“Microsoft Corp. is grappling with ‘a lot of smart competitors,’ including Google and Apple, who are ahead of the Redmond company in some key markets, Bill Gates acknowledges,” Todd Bishop reports for The Seattle Post-Intelligencer. “But the Microsoft chairman on Tuesday said his company remains the overall industry leader, and he compared the current rivalries to legendary ones with Lotus, Novell and WordPerfect — situations in which the Redmond company ultimately overcame steep odds to prevail. ‘At any point in our history, we’ve had competitors who were better at doing something,’ Gates said in an interview with the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, underscoring the fact that it wouldn’t be unprecedented to come from behind now.”
Gates also said, “Right now, because of the breadth of what we do, we have that in many areas. Nokia is way ahead of us in phones; we’re closing the gap. Sony is ahead of us in video games. We’re just on the verge of something (the Xbox 360) that will help us close the gap there. In Web search, Google is the far-away leader. Big honeymoon for them. Even if they do ‘me, too’ type stuff, people think, ‘wow.’ And Apple in music has done a fantastic job.”
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Note Gates’ attempt to pretend that Apple is only ahead of Microsoft in “music.” Or he’s being his usual condescending self towards Apple and Steve Jobs. Apple isn’t only ahead of Microsoft in music, which we Mac OS X and iLife users all know, as does he.
Why does Gates ignore Apple’s Mac OS X? Simply because he knows that he and his company are the kings of “me, too type stuff” and he doesn’t want anyone to get any ideas about Apple Macs being so far ahead because consumers can buy one now with Mac OS X Tiger, but they can’t yet get a PC with Microsoft’s paper Tiger, Windows Vista. Gates is delusional if he thinks he can turn his Titanic as quickly and nimbly as Steve Jobs’ Apple. Of course, we’re sure that Microsoft will again succeed in marketing the so-called “come from behind” idea with enough money to convince a lot of people.
In no time at all, Mac users will have Windows people asking them:
Why does Apple call gadgets, “Widgets?” Why does Apple always have to be different and use a different name? “Trash” instead of recycle bin, “Dock” instead of sidebar; it never ends, what’s wrong with Apple?
The only thing wrong with Apple is the fact that they have Mac OS X and iLife and they haven’t told the average person about them and all that they can do. At least show people what your superior products look like, Mr. Jobs, so people will be able to see how Microsoft tries to follow wherever Apple leads. Apple have left the door open for Microsoft to launch Vista, proclaim it “innovative and new,” and have nobody outside of a few tech media folks and Mac OS X users question their claims for a second. Are you going to let them get away with it yet again, Mr. Jobs?
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Microsoft debuts Dashboard Widgets, er, ‘Microsoft Gadgets’ – September 13, 2005
Microsoft appropriates Apple’s ‘brushed metal’ look for Office 12 for Windows – September 13, 2005
Windows czar Allchin says Apple copying Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn – April 27, 2005
Microsoft employees leaving due to (and blogging about) malaise smothering company – April 25, 2005
eWEEK Editor Coursey: Longhorn so far ‘looks shockingly like a Macintosh’ – April 25, 2005
Due in late 2006, many of Windows Longhorn’s features have been in Mac OS X since 2001 – April 25, 2005
Microsoft’s new mantra: ‘It Just Works’ ripped straight from Apple’s ‘Switch’ campaign – April 22, 2005
Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Microsoft’s Longhorn: ‘They are shamelessly copying us’ – April 21, 2005
Microsoft’s Windows Longhorn will bear more than just a passing resemblance to Apple’s Mac OS X – April 15, 2005
Silicon Valley: Apple CEO Steve Jobs previews ‘Longhorn’ – June 29, 2004
Apple CEO Steve Jobs: Mac OS X Tiger ‘is going to drive the copycats crazy – June 28, 2004
Apple’s CEO Steve Jobs previews Mac OS X 10.4 ‘Tiger’ to ship in the first half of 2005 – June 28, 2004
Apple takes dead aim at Microsoft, ‘Longhorn’ with WWDC Mac OS X 10.4 ‘Tiger’ ads – June 28, 2004
PC Magazine: Microsoft ‘Longhorn’ preview shows ‘an Apple look’ – May 06, 2004
Microsoft concerned that Longhorn’s look and feel will be copied if revealed too soon – August 25, 2003
Windows ‘Longhorn’ to add translucent windows that ripple and shrink by 2005 – May 19, 2003
Apple leads; Wintel follows as usual – November 11, 2002
Now if there was any respect for the truth the headine would have read: Microsoft ‘remains the overall industry usurper
I think Apple might not want to advertise because they don’t want to push anyone into anything like companies such as M$, HP and Dell do. Apple, dosn’t play that game. And why should they? then they’d need to constantly watch their back and junk.
I agree, they should advertise a little more, but to go all out would be too much too early. People are starting to become aware that Apple sells more than the iPod- and the retail stores are helping quite a bit. It really grinds my gears when people don’t know anything about Apple and the Mac. How they did it all before M$, how OS X is far superior to Windows, or how us Mac users have a Mac equivilent for their PC apps (and then some).
So for now, let them have their cake. In all honesty, I feel Vista will be Microsoft’s last OS before people realize they’ve been making a Poor Choice for a very long time.
(who knows? Maybe Apple is waiting for just thr giht time **cough**Intel macs**cough** for doing some advertising)
Just a thought