Does Apple get away with things Microsoft could not?
Double standards in the platform wars
Tuesday, May 10, 2005 by Frogboy | Discussion: WinCustomize News
Imagine this scenario: Longhorn comes out and Windows Movie Maker, Remote Desktop, and Outlook Express were no longer part of the OS. Instead, Microsoft included them in a seperate $70 package. And then imagine that Longhorn was essentially a Windows XP Service Pack 3 with a bundled Google Desktop Search like function, a Lite version the DesktopX Run-Time, and a few other niceties. How do you think people would react? How do you think the media would react? Probably not with glowing praise.
But that's exactly what has happened with Apple. A few years ago, Apple was touting MacOS X as the way to make movies and DVDs and manage your photos and other such things. It included a pretty nice DVD making program and a pretty strong movie making program. But as the latest version of MacOS X shows, Apple has no problem removing significant programs from its OS and charging for them seperately. Some might say that's the ultimate "bait and switch". Whatever you want to call it, I think most would agree that if Microsoft had done the same thing, there'd probably be something just short of a riot.
That isn't to say MacOS X Tiger isn't a great operating system -- it is. But while people are fawning praise upon Apple and their OS-making abilities, people also need to take a step back, put down the Steve Jobs brand Kool-Aid and take a serious look at what they're getting for their $129 upgrade. Of course, any time anyone criticizes Apple or the Mac, even in the most mild form, the Mac zealots come out to vigorously defend it. This in turn makes reasoned discussion a lot more difficult. But one Mac/PC user, Paul Boyer, has written an article that gives his experiences with Tiger.
Paul Boyer, has created countless skins, themes, and of course his incredible packages of icons that have been freely downloaded by millions of people uses his computers as tools to do everything from graphics design to recording TV shows. And he's just upgraded to MacOS Tiger. He's not an OS advocate. He's not hard core. He's a more typical, casual consumer. And he's not happy. While he can appreciate the improvements in Tiger, he also feels he's getting jerked around a bit by Apple. People criticize Microsoft as the evil empire and yet some of the actions Apple takes seem to be pretty bold. Read the whole article with an open mind and let us know what you think.
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Reply #82 Friday, May 13, 2005 8:52 PM
Reply #83 Friday, May 13, 2005 11:15 PM
| Windows 2000 Professional was specifically targeting NT users (SMB's... included). But it sure was not to succeed to Windows 98SE on the roadmap of future OS's targeting MS's standard users. That was Windows ME's job. |
Sorry, I didn't mean from a commercial point of view, I meant from a technical point of view. It was created as an OS that took the stability of NT and the compatability of 9x to create a better all-round system. And for that reason (although it ended up merging with the XP Home version) a Home edition based on 2000 was planned, but never completed. Me was then released as a[n inferior] substitute.
| Then I also find your evangelizing efforts to promote the Mac platform a little sickening. This Manichaeist view (Mac OS vs Windows) sort of makes you lose most credibility on these matters |
Um.. what?
| especially your gross generalization on how MS updates/ upgrades OS's. |
What generalisation? Feel free to correct me if I've made an error, but I installed this copy of XP at the very start of the year and download all the updates, and my Windows Update history has 96 updates in it, the vast, vast majority of which are security updates. Are you telling me you don't think that's ridiculous and excessive?
| If one scratches beneath the surface of your description of how Macs have always kicked asses, you'd quickly find the downsides. |
Such as?
| But all this discussion will be over as soon as Longhorn descends from the sky and will blow y'all straight to hell! just kidding of course |
Great, it'll be over in 18 months!
| But I do maintain that Longhorn will be a much bigger revolution than your crouching tiger! |
It would be cool if it was, but it remains to be seen whether it will be. I have my doubts.
Reply #84 Friday, May 13, 2005 11:31 PM
WOWfactor.555. my nick is neither 'Jaffa cake', nor 'Jafa'.
If you cannot respond respectfully then do not respond at all.
I think it's a little childish, don't you?
Reply #85 Saturday, May 14, 2005 1:20 AM
There's really no point in saying "I would definitely be pissed off at Microsoft if they tried charging me for an annual OS upgrade like Mac has done." because nothing says you have to upgrade every year AND just because Apple is more prolific does not mean they haven't released a ton of free "service packs" for whichever OS you were using. Apple hasn't held back the fixes for $$$. Personally, I'd much rather see the progress on a yearly basis than have to wait 3-5 years for marked improvements. OS X 10.1 was a great OS for me back in 2001 but I'd hate to still be using it and waiting until late next year to see all the improvements that have been made in Jaguar, Panther, and Tiger.
Anything with a "$" in front of it was a normally priced upgrade. Everything else was free or available for shipping/media costs. Grouped as major releases followed by the "service pack" revisions. There are numerous free updates that I skipped as they were hardware-specific updates)
$ OS 7.5 January 1995
7.5.1
7.5.2
7.5.3 (The complete OS is available as a free download)
7.5.5
$ OS 7.6 Spring 1997
7.6.1
$ OS 8.0 Fall 1997
8.1
$ OS 8.5 Fall 1998
8.5.1
8.6
$ OS 9.0 Fall 1999
9.0.2
9.0.3
9.0.4 (only version compatible with OS X Public Beta)
OS 9.1 (Complete OS available free with OS X 10.0 and as update)
OS 9.2.1 (Complete OS available free with OS X 10.1 & 10.2 and as update)
9.2.2
$ OS X 10.0 Cyan/Cheetah March 2001
10.0.1
10.0.2
10.0.3
10.0.4
OS X 10.1 Puma October 2001
10.1.1
10.1.2
10.1.3
10.1.4
10.1.5
$ OS X 10.2 Jaguar August 2002
10.2.1
10.2.2
10.2.3
10.2.4
10.2.5
10.2.6
10.2.7
10.2.8
$ OS X 10.3 Panther October 2003
10.3.1
10.3.2
10.3.3
10.3.4
10.3.5
10.3.6
10.3.7
10.3.8
10.3.9
$ OS X 10.4 Tiger April 2004
10.4.1 (coming within the next 30 days, supposedly)
Reply #86 Saturday, May 14, 2005 11:21 AM
There are several free ( yes as in not warez either ) AV software packages , AVG and Avast ( which I like )included, available for PCs. So OSX dosen't need one ,and you don't need to buy one for PC , just find a free one and download.
As for CD burning software, I have had perfectly capable CD burning software included in every CD writer I have ever purchased.
Reply #87 Saturday, May 14, 2005 11:38 AM
But we're not allowed to attack apple because apparently being Windows owners we're evil
Reply #88 Saturday, May 14, 2005 2:55 PM
Reply #90 Monday, May 16, 2005 5:10 AM
What's that? You never saw a Mac or? iDVD and the other programms from iLife were never part of the OS. You should first get informed and the post articles. The 10.4 is great. I own 2 Macs an both have 10.4. Some guy already said the 10.4 is a new release and not just a service pack. Ok... Windows guys.
And google like search! LOL You should first check spotlight out, it is a tool windows can dream of.Stardock did something, which other wouldn't not do: Why is there a 50 MB download limit for wincustomize? And as an OD subscriber since 5 years now, I cannot download anything. The email adress update doesn't work. And you write something of "freedownload"....
Reply #91 Sunday, June 5, 2005 5:09 PM
What's even more funny is that this article was referenced to by the WinCustomize email list: Brad this is novel ploy: link up your own articles in the WC publications, then publish on the front-page how 8 of your articles are at the top
You fail to see that a large portion of StarDock software users are concurrently using (and enjoying) Macs.This method of writing articles against the competition, whether it be Apple or Aston, especially under pseudonyms (cough, cough, draginol) seems highly reminiscent of one Steve Jobs.
On the topic of Apple getting away with stuff Windows does not: Brad, the Mac is advertised as the system for making DVDs and media and stuff, not the OS. Buy a new computer and you do get all the goodies. Buy the OS upgrade and you get what you pay for. Apple's OSs tend to come pretty cheap, as opposed to new versions of Windows. I've never seen a Windows OS install that included a audio-recording studio like GarageBand or a DVD mastering program like iDVD out of the box, and yet this is the argument you're using against Apple. ObjectDock used to be a freeware product accessible through StarDock Central, but now it's a separate commercial product that even existing subscribers must purchase anew.
It's all marketing. As a developer yourself you realize they're struggling to make a buck.
Reply #92 Sunday, June 5, 2005 8:24 PM
| This method of writing articles against the competition, whether it be Apple or Aston, especially under pseudonyms (cough, cough, draginol) |
That's hardly being devious or deceptive.....not when all Brad's various logins are well known and public knowledge. There's 3 'pseudonyms' that are in long-term and frequent use. Blind Freddy could 'know' who is who....
Reply #93 Monday, June 6, 2005 10:04 AM
Search engines will not discern that it's Brad- a casual search for AstonShell will result in hits for Brad's article where Aston he really downs on Aston's community. He can have his official persona as Brad Wardell and then insult under Draginol- not very ethical, is it?
Reply #94 Monday, June 6, 2005 3:01 PM
Reply #95 Monday, June 6, 2005 7:03 PM
Skinner mrbiotech ...essentialy, 'Frogboy' was/is Brad's 'original' skinning/skinner's nick....dating back to the last century [sounds impressive like that], whereas 'Draginol' is his JoeUser Blog/article personna....[where skinning may have less relevance].
With the JU/WC article crossover it means Brad may end up with both nicks being used on one site.
It really isn't a 'drama', and is only considered 'deceptive' perhaps by those consciously LOOKING for an issue about which to take umbrage.
BTW....the other 'evil, nefarious, subversive' Nick is 'Brad Wardell' .... but you'll have to blame his mum for that one....
Reply #96 Monday, June 6, 2005 7:20 PM
| dating back to the last century [sounds impressive like that] |
That should be 'last millennium'....even MORE impressive...
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Reply #81 Friday, May 13, 2005 8:37 PM
WOWfactor.555. ....please stay on topic, thanks.