Will Mac OS finally trump Windows?
MICROSOFT has no plans to produce fresh versions of its Media Player for Apple Macs, a spokesman told Cnet
yesterday.
Although the software giant earlier committed to developing future Office products for the Mac, Internet Explorer for the Mac has also been canned as the Vole seeks to differentiate itself from the Macinteltosh platform.
After all, the only real difference now between a PC and a Macinteltosh is the operating system. And the perceived arrogance of Microsoft compared with the apparent cuddliness of Apple means that for once Microsoft has a real competitor on its hands.
All is not well in Redmond. As we know, Microsoft likes to position itself as the innovative genie that guides us through the techno-minefield of tomorrow. But it's the cash cow that is its operating systems business that keeps the monster afloat.
Now, it has a real like-for-like competitor and is entering panic mode. Let's face it, Linux's unique selling point is the fact that it's not Windows. Had Microsoft played the game differently and not tried to own the PC on your desk and the Internet that feeds it, the geeks may not have taken umbrage with it. Had Windows been more reasonably priced, Linux wouldn't have got a look in. The Apple OS may be as cumbersome and clanky as Windows. It may reduce the user's ability to tweak and customise their machine willy-nilly. But it has one major fact in it's favour: it isn't Windows.
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