office no longer drove the upgrade cycle for the pc industry, it was up to Vista- and that went poorly at best.
Nothing jives together when you are scrambling to reconfigure your business model after the one that got you to where you are is obsolete.
MS has been on a downward spiral since the very cheapest crap of the shelf emachine could run office just fine. Once their upgrade cycle for office no longer drove the upgrade cycle for the pc industry, it was up to Vista- and that went poorly at best.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MEEEE?
I build my systems and Windows is all I have. I could go with a Linux based OS, but it's not the same in terms of driver support and stuff. Until Apple can accommodate me, and geeks like me, they can suck a lemon.
So what do you think? Am I a dying breed along with Microsoft? I dread the idea that some day, rather than learn about what makes a computer work and build their own, kids will learn to just throw money at a company and let them do it because self built machines won't have a viable solution for the OS.
In fact, some of the best father-son memories I have with my father were centered around building a computer the family can use, and learning all about that stuff.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MEEEE?
I build my systems and Windows is all I have. I could go with a Linux based OS, but it's not the same in terms of driver support and stuff. Until Apple can accommodate me, and geeks like me, they can suck a lemon.
So what do you think? Am I a dying breed along with Microsoft? I dread the idea that some day, rather than learn about what makes a computer work and build their own, kids will learn to just throw money at a company and let them do it because self built machines won't have a viable solution for the OS.
In fact, some of the best father-son memories I have with my father were centered around building a computer the family can use, and learning all about that stuff.
Ah! You're breed will never die- I am one of those too!
The fact is, Apple will never generate the business ecosystem Microsoft does, so it does not matter much.
My point was just that the days of consumer choice being limited by market dominance are slowly coming to an end.
BUT WHAT ABOUT MEEEE?
So what do you think? Am I a dying breed along with Microsoft? I dread the idea that some day, rather than learn about what makes a computer work and build their own, kids will learn to just throw money at a company and let them do it because self built machines won't have a viable solution for the OS.
Over many years, I too have constructed, deconstructed, and reconstructed many machines. Needless to say, MS has been a big part of that picture, and I?ve installed and configured Linux well before it was ready for prime time.
If someone is a computer hobbyist and wants to spend their free time like this, fine. But I?ve come to the conclusion that a computer is just a tool, and I want to buy it and have it work as expected. I?m done working on getting my tools to work. It?s time to use that free time on other things.