“The trend line is definitely up for Apple and mildly down for Microsoft. It took 13 years to do it, but Apple is well positioned now to take Microsoft’s crown. I mean it… But that doesn’t mean that Apple’s success is guaranteed any more than is Microsoft’s failure,” Cringely writes. “If Apple is going to maintain its momentum it will have to take on bigger and bigger competitors, which Steve Jobs seems eager to do. Not just Microsoft, in this case we’re talking about the publishing, broadcasting, and movie industries, as Apple moves to dominate those media the way it already does music. Microsoft is nowhere to be seen in any of these venues.”
Cringely writes, “Microsoft, on the other hand, is still a mighty company earning $1 billion per month and determined to remain a factor in American life. But is it the social and cultural force Apple has become? No, nor was it ever. Will both companies still be huge in five years? Sure. In 10 years? That’s an interesting question.”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Bob C.” for the heads up.]
Is that the same Bob X Cringely who can be seen in the nerd movies? The guy who faked his PhD, Apple Employee 16 or so? I heard he lost the rights for the Cringely name, so is it him or another guy? Just interested…
Regarding gaming: developers are moving away from PC because of piracy. The exception are the massive multiplayer online games, where they still can make money.
Well, M$ is far too entrenched in business to go away anytime soon. Millions of accountants use Excel; Offices seem to love Exchange – while some IT heads are fully aware that a Linux distro in their offices is a smarter way to go, they have to deal with Management who is brainwashed as they glare into their BlackBerry and s l o w l y walk down the hall.
Apple is still viewed as ‘exotic’ and that will hurt for sometime at the Enterprise level. Give the employees a choice, however, and a good chunk will choose a Mac.
“it will have to take on bigger and bigger competitors”
Does that mean Apple will get into energy and go after Exxon?
@silverhawk, I thought that line was funny too. Sure the competitors will be bigger and bigger. But none will be even 1/10 the size of Apple.
If you added up all the TV networks and all the publishers you wouldn’t have a company with Apple’s valuation.
Maybe they mean the telecoms and cable networks. We’ll see how that plays out — but I think Apple will get it’s way in the end.
The carcass of M$ is starting to develop an oder amd the rats have jumped ship — is it no time to cash out!
Where are you, ZUNETANG??? We need your infinite wisdom to shed light on our ignorance!
Microsoft is stuck in the tar pit that is Windows. Ironic that their ultimate demise is of their own creation. Microsoft will eventually follow Wang (remember them?) into obscurity.
I remember Wang. It was on office computer. Something for secretaries to use. Like MS Office.
Today we have hundreds of manufacturers making MS Wang computers.