And you call MICROSOFT a Monopoly?

Published on March 23, 2007 By Gideon MacLeish In Personal Computing

I am sick to death of Mac snobs. In variably in any discussion with Mac fanbois, they will cry about Microsoft being a monopoly.

Yeah, uh huh. Keep crying because your computer manufacturer was insanely stupid. The computer company that really brought the idea of upgradeability to personal computing, now puts out boxes that can't be upgraded. The computer company that started serious work on GUI, yet didn't have the foresight to protect it so that Microsoft could use it to create competing operating systems.

But, see, that's only the tip of the iceberg. If you look back at the monopolies that started antitrust legislation, they controlled the suppliers of raw goods, the manufaturing plants, the distribution plants. Basically they controlled costs because all of their suppliers belonged to them.

That doesn't sound like Microsoft, it sounds like Apple.

Quick. Name me three major PC manufacturers. Even the brain dead could come up with HP, Gateway, and Dell. Now, name me three major Mac manufacturers. Apple. (crickets chirp).

Ok, ok, so maybe that wasn't completely fair. Walk into the computer store and ask for a new video card for your iMac (will you crickets STOP that d*** chirping?!?)

Maybe I've given you guys a bum rap. Why don't you just give me the URL of a supplier where I can buy Mac OS/10 to install on my PC (ok, that cricket chirping is getting SERIOUSLY annoying!!!!)

Microsoft may be annoying. Microsoft may engage in less than perfect business practices. But Microsoft is an O/S, they have nothing to do with the BUILDING of my computer, and they don't lock the system from upgrades. I can buy components off the shelf to build a PC, and honestly, the choice of whether to install Windows on that computer is entirely mine. Nobody forced me to do it. I CAN pick from several Linux distros. Yes, I might have to work harder to install them and make them functional, but that's part of exercising choice.

Those choices aren't widely available on a Mac. If Microsoft is the Devil, then Apple is certainly the devil's wetnurse, the evil she demon of an O/S and OEM monopoly combined. But since Mac has a piddly share of the market, nobody seems to give a rat's heinie.

Comments (Page 5)

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 24, 2007

Yeah, you're right. It's not like you have to install any drivers for new hardware or anything in Windows.

yeah, but often the drivers are easier to find for Windows.

I'm just saying there are drawbacks to every O/S.

Jafo

on Mar 24, 2007

Let's just try and accept that every company in the history of the world likes monopolies.

Sweeping generalization, and fundamentally wrong....

not 'likes monopolies'...but perhaps 'would like to BE one'.... Spell checker

Some companies thrive on/through competition.

OK, so Apple [in their Ads] demonstrates their intent to be the eternal underdog...unable to promote their own product but relying on denigrating the 'product leader' instead.

Shows a pretty pathetic perception of both their own ability, AND their user-base.

MasonM

on Mar 24, 2007

yeah, but often the drivers are easier to find for Windows.

I'm just saying there are drawbacks to every O/S.

I agree that every OS has it's pros and cons, but let's get real here. I've helped out people running Windoze who's hardware simply wouldn't work and had to spend time searching the web for driver downloads.

Nothing is perfect, but in the end you go with what you're most comfortable with and what works for you. For me that's Slackware Linux, for someone else it's Xp. Personally I find it far easier to configure and run hardware on a Slackware system than a Windows system.

But that's just me.

SanChonino

on Mar 24, 2007

OK, so Apple [in their Ads] demonstrates their intent to be the eternal underdog...unable to promote their own product but relying on denigrating the 'product leader' instead.

Finally! Jafo, you've just explained how I've felt about the Mac ads since the first one I saw but couldn't find the words for. Thanks for giving me a succinct, concise way to explain exactly what I don't like about the new Mac ads.

Such a superiority complex. (And FYI, I currently own a 3 laptops - a Windows box (the one I use the most), an Ubuntu funbox (second most-often used) and a Mac (which all I use for is recording music - Garageband is, after all, a rocking product). But when all's said and done, eighty percent of my computer time is in front of my Windows box.)

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 24, 2007

Nothing is perfect, but in the end you go with what you're most comfortable with and what works for you. For me that's Slackware Linux, for someone else it's Xp. Personally I find it far easier to configure and run hardware on a Slackware system than a Windows system.

I have to admit, I'm in a VERY ticked off mood with Windows Vista. Upgrade the O/S, sure, but why change the paths to various system tools just because you can? But what inspired this is, while I'm not crazy about MS, I HAVE choices; not so on Mac!

Leauki

on Mar 25, 2007

That doesn't belie Larry's statement...as there's no indication that OS8 was natively installed by the vendor [and thus OEM licenced]...

In that case any statement could be true, as any evidence to the contrary could have been tampered with by whoever is trying to hide something.

The indication was, of course, that the Mac OS 8 CD that came with it was an OEM CD (it said so) and that the machine was sold with Mac OS 8 (and advertised as such).

But you can choose to believe what you like. An article that makes a claim or what I claim I saw that contradicted it. What is the article's author's proof?

Leauki

on Mar 25, 2007

http://www.everymac.com/systems/umax/s900/supermac_s900_233.html

Supported MacOS: 7.5.3-7.6.1, 8.0-9.0
MacOS versions beyond 8.1 are not officially supported by Apple.

The machine came with Mac OS 8.0 and ran anything up to Mac OS 9.0. (I stopped using it at that time.)

Dr Guy

on Mar 25, 2007

Yeah, you're right. It's not like you have to install any drivers for new hardware or anything in Windows.

Are you really trying to put me out of business?

Dr Guy

on Mar 25, 2007

(Citizen)NadeonMarch 24, 2007 21:05:49

WOW! Nailed it! Very good micro history of APple and bone head moves.

tjesterb

on Mar 25, 2007

One thing Apple sells is confidence (on a larger scale they market is as a lifestyle.)
Quality control of the components that go into Macs is generally much higher than what goes for the average PC. I see Macs that are still running while being in use 24/7 for years. The average PC will usually have multiple hard-drive or power supply related failures in that time.
Yes Apple comes across as snobby and condescending, yes, they over price their components, but whenever someone I know buys a Mac, I always hear them say "It just does everything I want it to." In this area Apple has a real feel for what people want out of their computer.
The average Dell, HP, Gateway you buy comes with the smallest possible power supply they can get away with, a minimum of RAM, on-board graphics, and then the vendor loads it up with about a thousand crappy things running at start up that you don't even want!
This includes some trial version of Norton that takes over you system eating up what few resources weren't already being used by the other crap. (The first thing I do with a new Dell is uninstall all that crap, or even wipe it and do a clean install.)

And OSX is real purty too

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 25, 2007

The average Dell, HP, Gateway you buy comes with the smallest possible power supply they can get away with, a minimum of RAM, on-board graphics, and then the vendor loads it up with about a thousand crappy things running at start up that you don't even want!
This includes some trial version of Norton that takes over you system eating up what few resources weren't already being used by the other crap. (The first thing I do with a new Dell is uninstall all that crap, or even wipe it and do a clean install.)

Yeah, which is why custom builds are best.

I found out just how pitifully small Dell power supplies can be when researching for power supplies for my case mod. I can get a substantial discount on Dell components, so I checked out their desktop form factor PS, and found it is only 160 watt. There's NO WAY I'm putting THAT PS on my motherboard. I would power it externally first (something I haven't entirely ruled out).

But, see, I want to make the decision on the components in my computer, not some manufacturer somewhere else. And it is on that point that Mac loses me (that and affordability...I believe everyone should be able to access the Internet, and Mac is NOT working to make that happen!). I like "resurrecting" old machines with parts from other machines, and Mac again doesn't give me that opportunity.

Which actually kind of pisses me off, as I WOULD like to be more familiar with Mac, frankly.

tjesterb

on Mar 25, 2007

Which actually kind of pisses me off, as I WOULD like to be more familiar with Mac, frankly.

That's what I've been doing lately. I have about 17 Macs to support, and about 200 PCs. Thankfully the Macs have been mostly trouble free, but when they do need something I've been very frustrated that to my PC way of thinking, nothing is where it should be or works the way I expect it to! (When I right-click there should be a context menu, dammit!)
Usually I end up getting help from the guy who is more-or-less the Mac expert, but he doesn't always have the time to stop his other projects. I finally loaded OSX on an old G4, got a copy of OSX Hacks (OReilly press) and started poking around.
Once you start to get a feel for it, the OS does have a logic to it. I've already been able to fix a couple minor Mac issues this week that I previously would have had to get help on.

tjesterb

on Mar 25, 2007

Note: apparently there is no Mac-friendly FTP client out there.
At least once every week or two I get a call saying that one of our customers can't connect to our FTP server.
I call them and ask: "So, are you using a Mac to try and connect?"
Them: "Yes, how did you know?"
Me: "Just a lucky guess. Does anyone in your office have a PC they can send this from?"
If the answer is yes, they files usually appear in no time.

Adamness

on Mar 25, 2007

I've seen a few comments that Macs are 'overpriced.' Maybe for your purposes they are, but you're forgetting that a significant appeal of Apple products is their aesthetic, and ease of use.

Before the iPod, Apple was just a small and far from mainstream company. When mp3 players started to come out, there was essentially a level playing field. Archos, iRiver, Creative had mp3 players out a few years before the iPod, yet as we can see, they never were able to hold the market. Why? I had an early 20GB Archos mp3 player that even played video. I can say the thing was a pain in the ass. The screen was small, there were a bunch of unmarked buttons. It was thick and heavy. But that's what they were back then. Apple came along and took existing technology and ideas, simplified the interface, thoughtfully laid out the buttons, and made it sleek and 'pretty.' That kind of innovation doesn't come along with out a huge backend, and thus, a steeper price.

What I respect about Apple is their commitment to 'form follows function,' but also not forgetting the form itself. PC manufacturers followed that mantra as well, but dropped the form off completely. From the product itself, to the packaging, to the advertising campaigns, Apple thinks about each step and provides a whole experience, which doesn't come without a price.

Of course, there are those of us who don't care about having 'pretty' things and we want to load our computers with all sorts of neat programs, and put LEDs in our PC cases with 500 video cards. That's fine, but there are also people who just want a simple, easy to use and good looking product, despite that it comes at a premium cost.

Why people get so worked up about software and hardware I don't know, but just remember that people have different priorities and different needs for certain products. It's awfully arrogant to say PC is better than Mac, or vice versa. And while Apple and Microsoft might not be the most ethical companies, shopping based on ethics will force you to go naked and homeless.

Gideon MacLeish

on Mar 25, 2007

but you're forgetting that a significant appeal of Apple products is their aesthetic, and ease of use

ease of use of Macs is a myth. How many programs WON'T run on a Mac? I don't call it "ease of use" when you have to throw half your software away.

Before the iPod, Apple was just a small and far from mainstream company.

Apparently you weren't around in the 80's. Apple was king back then.

My beef is actually that I would LIKE to try out Mac's operating system. But since I can't do it without buying their hardware, it ain't going to happen. Mac controls everything from that first chip to the finished product, and that disturbs me. Very few other companies do this. Your TV usually has components from various manufacturers, as does your car and virtually every product you own...except Macintosh computers. Now their recent change to Intel based processors may change that, but even so, they'll be late to the game.

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