Commentary Topic

A June 12, 2009 CNNMoney.com article titled 'Can Windows 7 save PCs?", David Goldman writes about Microsoft's upcoming Windows 7 operating system.    The article discusses the PC slump and highlights a March survey conducted by Dimension Research that indicates that 50% of respondents are likely to dump Windows in favor of Apple's Mac OS X operating system.

As more details emerge about the upcoming Snow Leopard operating system (Mac OS X 10.6), Apple has posted information on the security page for Mac OS X Snow Leopard that potentially recognizes the threat of viruses and malware to the Mac OS X operating system and the applications that run on Mac OS X.  Have Apple's most recent statements indicate they they are once again recommending the use of antivirus software?

With WWDC kicking off on Monday June 8, I wanted to post my expectation that Apple will release Mac updates in either September or October.  In the May 13, 2009 WWDC Press Release Apple stated it would be issuing a Mac OS X Snow Leopard 'final Developer Preview'.  Prior to this press release, I expressed my expectations of what Apple would likely do with respect to Snow Leopard at WWDC in a May 5, 2009 reply at the MacRumors Forums eight days prior to the Apple Press Release.  Here's what I stated:

It's widely understood in strategy that a firm that is known for delivering a certain value may end up confusing customers (or perhaps undermining its own credibility and reputation) if it attempts to deliver alternate value.  The attempt to simultaneously deliver inconsistent offerings will not serve a firm's strategic position.  Many continue to criticize Apple's premium positioning and pricing.

Kindle is Amazon's Wireless Reading Device that works in conjunction with the Kindle Store to provide more than 240,000 books, top newspapers, magazines, and blogs.  The new 'Kindle for iPhone application' from Amazon allows iPhone and iPod touch owners the ability to read Kindle books using a simple, easy-to-use interface.

If you haven't heard by now, Apple will be holding their "Let's Rock" media event today which kicks off at 10 a.m. Pacific (1 p.m. Eastern).  For the past several years, Apple has held media events in early September to unveil new iPods and iTunes versions to prepare customers for the end-of-year shopping season.  This year, we also expect significant price cuts across the iPod lineup.

Time is running out folks, Apple's Back to School offer will end on September 15th!  So here's the deal.  You're a college student, teacher, or staff member so Apple wants to offer you an amazing deal on a new Mac and iPod.

News on Wall Street today hints that Dell Inc. the second largest PC manufacturer is planning to sell its worldwide manufacturing plants within the next 18 months in an effort to cut costs.

In a report cited by eWeek, analyst Benjamin Gray of Forrester Research calls attention to an incremental gain in Mac use in the enterprise.  The research is based on surveys from more than 50,000 enterprise end users from 2,500 organizations.

When comparing a Mac against a PC, cost is the most often cited metric used to make the comparison.  In my view, cost is only one variable of the computing equation.  Failure to analyze other variables will lead one down an incomplete analysis.  At a minimum, the comparison should also look at the following:

Earlier this week, the buzz was centered around Apple's new beta Boot Camp software for OS X Tiger 10.4.6 that allows owners of new Intel Macs to extend the funcionality of the systems to boot into Mac OS X or Windows XP.  Apple also released firmware updates for the entire line of the Intel Macs that provide EFI and BIOS support that should allow the new Intel Macs to boot into adiitional operating systems such as Windows XP, the upcoming Windows Vista, and Linux.  The Intel Macs use a modern booting technology called EFI, Extensible Firmware Interface.  In order to boot Windows XP and Windows Vista, the computer needs to support BIOS, a technology over 20 years old.  Boot Camp bridges the EFI and BIOS gap.