Analysts: Windows 7 may boost Mac sales
Now, even they admit they're making connections here that probably aren't there -- there are tons of factors involved in both sales of Windows OSes and Mac computers (we'd just mention that Windows 7 seems to be getting fairly good reviews so far, and while no one would argue that Vista wasn't a disaster, I'd argue that iPods and iPhones were much better "Mac sales helpers" after 2001 and 2007 than Windows would ever be), and there's no real evidence here that Microsoft's releases have any bearing at all on their competitors' numbers.
But it is a nice thought for us Mac faithful to hang on to anyway -- in the next few weeks, as Windows users vibe on their new and shiny and have their super fun release parties, we can know that if we just wait, Mac sales will eventually have their day.
[via Apple Insider]
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Analysis / Opinion Desktops OS Software Odds and ends Apple MacBook
Most electronics industry analysis is obvious at best and misinformed at worst, but this one made us chuckle. Analyst firm Broadpoint...
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Makes sense -- two years ago when we needed to replace our aging XP systems, I couldn't bear the thought of subjecting my wife to the misery of another Microsoft OS. So we went Mac, and we'll never go back. It just works. Macs have far less maintenance in a year then a Windows OS has in a month.
October 21 2009 at 10:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replywell said texashock! I rest my case.
October 22 2009 at 9:02 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyHaving bought a new development PC a year and a few months ago, with Vista home on it, I hate to say it here, but I've had no problems on it.
I can run PS, dreamweaver, 4 diff browsers (incl the hideous IE), spotify, 2 EvE online clients, tweetdeck, a VM running XP and a few explorer windows and get no significant slow down, or serious recurring system crashes.
I have had no blue screens, and I've lost work to a system freeze just once in more than a year.
On the much hated vista.
And no i'm not on some 8GB RAM gaming monster of a PC I re-mortgaged my house to buy.
Fair enough, it does take a long time to boot up each morning (about 4-5 mins atm), but you know what - i can go and brush my teeth, or make a cup of coffee, its really not a big problem!!
In the past year I have also had the opportunity to spend a fair bit of time (ie a total of 2-3 months) working at a web design company that are all Mac users - I've used Macs, I know how to get round them and I would say intuitive, fast, reliable, and robust are not words I would use to describe them. In that time I had 2 crashes requiring restarts. I find the UI frustrating... beautiful, but not intuitive.
But I think thats something right there - it's not intuitive cause I'm not using em day in, day out - of course Apple fans think Apples are intuitive - they use them all the time and are used to em - I didn't find driving easy when I first started, but after a year of it its "intuitive".
That said, I have ordered my copy of Win7. Not cause Vista sucks (cause I have no massive gripes against it), but cause its the new OS, its getting good reviews, cause it will likely make my workflow that little bit smoother (nothing revolutionary, but than SL was hardly a revolutionary jump from L), and cause in the big scheme of things, £100 isn't a massive price to pay for a faster PC, especially when its used for work... and given the prices a comparable Mac will cost me, its a bit hard to complain or compare the cost of OS's on here!
Sure Win7 is a lot more than SL, but then a Mac is a lot more than a PC. Sure MS make money off their overpriced OSs, but Apple make money off their locked down to the hilt Macs and OSs - you can be sure if there were more companies like Psystar (http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/apple-psystar-clones-part-of-a-larger-conspiracy/) out there able to sell non-Mac's able to run SL, the price of SL would go up a lot!
@Greg: I've run both Vista and 7 on my 1st gen MBP and, by comparison, 7 is MUCH faster and actually less annoying than Vista is. I've used the beta, the RC, and NOW the RTM. By far, it is much better than Vista. Like everybody else has said, there has been no major overhaul of OS X, just tweaks, rewrites, revisions, and adjustments. Same thing with Windows. 7 is a reworking of Vista, which is a reworking of XP, which is a reworking of 2000 combined with components of 95/98/ME, which is a reworking of NT 4.0, which is a reworking of NT 3.1... you get the point? Every operating system is a build off of its predecessors.
Also, I have to say: all of this defending of the systems that is going on below here is absolutely ridiculous! Some people like Windows, some people like Mac, some people like Linux, some of the people like them all, and the rest of the people don't care as long as it gets the job done and lets them do what they want.
And, TIM ROSENCRANS, learn how to spell and use proper grammar, and stop trying to show your die-hard fanaticism! It's not appealing! It just makes you look like an ass. Same to the rest of you little fanboy bitches. I use Windows, and I use OS X. I like them BOTH! I have a choice and so does everyone else! Now SHUT UP! I dare you to call me ignorant or low-rank me just for using Windows. Yes, I posted this comment using Windows 7 on my MacBook Pro!
The problem is that you're not using Win7 on the system NORMAL Win7 customers will be purchasing. It's a running joke that Windows runs better on Macs is a snub at the hardware OEMS as much as Microsoft. The big thing that hurt Vista was Microsoft pushing it so hard to people with machines that couldn't properly support it, and Microsoft caving to OEMs too cheap to pony up good hardware. That pushiness is what cost Microsoft the good will of the tech press for the last 3 years even more than the "facts".
That Win7 runs well on "geek" hardware for people that cared enough to go online and trackdown the free RC really is meaningless to Bob at the BigBox store being shoved a Celeron GMA950 for $400 that's supposed to have "fancy Win7 graphics" like the little girl showed on TV.
Microsoft needs to learn it's problem is that it's a monopoly. It's carrying too much base and needs to be about half the install base to support leading edge users and companies that want improvements more than every 3 years. Microsoft is still on the "sell at a loss.. but make it up in volume!" wagon when they need to shift to a model that makes Profits (RONA) not just Sales. The trouble Microsoft has is that regular users don't really need anything past Win2K Pro and a good portion aren't using anything higher at work anyway. They're dragging 95% of computer users and the majority don't want to go anywhere or buy anything new because we're all broke right now.
You guys can continue to argue back and forth.
I'll just be on my way, happily using Snow Leopard and Windows 7 side by side. Both are well coded operating systems and both have some flaws, and yes, BOTH have copied features from one another.
I don't know why people are so quick to choose one side instead of enjoying the benefits that both have to offer.
Leave him alone RyanR. Windows users may be stupid but its fun to wind them up and watch them whine.
October 13 2009 at 7:59 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyActually Jordan I have seen several instances of windows going to sh!t and wiping out the entire admin account. I however don't know anyone outside of a school/library network that ever uses the guest account so thats not much of an issue for a temporary bug.
Hey Gav and Anthony you know what is really embarrassing? Showing everyone that you have such a big stick up your rear you need to correct peoples grammar on a blog. 4 gods sack it's a blog, jet over Youre self. Its like goin to waL-mart and critekin folks cloths.
Wow you guys who have come here just to bash apple and its users could do with getting a life. Don't you have better things to do than troll an apple blog?
October 13 2009 at 6:54 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyI like Apple, and own MBA, iPhone, and iPod nano. That's why I come to this blog. But I also like Windows 7. I just hate Apple fanboys bashing Windows 7 with WRONG information. They can make fun of Vista all they want, but they have to acknowledge that Windows 7 is as good as SL.
October 13 2009 at 10:36 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply@Brandon: the real issue this shows is customer perception of Win7. Win7 is really Microsoft's answer to Leopard, not Snow Leopard, as Win7 was "stick-a-fork-in-it-done" over a year ago when the betas started being leaked. It hasn't fundamentally changed other than bug fixing and packaging. This is where Microsoft's long "tease" time backfires because customers like us don't see Win7 as "new" they see it as "old" and in 6 months are looking for the next "beta" to be hip. Worse than that corporate customers (guys at work) won't even sign up for MSDN and start planning to use these new features until 6 months AFTER the manager guys buy Win7 at home. All that beta time was wasted hype and not getting the product in front of "cube land" which is where Microsoft's biggest impression is made.
That's not entirely honest with the reality of what people are buying and using, but it is how the mindshare game works. Regular customers hear the hype of betas that don't ever release and get burnt out because "ooh shiny fun" never really happens in PC land like in Apple land. Microsoft's OSes are like getting clothes for Christmas. Sure you need them and they are valueable, but Apple is like getting a surprise box of Kinder Chocolates, maybe the overall utility isn't there, but the experience of the new shiny was fun and thoughtful.
OK Jordan now your going to tell me Computerworld is just a bunch of Apple fanboys and windows developers don't now how to measure time.
Hoards of people do drugs too and seeing how 90% of windows 7's new window managment features are just copied from expose which OS X has had for years. I can't see any real diffence between the OS's there.
Hey Daytripper hate to crash your Illusion but the tests are conclusive Windows 7 DOES NOT boot faster than Vista. They just show you the desktop sooner because they know windows users will fall for that crap.
And Jordan hehehehe Hahahaha....microsoft... secure.... ease of networking .....AhhhHahahAH stop it your killing me AhahahaHh .......
Oh and "easily switch between open windows of the same program? " I guess clicking a button and then clicking the window is to complex for a windows user and just clicking the dock icon and selecting the window is to tough too. User Ignorance is not a design flaw.
Tim, try not to write words as soon as they come into your head, (note I used 'your' in its correct context there, rather than where you meant 'you're'), A paragraph full of hahahehe, dots instead of commas (.....), and poor grammar does little to support your argument that somehow an OSX user is 'less ignorant' than a Windows user.
You embarrass yourself, and those of us who are enjoying everything that these modern and powerful Operating Systems bring us. Choice is a great thing. Buy a Mac and you can enjoy the best of both.
hey tim,
The next time you post garbage, link a source. However, I think this is your source
http://www.engadget.com/2009/10/08/software-firm-finds-windows-7-doesnt-boot-faster-than-vista/
LoLo tech makes PC tune up software. Do you really think windows 7 booting faster is good for their business? Also I would know my own boot times, I'm the one actually using win7 after all. Hell I have even installed the RC (testing) on an old dell optiplex that i have (from 2003) try doing that with Snow Leopard...oh wait it won't install.
1. New OS makes windows users think about upgrading there PC's.
2. A percentage of those decide to upgrade to a Mac instead.
3. Apple's market share PROFITS!!!
Sorry, but you fanboys are dreaming. Windows 7 is going to put so much pressure on Apple over the short term. With nearly 10% unemployment in this country, people just have the money for luxury computers. And, who wants an operating system that deletes all of your data. It just works, right...
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