Windows for Macintosh

How Apple has changed the game, and what it means for the future of personal computing

Dwight Silverman | Houston Chronicle

Your humble narrator

Computer user since 1984 First computer – Commodore 64

First PC – Tandy 1000TX

First Mac – First-gen iMac

Writing about computers since 1985

Computer columnist since 1993

Chron.com Web editor since 2000

Co-host, Technology Bytes, KPFT 90.1 FM

Evolution of computing

Big ironUnivac, IBM, etc

Smaller computersDigital Equipment Corp.

Micro computers

Personal computersOsbourne, Kaypro, Commodore, Atari, Apple, IBM

Apple & MicrosoftTwo different approaches to to computing

Apple – Develops both the hardware and the software

Microsoft – Software only, partners with hardware makers

Both began with text-based systems, Apple’s a little more graphical

Key development – the MacintoshBoth companies were involved – Microsoft doing apps

The First MacPopularized the window/folder metaphor

Emphasis on the mouse for navigation

Needed applications – Microsoft was there

Breakthrough versions of Word, Excel

One of the reasons writers in particular took to the Mac

“Serious” computer users thought it was a toy

Enter WindowsBusiness trusted Microsoft

Why the IBM PC became the standard

Clones: Compaq, PCs Unlimited (later Dell)

Mac clearly indicated future of computing was graphical

OS/2 – joint project with IBM

Windows 1.0 – Microsoft’s secret weapon

Windows dominates

Clones proliferate

By Windows 3.1, Microsoft had nailed the business market

Windows 95 – 32-bit computing

Windows NT – Bulletproof for business

OS/2 withers

Windows 98 – Nails down the consumer market; browser integrated into the operating system

Windows XP – Unifies the Windows code base on 32-bit

Apple in declineClosed system

Expensive hardware, limited software

Resigned to niche status

Steve Jobs forced out

Succession of missteps – Newton, clones

Given new life by PowerPC chip

Jobs returns

Microsoft’s 3 Problems

Its strength are its weaknessesBackward compatibility = complexity, insecurity

Runs on any hardware = complex hardware ecosystem

Inexpensive systems = vendors cut corners, cut deals

Security issuesBrowser with OS hooks leaves OS vulnerable

Big target for those seeking to profit off malware

Victim of its own success with Windows XP

The Vista Dilemma

Took almost 5 years to develop

Ambitious plans that fell apart

Few, if any, compelling features

XP’s longevity creates issues for hardware developers

Users expect drivers for very old peripherals

Expect support for very old programs.

Added security features cause irritation.

Apple RisingiPod’s “halo effect”

Reputation for attractive design

Secure operating system – no malware

Internet makes OS differences secondary

Capturing the imagination of the tech press, thought leaders

Brilliant hype management: The iPhone!

Brilliant retailing

Brilliant advertising

The masterstrokeo Switching in 2005 to Intel processors

o Macs could run faster, cooler, use less power

o And, most importantly, they can now run Windows!

o Safety net for switchers

o Even if you wouldn’t run Windows on a Mac, knowing you can makes Windows users more willing to consider switching.

The coming Macintosh tide

Visit an Apple store, do some “earjacking”

More often than not, the Mac buyers are current Windows users

Mac market share has jumped from 2-3 percent to 5-7 percent or more – as much as 8 percent in some surveys

Windows market share beginning to decline – but still very dominant

Adding Macs, not necessarily switching to them

Slow TideMy prediction:

Apple market share at 10

percent by the end of the year.

What could possibly go

wrong?Apple can’t close the sale.

Buyers balking at higher prices.

Malware writers target the Mac

Switching windows users bring their bad habits with them

Apple’s customer service can’t scale to mass-market levels

Distracted by side projects – iPhone, Apple TV, handhelds, tablets, etc.

Running Windows on a Mac

Two ways to do it

Natively with Boot Camp

Virtually with Parallels Desktop for Mac or VMware Fusion

Boot CampVery simply, it’s a dual-boot manager

Simplifies installation and management of Windows

Apple attempts to do Windows the same way it does the Mac – controlling hardware and software, and it succeeds.

Provides drivers automatically, and they’re quality drivers because its hardware universe is limited

VirtualizationEssentially, it’s a computer running inside a computer.

With enough memory, you can run multiple operating systems simultaneously.

At least 2 GB to run Windows, 4 GB to run multiple virtual OSes.

There are limitsNo Aero on Vista, weak 3D gaming support

Hardware, networking interactions can be flakey

Big benefits in convenience, speed, flexibility.

Demo time!

Coming in Feb. 2008

Running Windows on

Your MacFrom Peachpit

Press

Dwight SilvermanDwight.silverman@chron.com

http://blogs.chron.com/techblog

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