“Snow Leopard’s release on Aug. 28 ensures that Apple will have all the time it needs to differentiate itself against the Windows juggernaut, especially as Microsoft gears up to offer Windows 7 in October. Apple, once again, made a bold, yet smart move,” Don Reisinger reports for eWeek.
“Offering Mac OS X Snow Leopard now capitalizes on a key sales period: back to school. The back-to-school shopping craze starts correcting some of the losses company’s face over the long summer when families and companies are more concerned about vacation than buying a computer,” Reisinger reports.
“By releasing Snow Leopard in September, Apple would have missed that period. Consumers, knowing that Apple will be releasing Snow Leopard next month, might have decided to wait for the new operating system to buy a Mac,” Reisinger reports.
Full article, in which Reisinger tries to claim that Microsoft’s Windows Vista service pack, er, “Windows 7” is “revolutionary” in what sounds like a plant from Microsoft’s PR department, here.
MacDailyNews Take: The Microsoft FUD machine is revving up yet again, folks.
and Oblique
Apple releases software when it is ready. Not when some marketing guy says to do so. (Aperture doesn’t count)
Given that those buying a Mac today were already assured that they’d get Snow Leopard for only $9.95, I wonder how many were really holding off. Still, a little end-of-summer excitement can’t hurt.
and they would wait the next month because rumor has it mac will be updated, and the next month because of new design, and the next month for the new product, and the next month, and the next month…..
the great thing with apple is you know your system is compatible with next operating system, because they control both environments, unlike windows when everyone is going to just be nervous as hell to upgrade cuz they just spent all those hours of their lives trying to get vista working as smooth as possible, and XP people same thing, and then they are probably going to have to scrub clean the drives so everything is working ok and reload some junk and then recustomize their settings and spend hours trying to get window SEVENISTA working propely.
By releasing Snow Leopard in September, Apple ensures that it does not get swamped with support calls from IT staff at schools and colleges about everything that broke. If it was released in August (when it was ready), IT folks would have tried to deploy it, with potentially disastrous results. It happened with 10.5. Apple is actually saving us IT guys a ton of headaches.
Nothing like a Mac
“The back-to-school shopping craze starts correcting some of the losses company’s face over the long summer”
That’s _not_ a good English.
Magic word: “needs”, as in “your English needs improvement”
> Snow Leopard’s release on Aug. 28 ensures that Apple will have all the time it needs to differentiate itself against the Windows juggernaut
Not really. I think Apple released earlier because (1) it was ready to go and, more importantly, (2) they are releasing the new iPod lineup in early September and did not want the media and consumers distracted by the release of Snow Leopard.
Apple has no real need to differentiate Snow Leopard from Windows 7. Most PC shoppers who want the cheapest price don’t care about Windows 7. The PC just comes with whatever version of Windows is installed. Most current Windows XP users are not going to go through the expense and trouble of upgrading to Windows 7; they are going to keep using their old hardware until they need to buy new hardware. And if they don’t switch to Mac at that time, their new hardware will come with whatever version of Windows is installed.
They are not making any real choice on the OS, unless they choose to get to Mac. So why does Apple need to differentiate Snow Leopard from Windows 7? The need to differentiate is between Mac and Windows PC, not Snow Leopard and Windows 7. And Apple has been beating that drum with the “Get a Mac” campaign for years.
The only possible way “Windows 7” could be considered “revolutionary”, is while it’s spiraling around in the toilet bowl. FLUSH!
Windows 7 is indeed revolutionary.
It’s an operating system from Microsoft that is less annoying and almost works.
This line sums up the credibility of the author..
“Microsoft’s upcoming operating system is arguably the best software the company has released in years. It’s certainly far better than Windows Vista. And based on my experience with both operating systems, I like it more than Apple’s current OS, Leopard. I doubt I’m alone.”
Nope, you`re alone.
@ken1w: Completely agree.
For the most part consumers won’t pick Windows 7, they’ll pick a Dell or HP or Asus. The day Best Buy has a Dell with Windows and a Dell with Linux sitting next to each other, is the day the consumer will have to actively think about choosing an operating system and possibly making the effort of keeping them updated and upgraded.
More people actively choose to buy OS X, just look at Amazon’s Top Selling List. Even though there are 10-15 times more Windows PCs sold, Windows doesn’t sell so well when it comes to consumers upgrading their computer’s operating system. Mac users are much more consciously aware of their systems and active at keeping them up-to-date. (This is also probably the single biggest reason why there hasn’t been any kind of malicious viral outbreak on Macs.)
Guesses as to when the dot one update will be out?
My family pack has been prepared for shipment. Friday can’t come soon enough.
Snow Leopard was not designed for current machines, but for a new revolution in mac hardware in the near future.
Four to Five months I would guess.
Windows juggernaut. Hah! What a ridiculous concept in 2009. More like windows model t.
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Apple admits that OS X’s UNIX innards are not inherently bullet-proof and now offers warnings about known threats that will corrupt your Mac’s pristine system with digital pollution.
Thanks, Apple!!!!
@Cubert
I would expect the first ‘.1’ service pack out by the end of October. About a month or two for the first service pack has become typical. Anymore, all software makers (even games these days) have become accustom to using the ‘.0’ version as a for sale Goldmaster.
But I’ll still be lined up at my local Apple Store on Friday. WHOO!
10.6 Snow Leopard is the coming upgrade.
Then comes…
10.7 — Cloud Leopard [more cloud computing features?]
10.8 — Lion [The king of PC]
10.9 Cougar [It’ll be getting old. But, it’ll still be hot, and eager to jump onto your hard disk]
Reisinger says:
“But whether or not they will choose the Mac over Windows 7 is up for debate. Microsoft’s upcoming operating system is arguably the best software the company has released in years. It’s certainly far better than Windows Vista. And based on my experience with both operating systems, I like it more than Apple’s current OS, Leopard. I doubt I’m alone.”
I have to say I almost agree here, I have used both OS’s for the last few months and I do like Win 7 slightly more…not saying that its better than the upcoming Snow Leopard but security matters aside they are both approx. in the same level.
“company’s” = junior high school grammar error..(fail)
@I am me:
Well done. I appreciate the laugh
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Amazing how the Microsloth slaves always pump out that 95% market share. Wake up. Thats 95% gifted market share from the stupidity of IBM at the get go. It’s not 95% by “choice” of the buying public. Corporate made up the majority of that market share locked into Windows. So touting that 95% market share is pure and plain ignorance.
@ I am me
LOL