Apple .v. Microsoft

[BusinessM8]

Two things just caught my eye:

Apple is now worth more than Microsoft And Intel combined! See here.

Smart Phone market share: RIM (Blackberry) is really suffering!

In 1998 Bill Gates said he was puzzled why Steve Jobs would want to return to the troubled company he cofounded:

What I can’t figure out is why he (Steve Jobs) is even trying (to be the CEO of Apple)? He knows he can’t win — Bill Gates, June 1998

Perhaps the day that Bill Gates returns to his own troubled company isn’t too far away?

All the best

Tim

 

[Paul180]

Which do you prefer Tim?

Personally Microsoft wins for me. I've never really got to grips with Apple software, although they offer some great products, I always find it easier and sometimes more affordable to stick with Microsoft.

However, Hats off to Apple for achieving this!

 

[Paul180]

Agreed. And what I found to be rather cheeky is for Apple to create the iPhone then suddenly release the iPhone two, also the iPad and now the iPad two. I`d be miffed if spent all that money on something only for them to release the better version. Although I guess it`s like that for everything (tv`s etc)!

 

[Paul180]

One difference, the extortionate price, lol.

 

[RAMCITY]

Apple products have been quite expensive for me. Microsoft suits me in regards of Price and usage.

 

[makeusvisible]

IMO Microsoft missed the boat when it came to branching-out. Apple never had it in their long term plans to sell music, but they saw a gap and jumped into it. Microsoft never really managed to release a new consumer product like Apple have done with the IPOD, IPAD and iPhone.

Microsoft were also way behind everyone else when it came to 'online'. The position and wealth they had should have put them at the very front of search engine technology before anyone else. Instead they let a little company called Google step-in, whilst Bill Gates was calling the Internet a "fad".

The same has happened with social networking.... they really missed the boat and find they are way lagging behind.

No question IMO that when it comes to intel based systems they are the market leader, and produce some amazing software. I just cant see it lasting, the irony being that their online competitors (such as Google) are starting to play catch-up with the release of online office-type applications.

 

[Paul180]

Microsoft never really managed to release a new consumer product like Apple have done with the IPOD, IPAD and iPhone.

Could we class the Xbox, 360, Elite, Kinect as a consumer product for Microsoft? They have all become quite successful but like you said, with Apple going strong in the music industry and with iTunes continues to make it go from strength to strength.

 

[makeusvisible]

Could we class the Xbox, 360, Elite, Kinect as a consumer product for Microsoft? They have all become quite successful but like you said, with Apple going strong in the music industry and with iTunes continues to make it go from strength to strength.

I think the 360 etc are good consumer products....but what Apple did was to create a totally new marketplace (IPODs, Tablets, iPhones) where MS just released a console into a market which already had consoles. Microsoft have been trying for years to replicate what Apple have been done, but their drawing board to release stage seems to take years and they are left behind every time.

Like someone else here said....it's only a matter of time before they bring Bill back.

 

[BusinessM8]

Which do you prefer Tim?

Personally Microsoft wins for me. I've never really got to grips with Apple software, although they offer some great products, I always find it easier and sometimes more affordable to stick with Microsoft.

However, Hats off to Apple for achieving this!

Mac - for many reasons. My introduction came in 1992 when I'd just left PLCville and was a business consultant. New client said "The reports and documentation must be written in Helvetica." I replied "no problem", hung up and then rang a mate and said "What's Helvetica?"

He replied 'a font', "great says I, where do I get a copy for my PC?" 'You can't, it's a Mac font'. Oops!, rang client, explained ... "no problem buy a Mac and add it to my bill". NICE CLIENT!

Since then I've run many machines but always had one or more Macs and used them as main donkeys. Since they introduced OSX or 'UNIX on the half-shell' they've only got better and better in my opinion. So far this year I've not even powered up my PC - do everything I need on my iMac .

I understand PCs and have specified them to clients and will continue to do so as and when appropriate but, interestingly I was asked to 'sort out' a client who needed to upgrade to broadband and found his Windows 98 PC wasn't capable - no joke, this was last year. He gave me a budget and I provided a straight comparison between an Apple mini mac and an HP - very similar spec. The Apple was more expensive on a like for like package - by £15.27. He chose the Apple option 'cos it all worked straight out of the box (including Microsoft Office).

Have you seen details of Microsoft's recent demo of Windows 8? Some screen shots here and a video demo (with voice over) here.

All the best

Tim

 

[Paul180]

"Buy a Mac and add it to my bill" are 9 words you don`t often hear from clients! What a nice client!

So there it is, that`s the future of computing staring us in the face, Windows 8. Seems they want a mobile like interface much the same as my HTC Mozart phone but on a much larger scale!

You seem to be quite knowledgeable of Apple software so I am in no position to judge seeing as I`ve only used a Macbook twice.

Technology is certainly moving fast!

 

[Subbynet]

Most of the profit for MS comes from companies one way or another, but for Apple its consumers.

I know which is the most fickle of the two, and my long term bet is on Microsoft rather than Apple, who are doing well in the short term, but this can fall down if no decent products are in the pipeline.

Sony was once the Apple of today, and look what's happening to them right now.

 

[Eagle]

Every empire falls...

 

[I Love Spreadsheets]

I would say watch Microsoft carefully over the next couple of years. They have been positioning themselves very carefully.

At the moment Microsoft make more money from non-Microsoft phones through patent licensing than they do from Microsoft phones.

Take a look at the video they released of Windows 8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p92QfWOw88I - It will perfectly work across phones, tablets, laptops and PC's.

Most people realise that touchscreens on a PC is a gimick, no one wants to lean across their desk to constantly smudge their screens. So now reimagine the Windows 8 clip using Kinect technology (Its almost Minority Report). Personally I cant wait to see that.

 

[bediwin]

Most of the profit for MS comes from companies one way or another, but for Apple its consumers.

Quite right. Specifically, it comes from Office, Windows and the various server products.

Thing is, Google caught Microsoft on the hop with their Apps for Business product - quite a few high-profile customers have migrated to Google because if you add up the cost of buying suitable hardware, licensing Exchange and paying someone who understands how to keep everything hanging together and keep spam and viruses at bay, last time I priced it up the Google product came in something silly like 66% cheaper.

For that matter, even using free software Google came in more-or-less the same if not slightly cheaper - and that ignored the cost of my time!

Microsoft have finally caught onto this with Office 365 and a version of Exchange intended for companies providing hosted services, and I wouldn't write them off. But at the same time, when you're right at the top the only direction you can really go in is down.

 

[dagaul101]

One thing can be said about Apple, they make products where they simply control the niche, everyone makes the co-relation with Iphones with Apple

 

[Kelly Cairns]

I'm fortunate to have both.

I've always had PCs, until I walked into PC world and just wanted a mac because it looked beautiful!

Then one day I decided to save my hard earned cash for a macbook, on the back of that I gained a client, because he needed a VA with a mac since he was using a project management system that couldn't be used with windows. Result!

I now have an imac, macbook and PC and I use all three every single day! there's things I prefer to do on the mac and vice versa with the PC, and wouldn't be without either of them.

Which do I prefer? I have to say I don't favour either of them as they both have their uses, but the macs are definitely a lot more stable than the PC.

 

[safetynut]

The macbook seemed a better choice of kit speed, reliability, a lenghty conversation with a gentlmen in the apple store convinced me to make the purchase after using Microsoft for over 20 years I fancied the change. Loaded all the software for me only to find out they are not compitable with blackberry so I had my money back. Disappointed so waiting anxiously until they are compitable.

 

[garyk]

Apple kit is more expensive than PC stuff, fact. Apple kit residuals are way stronger than PC stuff in my experience.

With a mac you can have the best of both worlds, run OS X which is far superior to Vista/Win 7 but still run VMware for Windows.

Microsoft have lost the plot, whether its their OSes, their doomed music player (zune), their doomed tablet (drowned at birth) and their doomed windows mobile phones.

Web version of Office and XBox will keep them cash rich though I'm sure.

 

[johndon68]

With a mac you can have the best of both worlds, run OS X which is far superior to Vista/Win 7 but still run VMware for Windows.

Exactly what I do as it means I can still do all my Windows development work on the Mac...

With regards to pricing, the difference isn't necessarily as big as people think (depending on the spec). Just prior to buying a 27" iMac, a colleague and I priced a Dell of the same spec (only difference was a 30" monitor for the Dell) and there was a surprisingly small difference in the price...

John (a die hard PC user for 20 years until 6 months ago)

 

[BusinessM8]

Check this out from Mashable:

While magician and performance artist Simon Pierro is not really showing us a “beta version of iOS 5,” his iPad demo is magical nonetheless.
We especially like the way Simon demonstrates iOS 5′s new “space/time connection,” engaging in a special kind of streaming that you won’t soon forget.

White you're on the site you might also read this article: What Apple Will Announce at WWDC 2011: 8 Predictions

All the best

Tim

 

[Spock]

Agreed. And what I found to be rather cheeky is for Apple to create the iPhone then suddenly release the iPhone two, also the iPad and now the iPad two. I`d be miffed if spent all that money on something only for them to release the better version. Although I guess it`s like that for everything (tv`s etc)!

Sorry but this is a daft post. Do you not want companies to update their products to make them better? They only do this once a year, just like most companies.

 

[RemoteTechs]

Its hard to compare them, as Microsoft's core business is in the B2B sector, providing office software, sever software, cloud solutions (Azure, Office 365), exchange e-mail etc. Thats not say Microsoft haven't crossed into the consumer market, with Xbox, Zune etc, but they are leading Apple in the B2B market.
However Apple's core business comes from consumer sector: iTunes, iPhone, Apple TV, iPad. Not to say those products aren't used in the B2B sector, if you take the iPad for example, it would have may have never have made it into the B2B arena unless the 3rd party app developers had made apps that would be useful for B2B, even then it doesn't have the market share compared to Microsoft.
Both companies have diversified from producing operating systems and have taken different routes, but occasionally they cross over.
Apple are very good at dealing with the consumer market, but how easy would they find it trying to compete against Microsoft office or Server 2008 ? I think Apple tend to understand their limits and do what they do very well, Microsoft have been making some mistakes lately with their consumer products, but I think office 365 will give them a huge boost.
I really believe you cannot compare them so easily any more though, since they no longer stand and trade blows solely over which is best PC or Mac!

 

[mbabuskov]

Microsoft won the PC war and Gates what right about that. However, tables/mobile devices are replacing PCs in many areas and Microsoft is not dominant there, but I don't believe Apple is going to be the leader for long. Android is using a similar everyone-can-build-it approach as the PC industry, and they just provide the operating system - just like Windows/PC. I believe Google will have the same dominance as Microsoft had in PC world, and Apple will have 20-30% market at most.

P.S. First quarter of 2011 is first time Apple had more revenue than Microsoft in 25 years...

 

[Davek0974]

I do most of my browsing / email on my iPad, I use a mac running parallels with xp on it for my accounts software. It's the best of both worlds.

Windows interface is clunky and childish, great for the kids at home but useless for work, networking is a nightmare on pcs. Windows never ending updates are a pain in the arse, lucky to one update a month on the mac. The mac crashes less and is more productive too.

The best interface Microsoft had was NT4 it was business like, stable and easy to network. XP is good too but newer versions are junk. If MS came out with a decent business operating system things might change.

I run two networks at work, mac and pc, mac has the studio and designers on it with 10 macs and there are 13pcs, the pcs play up regularly and I never have to go near the macs! Good or bad, it's just the way it is.

 

[JDX_John]

I'm amazed that, successful as Apple are right now, they can be valued more than MS+Intel. That's crazy. Apple's worth is virtually from a single product - the iPhone - whereas Intel power the majority of the world's PCs (and a gazillion other things behind the scenes).

How true a valuation is this? Hats off to Apple for the iPhone, and again for the iPad, but it doesn't seem a very stable source of profit compared to making CPUs and Windows... Windows might end up dead but that's going to be a VERY slow decline.

 

[Subbynet]

I'm amazed that, successful as Apple are right now, they can be valued more than MS+Intel. That's crazy. Apple's worth is virtually from a single product - the iPhone - whereas Intel power the majority of the world's PCs (and a gazillion other things behind the scenes).

How true a valuation is this? Hats off to Apple for the iPhone, and again for the iPad, but it doesn't seem a very stable source of profit compared to making CPUs and Windows... Windows might end up dead but that's going to be a VERY slow decline.

It's based on the market cap, which isn't a true representation of how profitable a business is.

Apple
Revenue - 65.23 billion
Profit - 14.01 billion

Microsoft
Revenue - 62.484 billion
Profit - 18.760 billion

Source - Wikipedia...

 

[JDX_John]

And your point is?

 

[DotNetWebs]

And your point is?

To hopefully drop a link on a perennial topic like Apple vs Microsoft" - as with the previous poster, probably a spam bot.

Regards

Dotty