I think Apple can capture much more of the market. Now that Macs have Intel chips, they can run windows just like any other PC hardware- Dell, HP, Gateway etc making them no different in that respect. Using the software "parallels" a user can operate in both windows and Mac OS simultaneously without having to reboot and choose to startup from the other operating system. Why buy a Dell when it can only run windows when you can buy a Mac that runs Windows, osX, Solaris, and Linux, and can run them all at the same time? Apple can never count on people making the switch from windows to Mac OS without having the option for the OS to overlap. If it's one or the other, then Mac OS has little chance, just as we have seen the past 20years, but now that is changing, consumers can buy a Mac and run windows and the slowly acclimate themselves to the mac OS

Actually, you can put Mac OS on a PC.

This is one of the most biased and flat out flaky pieces of pseudo-journalism I've seen in a while. Mac OS X is completely compatible with Windows PC's in terms of networkability, applications (through Parallels, VMWare, Boot Camp or a plethora of other choices). To say that users won't and haven't been embracing this seems like a silly understatement. Sorta sounds like someone is mad because they didn't get in last summer at $50 :(

To the author - please do your research before engaging pen!

Apple's software "does not have the huge array of functions built into Vista" - excuse me? What do you basis this statement on? Have you even used OS X?

What makes you think Apple are going after Windows users just because they have added an "office-type" function to a good all-round alternative to Windows-based solutions. Don't you think they are simply presenting their users with more choice?

Oh and Mac and Windows based PC's can communicate with each other just fine due to a technology called TCP/IP - Have you heard of it? Microsoft didn't invent it neither did Apple.

Amateur hour this whole article.

"Beyond that, Apple's software may recreate some of the functions of Windows software, but it does not have the huge array of functions built into Vista. "

Heu....???? Are u a journalist or a stand-up comedian? Vista is a cheap rip-off of all the features MacOS X offers already for years!! Virus free that is. I never understood why Steve isn't sueing Bill right away. Americans do like sueing, don't they?

"Beyond that, Apple's software may recreate some of the functions of Windows software, but it does not have the huge array of functions built into Vista. "
Heu...? Are u a journalist or a stand-up comedian? Vista is a cheap rip-off of features Mac OS X offers for years already! Virus free that is. I never understood why Steve isn't sueing Bill right away? I always thought Americans like to sue each other?

McIntyre, you're poorly informed and short sighted opinions are becoming more meaningless with every spewage of drivel you publish.
Huge array of functions built into Vista? You've got to be kidding me. As long as you deny that Microsoft comes to market with unprepared products, you'll never fully understand what ease of secure computing means....or even what it is.
Microsoft ffice is available for the Mac, and far more capable of crossing the platform barriers that Office XP or Vista will ever be.
Get a clue, Doug. They're on sale at CompUSA - right next to the overstocked Vista boxes.

I used windows based os since 3x and must say that OSX is by far, superior to that of Windows. My friend bought a similar (spec wise) laptop with that of my MacBook a year ago. Today, my Macbook is still going on strong as if I just took it out of the box. My friend, frustrated with the assault from spyware, malware, and viruses that pray on Windows based computers, has decided he wants an Apple. I'm glad I made the switch and it's ridiculous for this "reporter" to say that it is impossible for Apple to capture more market share than it has.

it's almost as if you said before you wrote this piece "I'll be an ass and make up flaming opinions to get a response."

Mr McIntyre.

You've outdone yourself with this column.
You make a supposition unsupported by any facts (Apple Goes After Windows Users) and then explain why you believe your supposition couldn't possibly work, again unsupported by either facts or technical knowledge.

My supposition is that you're not the technology analyst at 24/7 Wall St.
I base that on my perception of your lack of understanding of matters technical.

Mr McIntyre.

You've outdone yourself with this column.
You make a supposition unsupported by any facts (Apple Goes After Windows Users) and then explain why you believe your supposition couldn't possibly work, again unsupported by either facts or technical knowledge.

My supposition is that you're not the technology analyst at 24/7 Wall St.
I base that on my perception of your lack of understanding of matters technical.

I have owned several Macs. They are awful. I went to the NYC Apple Store last week, and the things are not useful at all for business purposes.

Douglas McIntyre

"it does not have the huge array of functions built into Vista"

I do full-time IT support work. My new job description is:
1. buy new PC
2. format hard drive
3. install WinXP Pro (and thank you Micro$oft for the $200 upgrade price!)
4. hunt down drivers to get PC to function properly
5. piss of Vista supporters by posting comments like this

McIntyre, what decade are you from? My guess is early 80's. This is a shameful piece of ... well, it's certainly not journalism.

Congratulations. You've surely generated many hits to your blog entry. Unfortunatley, you've completed elliminated any shred of credibility you had on this subject matter.

The author probably thinks the iPhone is JUST a phone.

It is most unfortunate that Apple's target audience ( people who want simplicity, elegance, and reliability in a computing platform ) includes this author.

My qualifications: 5 years experience in C/C++ development, Computer Engineering bachelor's degree.

My opinion: Since last august I have gone from being a die-hard windows user to a mac zealot. An intel-based mac can run Windows natively (no emulation), so I figured that if I didn't like OS X, I could just boot Windows using the FREE software Boot Camp. To date, I've booted windows on my macbook pro less than 5 times. There just is no excuse for Windows anymore when quality products exist.
To make a long story short, Mac OSX is based on the BSD Mach kernel, meaning under the glitz and glamor of the GUI lies a battle-hardened, hugely supported, secure, reliable UNIX distribution. Os X uses CUPS (Common Unix Printing System), X-Windows, and the GNU development tools. Try finding open standards and protocols on a Windows box.
Is Apple going to supplant the entire windows population in 10 years? Doubtful. In fact, I'd say apple is 10 years from making a visible dent in business systems. I DO think that in 5 years the HOME use market will see apple enjoying upwards of 40% based on the sheer volume of iPod users under the age of 18, the growing proportions of mac users on university campuses, and the phenomenon of apple stores becoming hang-outs for teenagers (I wish I were kidding). Whether they will admit it or not, I know Microsoft is getting uneasy about apple's recent sales figures; particularly, the growth rates. Time will tell whether or not Microsoft capitalizes on Apple's strategy. I think it would make good sense for Microsoft to start marketing MS-branded systems that are validated against the included OS and as such have an inherent reliability that they previously have lacked. Sadly, marketing a reliable system with an OS that is validated against a fixed hardware configuration is Apple's design philosophy, and Gates would NEVER blatantly copy Apple, would they? *cough WINDOWS...anyone?*

This might be the most inaccurate post I have ever read on Bloggingstocks.com. Very unprofessional and completely wrong, in EVERY aspect. A shameless Apple basher to say the least.

''Apple's share of the US computer market has grown to 5%.

If Apple thinks it will get much more of the market, it is kidding itself. Unlike the iPod market, where it had very little direct competition from another large company, the PC competition is lead by Microsoft, Hewlett-Packard (NYSE:HPQ), and Dell (NASDAQ: DELL), and each of these companies has a huge stake in defending its share.''

Maybe you should do your fact finding. Apple is growing 70% faster than all of these companies and the industry as a whole. Here is a link directly from their presentation yesterday. http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/2007/08/dsc_1305.jpg

"Beyond that, Apple's software may recreate some of the functions of Windows software, but it does not have the huge array of functions built into Vista. And, computer users have become used to these features by using Windows over a number of years. Switching them, at both the consumer and enterprise level will be difficult."

What are the huge array of functions that are built into Vista? OS X has been ahead of the Windows platform for several years now and arguably still is even with Microsofts latest OS. Apple OS X is known for its ease of use and any 'switcher' can tell you that there is barely any learning curve at all.

"Finally, Windows-based PCs can communicate with one another easily because of the common OS. Apple would have to break that cycle by getting users to buy a product that is not compatible with Windows."

You obviously have no experience in this matter so why don't you just give up now. ALL Mac's can communicate seamlessly with Windows operating systems as well as Vista. You can share iTunes libraries over this connection. Share files, even share an internet connection.

Furthermore Apples iWork suite is compatible with all of Microsoft office documents. Word, Powerpoint, and now Excel documents. Not to mention if you really want to run an inferior OS on your mac you have the option to run windows virtually or as a completely separate boot partition.

Please refrain from writing completely bogus posts from now on eh?

Wow what rock have you been living under?

"... added software that may allow it to compete with Microsoft"

No they haven't... they've improved iWork to compete with Microsoft Office but hey what's a detail here or there?

"Macs will be loaded with a new product called Numbers"

Jeez... NO, iWork '08 has got a new component called Numbers to perform spreadsheeting operations. Macs will not be "loaded" with it. The new software they are "loaded" with is iLife '08 that has nothing to do with Numbers.

"it does not have the huge array of functions built into Vista"

You honestly could not be more wrong.

"Windows-based PCs can communicate with one another easily because of the common OS"

Have you ever heard of a little niche-market OS called UNIX? Or standard protocols or even TCP/IP or perhaps Parallels desktop or or or... Go read up a bit on computers then get back to us.

Sorry, but if you think you're fit to provide technical analysis YOU are kidding yourself!

And what does this tell you about Windows Office and the Mac:

Microsoft now says it will release the software to manufacturers in December, which will put it on retail shelves in January and in enterprises the first quarter of 2008. The company plans to showcase the final version of Office 2008 for the Mac

Office is not important>

Doug McIntyre