Apple up, Dell down, Two new operating systems
It is certainly turning into an interesting summer for desktop computing.
Both Apple and Microsoft released new versions of their operating systems.
Both are conservative touch ups to existing operating systems. Internal turning has sped both operating systems up. So clearly one generalization of these new versions is that they are optimizations.
Performance may not be the most existing thing but then on the other hand it does help everybody out to various degrees.
Windows Vista users get the tossed the bone that performance of their system will be restored almost to Windows XP levels and they still get to keep their Vista features.
Mac OS X 10.5 developers get a new feature in Vista called OpenCL that lets them harness the graphics processor for a little extra number crunching power when they (and their users) upgrade to 10.6, Snow Leopard.
Another feature that is not exactly going to rock the boat but be an welcome improvement is that both companies introduced minor new mechanisms to thelp thwart hostile software attacks. While it is unlikely they will fend off scads of attacks themselves, certain ones will not work anymore.
Some of the best things web users can do is avoid sketchy web sites, download software only from the primary source (author or vendor/manufacturer) web site, update their browser regularly, disable or limit Flash & Silverline, download and double-check files before opening them rather than letting the browser open them on the fly.
All users are best off keeping behind a hardware and OS-software firewall. Of course, just as important is to turn off any network services they are not using. Why have a web server running on your computer if you do not know of anyone who should and actually would use it, for example.
A unique event in the non-Apple computing world is that veteran software company Microsoft is opening their own stores. They will be retailing some brands of computers and devices that are compatible with their operating system: Vista - and its new version, Windows 7.
Apple already has a nationwide chain of Apple stores so nothing new in Apple-land. Although, they will be a little less lonely. Apparently, with a whole country to chose locations from - Microsoft whose to put a number of its Microsoft retail stores very close to existing Apple stores.
The caliber of brainpower behind the counter at the Microsoft stores might be surprising. Some to-do was made on the web this month that a primary requirement for non-managerial positions was an ability to lift over 75 pounds and knowledge of Microsoft products was merely desired.
One conclusion one could jump to is that to actually answer questions, Microsoft might draw on their customer service or even software development staff. That could work out very nicely for a lot of shoppers. Of, they might not hire anyone special and the bulk of the staff might be mainly qualified to lift a heavy Dell computer box and carry it out to the customers' cars.
Dell will be happy to have anyone picking them up this month because they recorded a huge drop in profits. Down 23% on dwiningling revenue. The good nws is, Wall Street was not expecting bad news from Dell. They were expecting really bad news from Dell. So, relatively speaking - this was good news.
Consequently, Dells stock as gone up a bit. Never surrender. Even bad news can work out.
Apple simmply continues to grow and the good financial news from the company is almost boring. The thing that lightens the mood of Apple customers is new products like Snow Leopard (Mac OS 10.6) and the perenial rumor of on upcoming Apple tablet computer. Only this year, the rumor is so intense one might even come out in 2009 - or 2010, or whatever.
I saw a Microsoft Windows tablet computer not so lnog ago and it looked like it worked. It also looked heavy and thicker than a notebook computer. About as thick as a 1-1/2 inch notebook, actually.
I think Apple would have to make a talet computer thinner than that if they wanted broad appeal among consumers.
All my relatives are using Macs as their computers now. So are a few friends and acquaintances - about half and half at this point, I guess.
The iPhone is selling well and a couple people have them. I am not hearing any complaints from the iPhone users I know personally but I have read blogs of people complaining that the network they are on cuts them off a lot. Not sure if it is happening to them on the elevator or just while they walk around outside. Not really sure if this is a real issue or simply people expecting coverage in non-coverage environments.
Apple and Microsoft look like they got their new operating systems out just in time for students to snap them up as Fall classes are starting. Both companies might get a nice little injection of revenue by timing their product introductions this way.
Both Apple and Microsoft released new versions of their operating systems.
Both are conservative touch ups to existing operating systems. Internal turning has sped both operating systems up. So clearly one generalization of these new versions is that they are optimizations.
Performance may not be the most existing thing but then on the other hand it does help everybody out to various degrees.
Windows Vista users get the tossed the bone that performance of their system will be restored almost to Windows XP levels and they still get to keep their Vista features.
Mac OS X 10.5 developers get a new feature in Vista called OpenCL that lets them harness the graphics processor for a little extra number crunching power when they (and their users) upgrade to 10.6, Snow Leopard.
Another feature that is not exactly going to rock the boat but be an welcome improvement is that both companies introduced minor new mechanisms to thelp thwart hostile software attacks. While it is unlikely they will fend off scads of attacks themselves, certain ones will not work anymore.
Some of the best things web users can do is avoid sketchy web sites, download software only from the primary source (author or vendor/manufacturer) web site, update their browser regularly, disable or limit Flash & Silverline, download and double-check files before opening them rather than letting the browser open them on the fly.
All users are best off keeping behind a hardware and OS-software firewall. Of course, just as important is to turn off any network services they are not using. Why have a web server running on your computer if you do not know of anyone who should and actually would use it, for example.
A unique event in the non-Apple computing world is that veteran software company Microsoft is opening their own stores. They will be retailing some brands of computers and devices that are compatible with their operating system: Vista - and its new version, Windows 7.
Apple already has a nationwide chain of Apple stores so nothing new in Apple-land. Although, they will be a little less lonely. Apparently, with a whole country to chose locations from - Microsoft whose to put a number of its Microsoft retail stores very close to existing Apple stores.
The caliber of brainpower behind the counter at the Microsoft stores might be surprising. Some to-do was made on the web this month that a primary requirement for non-managerial positions was an ability to lift over 75 pounds and knowledge of Microsoft products was merely desired.
One conclusion one could jump to is that to actually answer questions, Microsoft might draw on their customer service or even software development staff. That could work out very nicely for a lot of shoppers. Of, they might not hire anyone special and the bulk of the staff might be mainly qualified to lift a heavy Dell computer box and carry it out to the customers' cars.
Dell will be happy to have anyone picking them up this month because they recorded a huge drop in profits. Down 23% on dwiningling revenue. The good nws is, Wall Street was not expecting bad news from Dell. They were expecting really bad news from Dell. So, relatively speaking - this was good news.
Consequently, Dells stock as gone up a bit. Never surrender. Even bad news can work out.
Apple simmply continues to grow and the good financial news from the company is almost boring. The thing that lightens the mood of Apple customers is new products like Snow Leopard (Mac OS 10.6) and the perenial rumor of on upcoming Apple tablet computer. Only this year, the rumor is so intense one might even come out in 2009 - or 2010, or whatever.
I saw a Microsoft Windows tablet computer not so lnog ago and it looked like it worked. It also looked heavy and thicker than a notebook computer. About as thick as a 1-1/2 inch notebook, actually.
I think Apple would have to make a talet computer thinner than that if they wanted broad appeal among consumers.
All my relatives are using Macs as their computers now. So are a few friends and acquaintances - about half and half at this point, I guess.
The iPhone is selling well and a couple people have them. I am not hearing any complaints from the iPhone users I know personally but I have read blogs of people complaining that the network they are on cuts them off a lot. Not sure if it is happening to them on the elevator or just while they walk around outside. Not really sure if this is a real issue or simply people expecting coverage in non-coverage environments.
Apple and Microsoft look like they got their new operating systems out just in time for students to snap them up as Fall classes are starting. Both companies might get a nice little injection of revenue by timing their product introductions this way.
posted by John Collins | 9:52 PM
