OS X Leopard - The Vista killer? Why and why not..
While some may argue that OS X Tiger is already a Vista killer, the real test will be the official role out and advertising of Leopard. We know that Vista has already had a hard time capturing the market, especially with the rising popularity of other operating systems, but will OS X 10.5 literally kill Microsoft’s new love child?
Why OS X may kill vista:
- The rise of ‘alternative’ operating systems has already helped to grab the attention of many potential customers. For years, the Mac and PC users have been heavily divided. Everyone that owned a PC hated macs for compatibility reason, and Mac owners had a predefined, automated response to simply disgrace PCs. This instinct of hatred made it uncomfortable for users to even question what the ‘dark side’ may be like. Unfortunately most PC and Mac owners shared one small flaw, the misconception that OS X and XP were the only offerings for the masses. Within the last 18 months the Internet communities have started to recognize some Linux distribution as a legitimate option - with good reasoning. Ubuntu, and other ‘newbie friendly’ distros have made it possible for a wider range of PC users to at least try Linux, especially with their risk free live CD options. All of this has created a strange curiosity amongst computer users and with it, the brand loyalty has slowly started to fade. Now a respectable PC user can consider purchasing a Mac without feeling like he’s dishonoring his ancestors.
- Macs are no longer few and far between. I spend a few days a week on the grounds of a very large private university. Two years ago I was one of a handful of Mac laptop users. Just like many large purchases, people tend to notice others that have taken the same plunge. On a daily basis I probably noticed one or twoibooks, tops. As I write this article I am sitting at that same university’s library in a large open room full of tables and gobs of wifi bandwidth. I decided to stretch my legs and take a count of the laptops in the room. There were 91 laptops in the room and 21 of them were Macs. 23% is a rather high number and more then double the national average, but it just goes to show you how quickly they are catching on in the young adult culture. More macs equals more word of mouth and social advertising. With the increased word of mouth advertising, more people will already be familiar with OS X when the advertising crusades begin in a few months.
- Users recognize and can relate to Mac hardware specs. Finally there is an easy way to compare macs to other personal computers. One of the first and only things people look at when they purchase computers is the spec sheet. Previously PC owners had to carry a English to Mac dictionary just to understand what they were looking at. Now spec sheets include terms like “Intel”, “Nvidia”, and “DDR2″. People are always nervous of things they’re not familiar with. Now anyone that can read a Dell spec sheet, can also feel just as comfortable in an Apple store.
- If I were Windows, the scariest attribute of OS X would Boot Camp thanks to the standardize hardware. You no longer have to be a staunch Windows or OS X user. You can now decide which OS you feel like on a daily basis. With the option to dual boot to the two most popular operating, it leaves very few reasons for many NOT to switch.
Why OS X will not grab the majority share of users, at least any time soon:
- The obvious answer is price. The MSRP of the LOWEST priced Macbook is $1099 and desktop is a Mac mini at $599 (no display). Macs are simply still out of the price range for many buyers. If you were to visit your local electronics store and ask them to identify their best selling laptop, it would be under $700 and sometimes under $600. Computers are no longer the middle class+ luxury. In fact its almost the opposite. They’re a necessity for adolescents, teenagers, young adults, and anyone in the business world. The market which finds them necessary can’t afford the opportunity to even try OS X. Note: For those that can afford the option, please be aware that you don’t have to payMSRP for all the Mac items. There are plenty of educational discounts and even wholesalers that lower the price $50-$100 on some of the lower models.
- The average computer user is scared of change. Talking most users into upgrading from something as bad as Windows ME to XP was hard just because people didn’t want to lose what they already were comfortable with. At least with Vista they can upgrade. Changing to OS X means starting over for most. Very fewwouldn’t even know where to start backing things up.
- .Edu still equals Windows. In the year 2017 we’ll still have a population of young adults who were raised on Microsoft. There are many users out there that don’t care if its a mac or a PC. Those are the same users that can tell a difference. The problem with not caring is that someone else makes the decision for you because you’re going by what someone else bought. There are two main environments in which children are swayed on their computer choices - school and home. Parents can directly influence what they use in the home, but very few schools across the nation have macs or plan to implement them. Many of those students will grow up with no intention of changing, and they wont until they are forced to. Until schools start offering both Macs and PCs there will be a large population that will never consider purchasing a Mac.
Here are the facts:
Based on Steve Jobs comments, 1/2 of the new macs purchased are customers switching from PCs to Macs. That’s roughly 9000 people a day joining the dark side. Net Applications has documented the number of Mac users increasing by just over 2% over 6 months based on Internet browser stats. The truth is more and more people are buying Macs. Maybe the question isn’t if Leopard is the Vista killer, but if its finally time for Macs to get the recognition they deserve. For me, its not if I’ll buy a newMacbook, but instead when. I think many buyers share that same idea.