Yes, Microsoft deserves praise for unveiling a truly wonderful WorldWide Telescope on Tuesday. We hear the images are breathtaking. Trouble is, Microsoft built the free software download so that only PC users can enjoy swooping 3-D tours of outer space — and not people who use Macs.
This is a bit dense-headed of Microsoft, since Apple now accounts for 21% of the U.S. computer market. Whoops, did we say 21%? That's right — if you only count consumer PCs. There's a big myth out there that Apple only has 2.9% of the global computer market, which is technically true, but Fortune notes that Apple's computer share among U.S. consumers is 21% if you exclude those boring business enterprise sales, a market in which Apple does not compete.
It gets worse for Microsoft. The incredible success of the iPod and iTunes has not only pushed Macs to 1 in 5 U.S. consumers at home; Apple computer sales grew 37% in 2007 vs. the remaining industry's 15%. Steve Jobs is gaining, and gaining fast.
So now Microsoft finally unveils a sexy piece of software, which unlike Vista, works. It has a killer opportunity to show Mac users, who are graphics-heads, that Redmond can really deliver a spectacle from outer space. The reviewers say Google Earth just can't compete. And yet ... Microsoft shuts the Mac boys out.
We were so tempted to show our kids a cool Microsoft program, and soon our kids will need computers. But since the door is locked, we'll probably buy them both Macs.
2 comments:
In fact, if you looked at stats on enterprise users in art departments, the Mac share would probably be much higher.
Regarding the last sentence, wouldn't it be more logical to buy a Windows machine to run cool Microsoft products?
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