First, MS is embedded in the "workplace" – Why? Because the goal of VP of IT is to keep his department BIG – more people at higher salaries means more power and higher pay. Given choice between 2 OS's, one which takes one support person for every 10 machines, and one which takes 1 support person for every 50 machines – which will they pick? MS of course. More support needed, more people needed, MS certified engineers needed, higher salaries – net is more power and pay for the manager.

2nd issue is that people used to be uncomfortable with having 2 different systems at home and work. OSX (with Parallels, Vmware Fusion or Bootcamp) makes that issue go away. You can have the machine that gives no problems, and still run the familiar MS stuff if you have to, and with the OS as a single file, even if your MS gets totally infected – you just go to your last snapshot and you are back to where you were – no "reload your OS" when you are running MS on a Mac.

I can tell you from experience – I am a small ISP, and even though Mac users are 20% of our customers, they account for less than 1% of our trouble calls.

Guarantee – people that love Macs grew up on PCs and switched because they wanted to. They mostly have many hours in front of the screen of MS machines. People who hate Macs (i.e. Dan), when asked the question "How much hours do you have in front of a Mac?" invariably answer none. How can you have an opinion when you haven't even tried it?

So Dan – how many hours have you spent in front of a Mac?

I've used Macs for my own work for the better part of 14 years. I'm not a frothing-at-the-mouth True Believer, and I have a strong tendency NOT to proselytize platforms. (i.e. I'm not much of a fanboy.) But, I can't help but notice a serious wave of discontent among my PC-based clients, regarding the non-stop need for anti-virus/spyware updates, and the glitches they seem to suffer regardless of how diligently they DO update. And how, without any prompting on my part, they want to know more about that "other platform", because they've simply had it up to here with what they've been using.

This is Apple's ace in the hole. Once asked, do you really think I'm going to trash-talk Macs?

As far as Vista goes, I can only say that Apple could not have created a better sales vehicle; every NEW PC I've had to set up which came loaded with Vista was "interesting" in the sense that I've never seen a new PC operate so sluggishly out of the box.

I chalk it up to all the Legacy code MS has to drag along for the ride with Vista. Ironically, this is the end-product of being the Dominant Platform for so long. Windows has been the 1000lb gorilla for so long that certain restrictions rear their ugly head; if Large Corporation X's custom-made app doesn't play nice with the most-recent Windows upgrade, there'll be Hell to pay, and word will certainly get around. So, MS obliges, but this has a cost in terms of software bloat, hardware requirements for using the latest n'greatest version of their OS, and so on.

Apple took the seemingly hard road of ditching wholesale their "classic" OS (which upset me as well at the time, while quietly understanding that this was necessary to Move Forward). But now, Apple might find itself in the catbird seat: a near-bulletproof OS, with about seven years under its belt, versus an overweight, not-quite bulletproof OS, which runs ponderously on NEW PCs, never mind upgrading older ones.

This one's a no-brainer, folks. Apple might not be set to take over the world, but they don't have to. It just comes to *them*, a few percent at a time, which is plenty. And Buffalo Billions is practically doing half the work for Steve.

There is no debate about Apple's enterprise presence.

Our small IT services company has helped companies of all sizes, including a well-known Fortune 500 company, integrate Xserves in their data centers. It is compatible on every front in that environment: Works with HP OpenView, plays nicely with AD, or can be an Open Directory (like AD) master, offers fairly granular ACLs, can be configured for VPN, web, mail, FTP, etc.

If my company is doing this kind of work, I would bet money that others are as well.

Enterprise is not lost on Apple, and Apple is not lost on enterprise any more.

End of discussion, as far as I'm concerned.

During that same period Apple was fighting out of the 90s hole. XP had to be good because the Mac OSX released at nearly the same time was solid as hell. Gimped as the were by a flawed processor they still increased market share, and now they are running on the best hardware for the market (sorry AMD fanboys). Realistically the product for Apple has changed completely from what it was 7 years ago. MS can't say that, and their business is innovation.

Also, MP3 players have shorter lifespans than computers because of ever increasing capacities. If people were happy with an old ipod they are probably going to buy a new one.

Apple's strategy is to make the best computer available. Because of that mindset, Apple finds itself in the best position possible: they don't compete in the PC commodity market that other manufacturers are forced to.

Apple makes great stuff, and sells on merit, not price. While struggling Dell is moving to Wal-Mart (where low prices matter more than anything else), Apple continues to sell wonderful products to consumers who only want the best. While Dell is busy hanging itself out to dry, Apple's coffers overflow with record profits, profits earned from innovative, quality products.

Good luck with that whole Vista love-fest thing you've got going on, and keep living the update, patch, virus/spyware, lather, rinse, and repeat lifestyle.

No one likes a monopoly..

..unless, you have an artist, visionary, master architect & digital lifestyle guru like Steve Jobs, at the helm. Apple is one predator that I am, along with millions of other people, more than happy to see it unleash its creations which are not only beautiful, but dominate most facets of technological excellence, innovation and ease of use.

Having worked in the Apple channel for some years now, and using a range of Macs & Windows PC's, it's clear here who the Master is and what an often flawed, stealth apprentice, Microsoft and it's PC clone buddies are. I cant think of anything that has made me go "uuuu… ahhh…. ohhhh my…. woooooow", from what MS, Dell or HP have released thus far. The guys at Redmond definately always seem to have a tough time using their 'photocopiers', resulting in uninspiring, error prone yawnware, that makes you want to thrust your fist into that screen. I'm sure every windows user has been driven nuts at some point, for one reason or another. The difference here is that Apple has from the ground up, designed in-house, complete software & hardware solutions that work harmoniously, synergistically and more than entice the end user. By consistently pushing the envelope, Apple is enhancing productivity and altering the way we document and navigate our digital lives.

The bottom line is:

Apple Inc. has a Soul. Microsoft and it's cronnies are are somewhat evolved, cash stuffed calculators – without a soul. Jobs and his troops have a vision, and have created an eco system of perfection – with beautiful form factor and liquid-like smooth interactivity , with new family members on their way. Jobs and his brilliant engineers, along with his impecable taste, have inundvertandly, but rightfully so, created a religious following.

I solute a champion oh and ah Apple…

KEEP IT UP!

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1987/11/09/69822/index.htm