Just got back from Microsoft’s WPC in Houston, and I have one word to share with you (and one you might not normally associate with Microsoft): Inspiring.
Go ahead and buy into the whole Mac vs. PC propaganda if you must, but when you get to rub elbows with thousands of the world’s smartest, most engaged, most sophisticated IT professionals – some of whom are quite literally working to change the world using Microsoft based tools – and see how incredible the Microsoft partner community actually is, it completely changes the level of the Mac vs. PC conversation.
And I mean completely.
Not to mention the depth and breadth of products being developed, released, upgraded and optimized at lightning speed. Baffling.
No, I am not drinking any funny koolaid. If you are a long time reader of this blog, you know I’m not the type.
And just in case you were wondering, when I looked across the ocean of PC folks from around the world who were in Houston for the event this week, I didn’t see anyone who looked one bit like the PC guy in the Apple commercials. Not even close. As a matter of fact, most looked a hell of a lot trendier than the ads’ little coffee-shop dwelling Apple dude.
Nothing against Mac people (I dig Mac’s approach to design and completely understand the appeal) but in the real world, being a PC means you can actually change the world, not just entertain it – which is why I made the switch almost a decade ago.
And hate mail from Mac users can start flowing… now. ;D
More posts about my experiences in Houston coming soon.
Wow. If anything, that pic sums up the difference between Mac and PC perfectly. The only problem is that the simplicity the Mac offers is, IMHO, cleaner and more effective than the piles of stuff from Windows. Don’t forget it’s *NIX underneath that shiny exterior – talk about a Swiss Army Knife! What’s under Windows? Gobs and gobs of API calls to who-knows-what. I don’t want to go back there!
I see your point, and completely understand.
That being said, Microsoft doesn’t usually have anything to do with all the junk programs that come pre-packaged on PCs. These are 3rd party apps that system builders / PC vendors decided to add to their machines before shipping them out.
If Microsoft had their way, PCs would ship out with the OS only, and a few OEM images of programs you might want to try for 30 days and then opt into if you like them.
This is where Apple has a user interface advantage over Microsoft: Apple controls the software AND the hardware. Microsoft only controls how the software works… on someone else’s hardware… which may be stacked with memory-sapping junk.
Thanks for the comment.
And yeah, I’m digging the swiss army knife.
I’m primarily a Mac user. The machine I use most of the time is a MacBook Pro but I’m not going to post a hate comment or bash Microsoft. I was a “Wintel” computer user for quite a bit for we transitioned from “PC” to “Mac” in our home and business.
I didn’t even seriously consider getting a Mac until OSX was the default OS (Some people who know me may be shocked to find out I was never a fan of the Pre OSX OS’s ) and we never went “whole hog” until Apple Transitioned to Intel. Why? So we could use both Windows and Microsoft Office at native speeds.
Am a Mac User? Yes. Do I love and prefer to use Mac’s and OSX? Heck Yes! but I am not a “fan boy”. I am a “real world” Mac User. and I have never liked the Mac vs. PC commercials. Always thought they were childish bashing Windows (even though he is called “PC”) it’s just a lot harder to point fingers and the countless PC vendors (some are very good and some are very bad…) In reality these days Microsoft and Apple are partners in a lot of respects than they are bitter enemies.
I will disagree about Macs “just entertaining” the world. I have been a lot more productive in my business using Macs (that also run Windows) that I was when I owned Wintel machines. I admit I really didn’t have a lot of issues with things breaking but the techie side of me always wanted to “tinker, upgrade, etc.” and some thing became more of a distraction. I actually wish Windows offered more programs for the Mac than what they do. Why can’t we have a real Outlook for Mac instead of that Entourage thing? Why not a MS Publisher for Mac? etc.
Thankfully I think the tide is turning. Apple seems to realize that while they can still be perfectionists, etc. they need to run their machine on systems that can also run Windows, work with Microsoft Enterprise Services, etc.
Well, its good to hear that some innovative products are expected to be coming from Microsoft in the near future.
I actually don’t like that image of the Swiss army knife to highlight the differences between Mac and PC. In fact, I think one of Microsoft’s biggest problems is that its been too much like a Swiss army knife. How many people have ever used all the functions on a Swiss army knife? I would venture to say not many. In-fact, I think most people use it for 1 or 2 things only. And eventually, Swiss army knives end up lying neglected in a drawer somewhere.
PC is an extremely powerful machine with so many functions and features available; however, the average user does not need all those features. Wouldn’t Microsoft be better off “going back to the basics.”?! Becoming AMAZING at doing 1 thing rather than just good at doing many things?
From a branding perspective, people seem to be passionate about Mac’s but lukewarm (at best) about Microsoft (even Microsoft users don’t have any where near the same level of passion for Microsoft as Mac users do for for the Mac). It seems people use Microsoft because of functionality and compatibility, while people use Mac because it fulfills some other emotional need. Hopefully, some of the new products Microsoft is creating will bring back some of the passion that people had for the Microsoft brand.
Great comments, guys. Thanks for taking the time to post. Apple definitely does an incredible job with its product design. The emphasis on the user interface is as good as it gets. No question.
While at WPC, I saw companies using Microsoft apps to run pretty smart concept products aimed at helping businesses and communities in 3rd world and developing countries. That’s the “change the world” element of the post. Apple apps don’t allow clever entrepreneurs to take software to that level. (Yet?)
That being said, yes, if Microsoft apps could be as pretty and fun to use as some of Apple’s, I wouldn’t mind one bit. Different focus in the product development process though. Different culture. Different priorities.
Turns out that the PC folks are a whole lot cooler than the Mac ads would have the world believe, though, which is kind of the point of the post. The whole Mac vs. PC thing was cute for a while, but it just doesn’t hold water anymore.
If “creativity isn’t device dependent” (Bruce Mau), I guess you can also argue that “coolness isn’t OS dependent.” That’s all I’m saying.
PS: And I can do more things with my PC than with a Mac.
Some might say that the debate has moved on to Google vs Microsoft and your post and this http://aktoman.blogspot.com/2008/07/yegpip.html
show Microsoft overtaking them too. Such competition is good for business.
Olivier–
The blog world was so much more sterile while you were partying away in Houston….
To add to the discussion–
To be honest, I’m not converted to either platform. While Apple is consistently true to its vision, and puts out above average to excellent products, I have to admit, I really really dislike Apple “fanpeople.” Back in my college days I hated working with them doing tech repairs, because they basically believed that since their computer had an Apple logo on it, that it was made by God himself (and I don’t think Jobs has quite reached THAT status yet…..maybe). Apple elitists are much like bandwagon LA Laker fans–poseurs who think Apple is cool simply for being cool, than for any factual reality (or maybe I’m just jealous because they have awesome marketing. . .which they do).
PC, is of course the working “standard”…..but Microsoft obviously has its own PR/image problems with consumers and the industry at large, as well as other challenges to face (open source, Software-as-service, etc.).
Having recently switched to Open Office as my primary office app (and loving it, by the way), I could very easily see that I would never use an MS application other than a personal computer OS ever again—and as soon as Linux will run all of my A-list game titles out of the box (no patches necessary) I’d probably switch.
But–as always, it all comes down to what works. What works for us, and the world at large? As long as both vendors are developing solutions that work, they’ll both stick around for more than the 25 years they’ve already been here.
Truly excellent post, Steve.