Filed under: Business, OS Updates, Photo, Text, Utilities, Video, Hardware, News, Windows, Macintosh, Office, Apple, Microsoft
Battle of the keynotes: Jobs vs. Gates
by Ryan Carter Jan 11th 2007 at 2:30PM
We all saw Bill Gates sell something no one was buying, and Steve Jobs selling many things people really want in their respective keynotes this week. I am always the kind of person trying to find the meaning in it all. So, what do you think? I think Microsoft is putting out some decent software (Vista, Office, etc) but I think they have largely missed the boat on the digital lifestyle. Apple has that covered. I played with a Zune for the first time over the weekend, and I was actually quite impressed with the interface. Microsoft has done a great job of competing with the iPod, and by this I mean from a strictly device capabilities and functionality standpoint. Zune is just taking off, and the iPod has been around a while so you really can't compare sales numbers...yet. What about these "connected experiences" Microsoft is touting big time? I beg to differ, but I have been having connected experiences for ages now, and to me it seems that Microsoft is pushing old products in new wrappers. I remember the same speech about XP, it will do this better, it will do that better...yeah, but where is the new, cool, blow-me-away innovation? I didn't see it. Until I watched Jobs' keynote. Apple TV? Sign me up, good price, good features, works with PC or Mac, wirelessly anywhere in your house. Can you say "living room killer app." Also, despite Cingular's exclusive, required 2 year contract, and EDGE, the iPhone is also one of the best, most user-centered, all-in-one functional devices ever. It is dead sexy. Tell me, what has Microsoft come up with in this vein, something to create a huge demand or something to blow away the PC world? Sure, there is the XBOX 360 for gaming, but what in the computer space? I don't see the drive, the innovation, the passion for customers needs and fixing problems. I must say I was expecting a bit more from Microsoft. Is it enough that Microsoft only delivers a bit of eye-candy as the best innovation in a new product? I know they have the mindtrust to generate great new stuff, so why is it that Microsoft doesn't try to win anymore? Are they always behind the eight ball, or is this just my imagination? Also, what did you think of Apple's new stuff?
So, just how good at time waster games are you? Think you've got the stuff? Well, The World's Hardest Game 2.0 doesn't think you do.
Yes, amazingly, it's possible to have a sequel to a game called "The World's Hardest Game". It doesn't seem logically possible, since if the first one was actually the world's hardest, how could another one come along and share the moniker? It made me doubt the name in the first place. That is, until I tried the game.
The mechanics of the game are very simple. You are a small red square, ...
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Brody said 3:49PM on 1-11-2007
I wrote about what I think about the iPhone over on my blog.
Basically, I think it's a gorgeous piece of technology, but I think it would have been better had they created an extremely simple, yet functional phone and added all those other features into a separate device. I also do not think that it's going to be durable and we'll hear all sorts of complaints about them getting broken.
Reply
Book Lover said 4:41PM on 1-11-2007
Gotta say, I am less impressed with the new Apple stuff. that phone is totally awesome looking, but no way it survives a week with me. I need it in my pocket. I drop it.
Also, I've got to say, as the guy everyone around me asks for computer help, I can't take iTunes and the iPod. How many times do I have to reset these things? How buggy can iTunes be? And if Microsoft defaulted to installing DRM on tracks from CDs, people would explode in apoplexy.
I had 4 Macs at one point, and the thing I still can't get over is Quicktime. Terrible. Incompatible. And no full screen without a $30 upgrade? Insane.
That doesn't even bring up the one-button mouse. I use a Trackpoint keyboard on my last surviving Mac anyway.
A traditional hater of MS, I have to say I LOVE my 360. Love it love it love it. And a Zune could be in my future, I had an Aireo and I can hardly believe no one else had WiFi until now. It was great downloading Audible content with no computer.
Anyway, long story short-- iPhone looks cool. Looks.
Reply
Nobody said 4:15PM on 1-11-2007
XBOX 360 contains 2 features, one that is on par with Apple TV (Media Connect) and one that blows it out of the water when connected with Vista Home Premium or Vista Ultimate, MCE Extender. When they announce Clear QAM support along with the Fox sports deal (Clear QAM doesn't include ESPN, but includes just about every other major non-subscription show in HD this gives existing MCE machines HD ability along with the Cable OCUR and DirecTV support that have already been announced for new PC's). It'll be essentially the holy grail of living room connected to hundreds of millions of PC's out there. Plus you get Xbox 360 with it. In June, when the stand alone (non 360) extenders start hitting the shelves for $150 or so, $299 is going to seem even more ridiculous than it is today being that you can get the 360 for the same price with more functionality and a better UI.
Anyway, MS will never market this well, since they seem incapable of expressing any emotion in their marketing/keynotes, and so will never win the hearts of people like you who hate them just for the sake of it, but i've been using MCE for 5 years now, and the Xbox 360 is what will bring Microsoft's most (possibly only) innovative UI ever out of the PC and into the living room. The biggest pitfall is that it takes some tweaking to hook the 360 up with your iTunes library and ITMS is a non-starter, but the average ipod owner doesn't need their 6 songs in their living room and this will just end up being the nail in coffin for fairplay and DRM in general, do as Gates says, buy CD's.
I just bought my wife a shuffle 2 for running with so i'm putting together some software to give the 360 access to iTunes library easily (she can't handle multiple libraries like I can). We hardly ever play games and I still can't imagine why someone would buy the Apple TV over the 360 if given the correct data, unless they don't have windows, but that's not many people now is it?
The iPhone is quite another story, game changing as usual for Apple, and something to lust after. People point out it's pitfalls, but sexy devices with sexy software sells, feature complete or not. It's been sufficiently proven for me to believe it with the iPod.
Happily posted from my Macbook Pro running Vista Ultimate and loving it. Go Apple! Go Microsoft! Competition is just starting to pay off for the real world ordinary people. We're just about to catch a new wave and it's gonna be epic.
Reply
Khuffie said 4:17PM on 1-11-2007
The Xbox 360 does everything the Apple TV does, and more.
Reply
T Man said 9:27PM on 1-11-2007
The AppleTV has won nothing yet. 720p, anyone?
Reply
Rahabib said 5:23PM on 1-11-2007
I agree with what everyone said above. Apple is notorious for claiming they invented or revolutionized the world when in fact they are just introducing the same things that have been out forever.
In fact I cant think of a single phone that has a touch screen, a web browser, can play MP3s, and also an organizer. Oh wait! I can think of quite a few! My wife's MDA does all that just fine (and it has a keyboard - which trust me... you will wish you had if you ever used a touch screen for anything more than dialing). The only thing innovative about the phone is that it has multitouch. Oh and its the standard Apple pretty at a premium price.
AppleTV (iTV) is the same thing as a hundred other media or media like extenders (pinnacle has made one for over a year). The 360 is much better.
I like Microsoft's approach. They don't need to over hype things like Apple does to sell things. Not everything is nearly as "revolutionary" as Apple makes them appear.
Reply
Fullman said 4:42PM on 1-11-2007
I agree on the previous comments about XBOX 360 outperforming Apple TV.
And while XBOX 360 is really the only project MS has done a GREAT job of marketing well, that's about it. Zune isn't being marketed anywhere as strong as iPod is, and we all know MS actually has one hell of a budget set up for marketing.
As for the iPhone/trademark infringements not withstanding, I think we're about to hear a hell of a lot of consumer complaints coming out of the woodwork:
-Battery life for a phone is dismal, especially since it's MEANT to be a "life device" - music, video, data, contacts, calendar and phone. I can't even tell you how many people are going to have their phone go dead, and others not being able to reach them. You'll need a charger everywhere you go to keep that thing up... if you used it the way it's intended.
-The price. My God, that price. If that's how much it costs WITH a 2-year contract, what will the price be for those who are already in a contract and just want the damned phone... 899? For a phone? Really.
-The data plan. Unless Cingular works out a really good deal for unlimited data... their unlimited data plan is really pricy. Most teens and young adults will scream at their 100+ monthly phone bill with the current cheapest pricing plan + unlimited data. This device is supposed to be always updated, especially the widgets. Say hello to large bills and disguntled customers.
Once again, Apple created a product that looks orgasmic, but is *just* out of the reach with the average consumer/reality. Figures. Innovation comes with a little bit of raping.
Microsoft isn't behind the ball, they just put much more faith in their partners than is truly deserved, or even warranted. Their partners prove over and over again that they just can't keep up.
Apple thrives (with limited success, ie, market share in their computers) simply by their marketing... in ever sense of the word. Twisted statistics, word play, and brainwashing. Pure marketing. Genius, perhaps.
Reply
Joe Smith said 4:35PM on 1-11-2007
"so why is it that Microsoft doesn't try to win anymore?" That would be a valid question if you were camparing apples to apples (no pune intended). However, you arent. Microsoft was won on many fronts and will continue to do so. Example: Micrasoft was won (arguably) in the developer world with .Net for developers. With .Net they have created what the early adapters of Java had visions of their enviroment becomming. Microsoft has donbe that in 5 years. Comparing a the two companies as you have is a useless and legacy event in my mind. They are two different companies with two different goals. It is funny that 20 years ago all Jobs could do was complain about the "proprietary nature of Microsoft", now 20 years later he designes and sells some of the most proprietary software and hardware to those peoople that want to be leaders but, in reality, must be lead.
Reply
Dazza said 4:44PM on 1-11-2007
Microsoft has never been much of an innovator but more as a duplicator of technology.
Apple come out with high priced Yuppy items that appeal to the "IN" crowd. (Reliability, economy, and support are not high priority.) But, they set trends in tech toys.
In the coming months (years) MS will bring out the XPhone to copy apple. They will wrap it up in a new case but essentially it will be old technology by then, marketed as revolutionary. (Of course it will be restricted, copy protected, Full DRM for ringtones, and with a 300 page eula added and proprietory interface and network.)
Examples:
IPod -> Zune
OSX -> Vista
IPhone -> MS Copy of IPhone (XPhone?)
Reply
Dazza said 5:50PM on 1-11-2007
Microsoft has never been much of an innovator but more as a duplicator of technology.
Apple come out with high priced Yuppy items that appeal to the "IN" crowd. (Reliability, economy, and support are not high priority.) But, they set trends in tech toys.
In the coming months (years) MS will bring out the XPhone to copy apple. They will wrap it up in a new case but essentially it will be old technology by then, marketed as revolutionary. (Of course it will be restricted, copy protected, Full DRM for ringtones, and with a 300 page eula added and proprietory interface and network.)
Examples:
IPod -> Zune
OSX -> Vista
IPhone -> MS Copy of IPhone (XPhone?)
Reply
andy said 5:00PM on 1-11-2007
I'd say if it wasn't for Gates there wouldn't be a Jobs, what I mean by that is that the competition between these two masterminds gives us: iphone and xbox360 and many more... lack of innovation at microsoft? Of course, to discover something new is like drawing a painting you need to have a muse, a revelation. I respect both companies and the competition between them is fierce and both companies are getting attention and their popularity stocks keep on growing http://www.trendio.com/word.php?wordid=1378&language=en
Reply
andy said 5:01PM on 1-11-2007
Your comments: I'd say if it wasn't for Gates there wouldn't be a Jobs, what I mean
by that is that the competition between these two masterminds gives
us: iphone and xbox360 and many more... lack of innovation at
microsoft? Of course, to discover something new is like drawing a
painting you need to have a muse, a revelation. I respect both
companies and the competition between them is fierce and both
companies are getting attention and their popularity stocks keep on
growing http://www.trendio.com/word.php?wordid=1378&language=en
Reply
jason said 6:26PM on 1-11-2007
i continually find it amazing that so many people heap so much praise on products they haven't even tried yet. here's a novel idea, wait until you can actually get these devices and use them - then tell me how they are "living room killer apps" or "world changing devices".
for all anyone knows these products could blow up in flames as likely as give you a kiss on the cheek at night before bed.
personally i'm tired of the hype. let's see some real world applications of these two devices and then everyone can jump on the bandwagon of how apple is by far superior (even though their only real commercial success is the ipod, which they introduced to a wide-open market) and microsoft sucks and only copies what apple does.
Reply
fdgdfgdfdfg said 7:34PM on 1-11-2007
Well, I personally am rather thankful that Microsoft is not as desperately trying to be cool as Apple is. Apple's behaviour is terribly annoying.
Reply
philofthefuture said 8:05PM on 1-11-2007
To respond to the comment about the Zune being marketed poorly compared to the iPod...
Recall the marketing campaign for the original Xbox. It was not anywhere as huge and splashy as the launch of the 360. It was never the intention of Microsoft to garner #1 in the first generation (of course if it happened, the better). The intent was to gain traction with the audience, create some key learnings, look to the next generation development of the platform to kill the competition.
A similar battle has happened between Palm vs. Pocket PC (now Windows Mobile) years ago. Now Palm, the hardware only company produces Windows Mobile devices.
Having said that, Apple is not a stupid company. I'm looking forward to them duking it out.
Reply
T Man said 9:32PM on 1-11-2007
Dazza, what are you talking about? MS already has something called Windows Mobile that can do nearly everything the iPhone can do, but lots more because of the 3rd party development.
I also find it funny that you mention DRM, when Apple has some of the most restrictive DRM in the business. The users are then forced to buy a new iPod when the non-replaceable battery quits, making sure that the Jobs ATM is constantly stocked.
Reply
Mysterius said 9:55PM on 1-11-2007
Snort. Those who say Vista copies OSX obviously don't realize how much of OSX traces its lineage back to earlier programs and *gasp* Microsoft's concepts for Vista/Longhorn. At least Microsoft doesn't make you pay to update to Service Packs...
Reply
Fullman said 10:48PM on 1-11-2007
"At least Microsoft doesn't make you pay to update to Service Packs..."
LMAO!!! I swear, I've thought the same thing for years. People complain that Windows costs too much... they're the same people who would gladly fork over $149 to Apple each year for -- as you said it -- essentially a service pack and a few Power Toys.
Reply
Ulf said 11:58PM on 1-11-2007
"Microsoft is pushing old products in new wrappers.. ..I don't see the drive, the innovation, the passion for customers needs and fixing problems."
There is not much of drive or passion at Microsoft and especially not for customers needs. Fixing problems maybe. And that's a cultural thing, emanating from Bill Gates limited vision.
Both MSFT and APPLE are very much constructed around their leaders respective personalities. Gates is just more of a programmer disdainful of regular folks while Jobs is the high strung, over reaching designer.
While Gates is so smart he is dull, Jobs is so smart he is slightly (or very) crazy and arrogant.
Reply
Chandan Nayak said 3:19AM on 1-12-2007
Look at these so called tech journalists fawning over Apple! Steve Jobs and his gang are one big bunch arrogant yuppies. The recent comments by an Apple VP on Cisco's trademark on the "iPhone" name is really disgusting.
Reply