Depressedallready

Mac Demand May Be Slowing

I usually go to our Best Buy about three or four times a year. This year I saw two things that blew my mind! For the first time I saw Apple computers for sale and on display and customers signing up for Apple purchases and Apple Care Plans. The second trend was even more astonishing! Instead of having two long display cases of third-party software for sale, I saw only one display case that was only one half the length of what I saw two years ago!

Do I believe that Apple Computer sales are diminishing? NO! Instead I see it doing slow, but steady growth while the growth/sales of PC's with Vista Software diminishing. The constant threat of ID theft, bots, rootkits and over one million pieces of malware and still growing exponentially are reminders to those with PC's that easy accessability to third-party software and gamers that security from internet suites are both too-expensive and a tendency to not deliver the average PC/laptop owner! Enter the security of Mac computers. While many say there will be a time when there will be more viruses/trojans be written for Mac's, the reality is....So far there hasn't and probably won't ever be! Too much work involved for even the most dedicated hacker! On-line sales where people can call in the Apple store and Best Buy are increasing the numbers of Mac computers substantially! As more and more people get disillusioned with the performace/security of Vista they will search for a more "secure" computer enter Mac and to a lesser degree but growing...open source software and Linux, which is even MORE secure than Mac computers! Don't forget....the recession we are undergoing will depress the overall number of sales...But inspite of this...Apple Computer sales are growing and holding their ground!

Is the Microsoft Empire Cracking?

The crack in Microsoft is already here and getting bigger every year. I agree with the majority of those who commented that Microsoft will have to re-invent itself and come up with a better OS system. The current system will have to be based on the Unix Server security and NOT on the present Windows Server loaded with more holes then Swiss Cheese! The second point is that both Mac and Linux are becoming more popular with the desktop/laptop users because of their security and security is more of an issue then ever. With more than one million pieces of malware out there and Bill Gates stating that he is unable to tackle such a problem....people look elsewhere for Desktop/Laptop operating systems that don't disrupt their store data and don't lead to identity theft! Linux, while not point-and-click offers security since it is based on the IBM Unix Server. And yes, more and more nations are turning towards Linux in their school systems and businesses because of economics and security. When people realize that they either pay the outrageous prices of third-party internet security suites and spyware software etc, which doesn't really protect the computers against bots, root kits etc, they will realize and the term REALIZE is the key word that security/privacy/savin... is only through Mac or Linux Operating Systems! The days of operating systems for the "general public" and "simple point-and-click" are becoming less and less, unless you have an operating system like HP's touch system!

Third, Microsoft may have millions if not billions of money but they also have at least fourteen lawsuits against them! Two lawsuits in the European Union were already lost by Microsoft! The first lawsuit lost by Microsoft was 65 million dollars. The second lawsuit in the European Union was also lost by Microsoft and came to 165 billion dollars! There are two more lawsuits to be held in the European Union against the monopolistic business practices of Microsoft! Here, in the United States, there are approximately twelve lawsuits to be held against Microsoft!

Mega million dollar lawsuits have a tendency to lopside the cashflow/assets equation! For once, Microsoft will have to do four things in order to stay in business. One, they will have to re-invent an Operating System based on REAL security, based on the Unix Server, and NOT on third-party software whose security is a real laugh! Second, they have to sever their connections to Third-party software companies. Third, they have to have a REAL research and development department whose aim is to bring out an operating system based on quality control and not "how fast you can get it out to the market" without working out the "bugs" and flaws BEFORE it is released to the public. They need "think tanks" that think outside-the-box and not be penalized because they are "yes men." And they need consumer advocates, not advocates for the Microsoft that like Toyota came to the PUBLIC and asked what the public wanted and what they are looking for not only for a computer operating system but also what businesses are looking for and what/how they can help them realize that! UNLESS Microsoft does that.....their company and its hold on the Desktop/Laptop/Busines... will steadily be going down every year. And YES, the bottom line of business has always been economics/security and even business out of the need for security/savings will turn to Mac computers or Linux! Unless, Microsoft gains the trust of the public that they arrogantly mishandled.....their company will flounder and slowly die!