The Windows Empire Strikes Back
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News Analysis. If the Macintosh was Star Wars' rebellion and Windows PCs the empire, stormtroopers just destroyed the rebel base. But with heavy losses. |
Since Vista's launch, Mac enthusiasts and Microsoft critics have successfully mounted a rebel campaign against the Windows PC. Apple's brand was resurgent, and Macs were the cooler computers. Mac sales growth blew away Windows PCs, while Apple computers rapidly gained market share.
But economic crisis has people coming back to the safety of the empire, rather than supporting the rebellion. Perhaps some computer users dream of a different way of life, but they're not willing, or able, to pay for it. In the battle of price versus value, price is winning, and that's turning into gains for the empire and losses for the rebellion.
The price gulf between Windows PCs and Macs is indisputable. New Windows PCs cost less than Macs. Mac ownership starts at $999, that's for the white MacBook, or $1,199 on the desktop for an iMac. Feature for feature, Windows PCs offer more for much less.
For comparison, I randomly chose a $749 HP laptop from Best Buy. The Pavilion dv4-1275mx: 2.1GHz AMD Turion X2 processor, 14.1-inch display, 2GB DDR2 memory, 400GB hard drive and Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit. MacBook, $999: 2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 13.3-inch display, 2GB DDR memory, 120GB hard drive and Mac OS X. The HP is a designer notebook that also comes with media card reader, HDMI port and other extras.
Microsoft calls the price gulf between Windows PCs and Macs the "Apple Tax." Mac rebels preach about the greater value received for choosing an Apple computer over the Windows PC.
"In this economy, nobody cares about value. They care about cost," Stephen Baker, NPD's vice president of industry analysis, told me yesterday. Macs cost more.
I blogged on Mac unit sales declines yesterday, for Apple Watch. Please go there to see three charts comparing U.S. retail Mac and Windows sales growth. Briefly, Windows PC unit sales were up 16.6 percent year over year in January, while Mac sales fell 5.5 percent. In October, when Apple launched snazzy, new MacBooks, Mac unit sales rose 27.2 percent compared with 5.7 percent for Windows.
Mounting Rebel Losses
Mac rebel forces maintained a successful counteroffensive until November, when economic crisis pulled away supporters. Suddenly, rebel freedom cost more than many would-be supporters were willing to invest.
In yesterday's Apple Watch post, the charts referred to retail unit sales growth, which for Macs has fallen far below PCs. The charts in this post refer to year-over-year retail revenue growth, for which Macs and Windows PCs were more closely matched in January. The empire's gains came with great pain.
There is a huge disparity between Windows PC unit growth (the aforementioned 16.6 percent) and revenue growth (flat year over year). The pain: Lower retail prices also mean much lower margins. Still, Windows PC revenue growth exceeded Mac growth (-10.4 percent). So Mac revenue declines—rebel forces losses—were nearly twice unit declines. The difference is surprising, considering how much more Macs cost than PCs and how little difference there was in average selling prices between January 2008 and 2009.
The numbers suggest that Apple is selling more of the lower-cost Macs than a year ago. Over at Amazon, the first Mac on the computer "bestsellers" list is the $999 MacBook (listed for $959.99), at No. 12 (It's 10 removing two monitors). The $1,299 aluminum MacBook ranks 18. By the way, among the top 10 selling computers, eight are mini-notebooks (e.g., netbooks). The most costly computer before the MacBook is $649.99.
In October, Mac retail notebook revenues rose 61.7 percent. In January, the increase was only 2.5 percent. The difference isn't tough year-over-year comparisons, but shifting empire and rebellion allegiances. In October, Windows notebook revenues fell 1.3 percent; in January they grew 3.5 percent. That's a little stronger than Apple off a larger sales base but lower average selling prices.
In January, the average selling price for Macs was $1,488, compared with $586 for Windows PCs. Notebook ASP: $602 for Windows and $1,482 for Macs. Mac laptop ASPs fell from $1,576 in October, which is another indication that more buyers are choosing lower-cost models.
A New Hope?
Still, there is hope for the rebellion. Desktop unit and revenue growth is down for Windows PCs and Macs. All the growth is in portables, and that's where the rebels win and lose something. Windows PC retail unit growth was 26.6 percent in January, but only 11 percent when removing mini-notebooks. As the Amazon bestseller list suggests, mini-notebooks are pulling in cost-conscious buyers willing to make sacrifices for the empire (in screen size, overall usability and PC performance).
There is no Mac mini-notebook. Apple has got nothing to offer in this rapidly growing, low-cost category. But hope remains. The empire is gaining numbers but not quality troops. Most mini-notebooks run eight year-old Windows XP Home. Many people will find mini-notebooks inadequate desktop or portable PC replacements, if for no other reason than the operating system. Those people paying $350 today may yet defect to the rebellion in the future, when economic times are brighter and value matters more than price to more people.
Yesterday, a new ChangeWave report lit a fire under Mac rebels. Mac blogs and news sites heralded the study as sure sign of good times ahead. Thirty percent of respondents said they planned to buy a Mac laptop.
ChangeWave surveyed more than 3,000 consumers just 10 days ago. But these kinds of surveys can be deceiving. What people say they will do really means what they want to do. What they can or will do may dramatically differ. For example, 26 percent of respondents also plan to buy a Mac desktop in the next 90 days. Oh? Mac laptop sales are way up over the last 90 days, and way down for desktops. There's a huge disparity in sales that don't match intentions.
Something else: The number planning to buy a Dell laptop is 26 percent and 22 percent for HP. These numbers are plenty close enough and have some aggregate pull. Dell and HP are part of the Windows PC empire. Intentions to buy either together exceeds Mac laptop buying intentions.
According to the survey, 20 percent of respondents bought a Mac laptop during the past 90 days, compared to 27 percent for HP. The Mac number is down from a high of 26 percent in November (ChaveWave tracking goes back to Jan. 2006). In November, the number of consumers planning to buy a new Mac laptop was 33 percent, but only 20 percent joined the rebellion. So much for yesterday's rebel hoopla for Mac buying.
The New Death Star
Looking ahead, the Mac rebellion shouldn't underestimate its plight. The Windows Vista Death Star imploded, but the empire is constructing another. Windows 7 will almost certainly launch for the holidays. The new Death Star will be a force perhaps mightier than Mac rebels' "The Force."
Dark days are coming to the rebellion. Rebel leader Steve "Skywalker" Jobs is recovering from wounds inflicted during his battle with the empire's forces. Apple's CEO is on leave util June 30, leaving COO Tim Cook to lead the rebellion. Tim is a worthy tactician, but the rebellion needs its visionary leader and his command of The Force (e.g., the Steve Jobs reality distortion field).
Meanwhile, Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates has abdicated as emperor to CEO Steve Ballmer. His new apprentice, Steven Sinfosky, is putting some light into the Dark Side. Windows 7 is more Maclike than any other Microsoft operating system. The dark and the light is sure to woo back some would-be rebel deserters. Then there is timing on the empire's side. Windows 7 PCs will cost less than Macs, at a time when price matters more than value. Can the rebel forces regroup and recruit more stormtrooper deserters? You tell me, in comments and by e-mail.
[Please send your tips or rumors to watchtips at live.com.]
Comments (34)
I think when you wrote, "Those people paying $350 today may be yet defect to the empire in the future, when economic times are brighter and value matters more than price to more people." you maybe meant to write, "Those people paying $350 today may yet defect to the rebellion in the future, when economic times are brighter and value matters more than price to more people."
Just sayin'.
Posted by Mark | February 19, 2009 3:45 PM
And then there are the penguins who just waddle around as usual.
What I'd really like to see: OSX available for general-purpose PCs. Apple can make tools available, let people hack, have some scheme for testing/approving drivers as people create them, and sell OSX to anyone. :) Then again, that one version of OSX can't be locked into a single computer. Hmm. Well, forget Apple then - is only OpenSolaris was more like OSX ...
Posted by Anonymouse | February 19, 2009 5:02 PM
two points: Apples are a better investment, people replace them less often. They maintain their functionality longer. Try running Vista on a five-year old PC; you can on a five-year old mac. They also have good resale, PC's are worth nothing after a few years.
But the real point is... cost? Who cares. My computer holds all my financial data, photos, family memorabilia; it's where I get my news, how I communicate with friends and family, where I maintain my business contacts. I spend hours on it everyday doing essential tasks. I can't live without it! It's critical that it works well. Amortize an extra 300 or 400 dollars over the hours that I am going to spend on the machine I want (over a period of years in the case of my Mac) and it's not important. Do we buy cars this way? Aggressively price shop? It doesn't matter if you have Mac, PC, or Linux. The money is well spent to get a reliable machine that does what you want. The additional expense is incidental
Posted by scott | February 19, 2009 6:12 PM
The Star Wars metaphors and analogies was just embarrassingly over the top. Windows 7 runs really great on current Netbooks and will run great on future ones. OEM's have already committed to ensure that Windows 7 will be on Netbooks at launch. Even today you can find many Netbooks running Windows Vista. I just don't understand your interpretation of Windows Vista imploding though Joe, its on over 200 million systems world wide. Millions of users are enjoying the benefits, the rich capabilities. Vista's Instant Search, complete organization tools, security, and integration with Windows Live delivers benefits beyond the box. I think whats happening here is just a clear lack of understanding and a love of the popular but unpopular among the majority of Windows users propaganda. People are getting deep value and reduced cost of ownership with Vista.
Posted by Andre Da Costa | February 19, 2009 6:15 PM
"Windows 7 runs really great on current Netbooks and will run great on future ones."
They have a version of 7 that runs on ARM devices? I would love to see that. Unless you are going to try to define another category for those?
Posted by billybob | February 19, 2009 6:43 PM
@Billybob
Im not sure if theres any point asking, if he cant copy and paste, he cant answer.
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Moving on to more relevant people than "he who cannot be named" The link below gives an interesting take on recent times and Microsoft.
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http://boycottnovell.com/2009/02/19/microsoft-doomsday-status/
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Ive said before Ive had little experience of MACs (although the wife does have one) if I had to choose between an XP or MAC system, I think id probably go with XP. If i had to invest in new hardware for Windows 7? I wouldnt take the risk and go with a MAC.
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Having said that its all academic, since Linux IMO is far better for me so theres no risk what so ever.
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@Andre
Quote Andre "The Star Wars metaphors and analogies was just embarrassingly over the top."
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?!!! Do you even remember your posts here? Your posts were so OTT that even Jess Meats (a MS employee) did not want her post to sound like yours (she said so herself here)
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OTT? Yes Andre of course. LOL. You would "Nknow".
Posted by Goblin | February 19, 2009 7:02 PM
Joe; I enjoyed your article.
Andrecito:It's really hard to ignore you.
The day you leave, I shall sorely miss you. Nobody makes me laugh quite as much as you do. You have got an extraordinary ability for speak foolishness and ridicule. Most extraordinarily, you just don't appear to know you are doing so. I bet you even feel proud people answer your preposterous and nonsensical statements.
Posted by Marco | February 19, 2009 7:14 PM
Apple is no longer "Apple Computer". I see the company repositioning itself as a maker of electronic appliances (iPod, iPhone) and a distributor of media and applications via electronic downloads. Revenues and profits from sales of computer hardware are less important and I see that trend as continuing.
A time will come when Apple releases OS X and its suite of productivity applications to the retail market and offers it to OEMs in direct competition to Microsoft. Is W7 up to the challenge when compared to OS X and the iLife suite? OS X is full-featured versus the crippled versions of W7 Microsoft plans to ship. It could be an interesting battle and if I know Apple, they still have a few tricks up their sleve.
Posted by Jeff C | February 19, 2009 7:37 PM
I really like Apple computers. The quality of the hardware is outstanding.
I also like Vista Sp1 (which I run on a new iMAC 24").
So there you go, great hardware and a great operating system.
I have brought balance to both sides of the force :-)
Posted by LeeVi | February 19, 2009 9:03 PM
@Goblin: I am familiar with Linux (very familiar) and OS X but prefer Windows.
That said, I never considered the argument of no risk as one to get people to switch to Linux. It is a very good one (unlike FUD reasons like security) and I think that you should use it while evangelizing.
All that said, please try FreeBSD too. There is no risk. :P
Posted by Winfry | February 19, 2009 9:04 PM
If Windows is the Galactic Empire, and OSX is the Rebel Alliance, I guess that makes Linux the Jedi Order.
May the Source be with you.
Posted by Will | February 19, 2009 9:14 PM
There was no other place to comment, so I thought I'd do it here. There's a slide show on this web site about what you might see at a Microsoft store. And when you click on the link, you get a slide show with nothing on it that doesn't work. Was that on purpose?
Posted by Philip | February 19, 2009 9:22 PM
Joe:
No doubt, people have, and will continue, to make choices based on price, rather than value. Obviously, however, other things can be more important than price. Among those are familiarity, image/reputation, and accessibility.
Neither price nor value explain Microsoft's dominance over the Linuxes, most of which are cost-free, and which offer value in abundance. Unlike the various Microsoft offerings, Linux generally does not come preloaded on new computers. Besides that, the image or reputation of "Linux" is "exotic," "difficult," and "limited," no matter how unfair those characterizations may be.
I recently began using Ubuntu 8.10. Not only was it free ("as in beer"), it automatically installed whatever programs I selected from a list that would satisfy the needs of nearly any user. With a check-box selection of Wine (also free, "as in beer"), backwards compatibility with most MS-DOS and Windows programs is included. For those "must-have" programs that cannot be run without Microsoft, I can even select free (also "as in beer") virtualization software, to let me simultaneously run any operating system my hardware can handle. A distribution like Ubuntu makes the tasks that most people care about either automatic or intuitive. For everything else, I have found "community" offerings that provided very clear, step-by-step, "cut and paste" instructions--a welcome contrast to the notoriously obscure Microsoft technical support and manuals.
No one will ever cares whether or not your copy of a Linux distribution is "Genuine," how many copies you make, or what you do with them. Unlike Microsoft's offerings, Linux does not suffer from fragmentation and performance degradation. While certainly not immune to attack, Linux is inherently much more secure than anything from Microsoft. For those few that enjoy "tinkering under the hood," Linux offers unlimited customization and optimization. There is a Linux version that can be run on just about any device with any capacity, from the most forlorn, to the most advanced "heavy iron" supercomputer. One of the most interesting is DSL, which provides a complete operating system, browser, email, and office suite for under 50 MB, and that can run from a key-chain USB device for portability.
For price AND value, consider the various Linux distributions. There is one for almost anyone. Most distributions are available on "live" CD's that allow experimentation without changing a thing on your computer. Since most cost nothing, and you cannot hurt anything in "live" mode, you have nothing to lose by trying them.
Posted by Pinball | February 19, 2009 9:45 PM
I've run a PC for year's at work and at home. Three months ago switched to a MacBookPro, and I'll never go back to any clunker of a PC. The Mac user interface is so much more productive with multiple windows, and is so much more speedy and stable than any PC in my office.
Posted by PC guy Switched to Mac | February 19, 2009 9:55 PM
Windows Live is a full and rich user experience. I enjoy it every time I boot Vista. It fills my daily experience with joy and ease of use. Last week I logged into my hotmail account and found the wonderful enjoyable experience of having my email erased by the wonderful new organizational features of Windows Live. The clear, refreshing and enlightening user interface and visually appealing Windows Live page informed me that it had been deleted because I hadn't enjoyed the wonderful features for over 60 days. Although I had marveled and the ease of use and instant messaging features and benefits of Windows Live Messenger practically every day. Even though I'm a grumpy waddling penguin I enjoy the wonderful user experience Windows Live Messenger brings me on the rich platform Vista is. And also on my Linux box through Kopete and on my Mac and on my Nokia N800. Although the experience isn't as rich and wonderful as the one enjoyed in the truly advanced and wonderful Vista OS it still should count as a login into my Windows Live account. Particularly since the Vista client clearly says its name is "Windows Live Messenger" and I use the same username and password.
Fortunately I never use my Windows Live Mail account for anything important beyond the wonderfully rich chatting and instant messaging experience of Vista. So I didn't actually have to marvel myself at the effects and wonders of Pepto-Bismol, but can't stop to wonder what would happen to someone who actually had something relevant in the wonderful Windows Live experience.
Posted by Gerardo Tasistro | February 19, 2009 9:58 PM
Look, folks, I have to agree with Joe. Microsoft allowed Windows to languish too long and, by the time they released Vista, it was too little, too late. But, now, Microsoft has several things going in its favor. First, the cratering of the global economy means that people are less willing to buy based on "value" rather than "cost". Second, Microsoft is on the verge of releasing Windows 7 which, according to all reviews thus far, runs remarkably well on virtually all hardware that you throw at it; whereas, Mac OS X requires proprietary hardware. Third, the trend in computing is moving away from high-performance computers toward smaller-profile mobile computers, like Netbooks. Apple doesn't have ANYTHING in this space that can compete with these computers. Consequently, I agree with Joe that Apple is going to get hit VERY HARD in the next couple years. The only way that Apple can hope to compete is to introduce a more cost-effective option for consumers; but, in the past, Apple has been loathe to abandon its high profit margins in exchange for greater horizontal market share. So, as a result, Apple is going to get screwed.
Posted by Tom | February 20, 2009 1:35 AM
Hmmmm.
All this talk of market share has me wondering:
Is it a smarter business decision in a down economy to:
1) Sell fewer items, but maintain a high profit margin? or
2) Sell fewer items and reduce your profit margin as well?
I think Apple is doing the first one, and I think it's the right business decision.
Also, on the analogy-front, while Microsoft may be winning the battle in front of them (though I think this quarter's figures will show that Microsoft lost more marketshare than Apple) Apple has started to surround them by owning the music player market and shocking the phone world.
All, without abusing a monopoly position.
There's not much in Microsoft's behavior or strategy that seems worth cheering.
Posted by Chip | February 20, 2009 2:51 AM
Nice analogy Joe!
Do you remember the end of the series?
Posted by Dimitrios | February 20, 2009 4:54 AM
Oops sorry
I meant rich analogy
Posted by Dimitrios | February 20, 2009 5:06 AM
I think desktop computers are pretty much over and done. With WiFi and a powerful laptop you have so much more freedom and the computer is that much more useful.
The argument to dump your Mac and buy a PC is the same as the argument to dump your BMW and buy a KIA.
About 80% of Windows users are still running XP which was introduced in 2001. Those folks are 8 years behind the times.
Windows 7, which should really be called Vista 1.1, will be introduced later this year. You'll be getting three years old Vista fixed so it really works. You will have bought it twice.
Less than 10% of Microsoft's Enterprise customers have upgraded to Vista. That's their most important customer base and they've had single digit adoption.
80% of Mac users run the latest version of OS X and look forward eagerly to the next upgrade.
This economy is going to hurt every business. Walmart will be hurt less than Nordstroms. That doesn't mean that Nordstroms should convert to the Walmart business model.
Microsoft has been losing all the battles. Zune is dead. Their game console is an also ran. Firefox is gaining browser share. The iPhone is killing Windows Mobile. Microsoft is yesterday's news. Stick a fork in em.
Posted by Dave Small | February 20, 2009 10:05 AM
I've been using an iMac with Leopard for over a year now and I'm looking forward to a new PC with Windows 7.
Apple's software quality assurance is below-par, just like Microsoft's, and Apple has the same arrogant attitude to its customers.
Millions are using XP because, after SP2, it does what they want. Oh, Apple issue service packs too but they're not called that - OS X 10.5.6 means that 6 service packs have been released since Leopard came out. There are security fixes too. Every time Apple releases a service pack or security fix, its customers have problems - just like Microsoft's.
The iPhone is not killing Windows Mobile - lack of innovation and development is. I have a WinMo 'phone and it's a dog: my Palm Treo 680 synchronized flawlessly with Outlook 2003 but Microsoft's ActiveSync falls over several times a week (yes, I'm running XP in a VM).
Windows is saved by the enormous number of applications that are available for the platform. That's why Linux has a tiny share of the market; yes, it's a better platform but people want to run programs not admire the OS. The UNIX underpinnings of OS X are good but Apple needs to get its quality-control up to scratch because it's 'Aqua' that people see.
Like the VHS videotape format, Windows may not be the best but most software is produced for it and that ensures its continued existence.
Posted by Arthur Norton | February 20, 2009 11:42 AM
@Arthur Norton,
Re: "Like the VHS videotape format, Windows may not be the best but most software is produced for it and that ensures its continued existence"
Nice analogy. As far as analogies go, I would extend it as follows:
On the desktop, Windows is like VHS and Mac is like Beta. But Linux is like laser disk: laughable in its early forms, but as DVD it eventually blows them both away.
Or, maybe the old tried-but-not-quite-true car analogy: Unix is like Mercedes-Benz, superior but most people don't care or can't afford it. Windows is like GM Chevy through Cadillac, owned by most people. Linux is like Toyota, scorned at first but then..... OMG it takes over market share and cuts into the markets for both MB and GM.
And Apple is like Bentley, laughed at for its tiny market share, but still 100% immune to economic turmoil and still selling like the proverbial hotcakes in its stratospheric economic marketplace.
*Knock* *Knock* The Analogy Police, sir. Please put down your laptop and come quietly with us, and no one will get hurt...... ;-)
Posted by Philosopher | February 20, 2009 12:51 PM
@Scott:
"Try running Vista on a five-year old PC; you can on a five-year old mac."
That's funny! I'm doing just that, and my AMD Athlon 64, 1.5 GBs memory, and 36 GB drive keeps humming right along with Vista SP1 and absolutely no issues.
Try posting something next time that has a modicum of truth.
Posted by Jay | February 20, 2009 5:43 PM
I forgot to mention: occasionally Vista hangs during boot. And it takes over 5 minutes just to shut down.
Posted by Jay | February 20, 2009 7:02 PM
The Apple tax is a joke. An entirely voluntary payment for a luxury product appealing to a small market segment is hardly a tax. On the other hand, being unable to buy a PC without a Microsoft operating system pre-installed certainly is a tax, and it's one that Microsoft imposed (effectively) through licensing schemes designed to prevent competition. What an utterly cynical PR exercise to slam Apple for daring to offer premium products for which people will pay a bit more?! How dare they?! The nerve! The ingratitude!
I find that Linux (specfically Ubuntu) does most of what I need now. I wasn't very happy with Vista but Windows 7 I have no plans to try. I've stepped off the Microsoft treadmill--and I'm not going back (not in the foreseeable future anwyay). Windows 7? A gigantic yawn.
Posted by Eats Wombats | February 20, 2009 9:49 PM
@Winfry
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Quote "I never considered the argument of no risk as one to get people to switch to Linux."
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Is that your statement? I believe I said the fact it was free was great for a no risk trial, not a no risk switch. As Ive repeatedly said (and youve repeatedly missed) I consider Linux being free as an added extra, NOT a "selling point" for the platform. Afterall if Linux was no good, the fact it was free would make little difference.
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Quote Jay
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"That's funny! I'm doing just that, and my AMD Athlon 64, 1.5 GBs memory, and 36 GB drive keeps humming right along with Vista SP1 and absolutely no issues.
Try posting something next time that has a modicum of truth."
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As Delboy would say "Have a day off" just because you claim something doesnt mean that everyone else is liars does it? We post our experiences and others decide. Its not your place to make declarations about your statement being the truth, unless you can back it up with hard fact. So unless you are inviting all readers around to your house to see this machine, Id let others decide about your truthfulness.
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For the record, I have Windows 7 running on a ZX81 with 1k of ram, sure it looks a little jittery through a co-axle cable on my old CRT portable, but it sure is quick.
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See what I mean Joe? Its all just words. We can claim allsorts here.
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Id suggest you take a look at the many forums where posters with more modern hardware than 5years old couldnt get Vista to operate properly, then tell me, who do you think is more correct?
Posted by Goblin | February 23, 2009 3:52 PM
Appologies Jay, I thought that was your comment, I see now scott made those remarks.
Posted by Goblin | February 23, 2009 3:53 PM
You know, I have to say something today... I am not a man who posts a lot of nonsense on the forums...especially the MS vs Mac craziness. I am not a Microsoft hater or an apple lover... I have tried Linux a few times and have never thought of it as a "finished" product. I used to be an Apple fanatic until 1994 when they nearly ruined their products, and went terribly adrift. When Windows95 came out, I was thrilled and excited and became very enthusiastic about Microsoft and some of it's great products. I remained hopeful during the long wait while Vista was being developed... after all...they had fixed a lot of things that were wrong with XP. I was shocked and amazed at how wrong they got Vista, but still didn't hate it, though the bugs in it drive me NUTS, even with SP1. I remained, however hopeful that the company would rediscover its purpose and that things would eventually be alright. Something happened today that radically changed my thinking.
I read today that The wonderful "intelligent" people running Microsoft recently decided to close down, not put up for sale, scale back, , make cost cuts.... just close... one of their most successful franchises ever. They closed down ACES studios, the division that created and made Flight Simulator THE standard for people like me who are great airplane enthusiasts who want a taste of driving a 747 without killing anyone. Since 1989 this product has destroyed the competition over and over, partially because of the Microsoft label, no doubt, but mostly because every version that came out was a huge improvement on the last, well supported and a great value. It was fun, entertaining and one of Microsoft's few shining successes, especially lately. They closed it down completely... citing some BS about "reordering their priorities". They showed no regard for the countless fans of this product who loved playing it, formed virtual airlines to play online with other "Pilots", and almost fanatically waited for the next release. Like many of these people I am angry. But more than that I am very, very disappointed and hurt. In life you can forgive someone who seriously hurts you... but you never, never forget it and the scars last forever. In business this is even more true... once you've eaten a couple of horrible meals at a restaurant you previously loved, you never go back.
For the first time in my life, I understand what it must have been like to sit in a lifeboat that cold night in April 1912, and watch the greatest ocean liner of all time sink with great loss of life right before my eyes.
Microsoft has lost me as customer. That is a very easy thing to say, and yeah I know I'll be "forced" to use windows at work and at home to play the occasional game I enjoy. But when I'm done with someone (or something, in this case), I am truly done. I will never, never encourage anyone to buy a Microsoft product. I will never again buy a PC with windows preinstalled. (I'll either build my own or buy a Mac.) I will never, never buy a game, or pay a subscription fee or "buy" (rent) a song from Microsoft again...EVER. I was mildly enthusiastic that with Windows 7 they were on the road to correcting a lot of the problems they created when they stopped listening to their customers and created the Vista mess. Guess what? I no longer care. I will use whatever version of windows I have to for work or to play a non-Microsoft game, but it will never again be my primary OS, email application, office application or platform of choice. And guess which console my son will get for Christmas next year....give you a hint...it won't be made by Microsoft.
I spent over two hours today searching microsoft.com for an email address that I could send my thoughts to about this. Amazingly, I didn't find a single one. I could not find ONE SINGLE PLACE where I could either post or email anyone at the company to let them know how much they had hurt and let me down. This is a strong indication to me why they are in trouble and why the people in this company are so shocked and dismayed when they hear about how the public dislikes what they are doing.
Sad, really. So many bright wonderful people working for a company with idiots at the helm. I feel for them... truly. They are so much like all the talented, dedicated people who tended to the Great Liner and her famous passengers. All of them drowned because there was no room in the lifeboats for them.
There are more and more alternatives available, and as Microsoft finds more and more creative "Innovations" to leave their fans and their customers disappointed, frustrated and hurt, these alternatives seem more and more attractive, and I'm now willing to pay for an alternative.
I just read something on their site where they stated that they were dedicated to the "Flight Simulator Franchise" and promised that we hadn't seen the end of Flight Sim yet. Kind of like the president of White Star lines saying they were still dedicated to their passengers after 1500 people drowned without a lifeboat because management thought they would "Clutter" the decks. Just words... and Microsoft, words are NOT going to help you now.
I am only one person... I can't hurt Microsoft on my own, nor would I want to try. But as I figuratively sit here shivering and watching the great liner go down... I look to my right and my left and see all the other survivors too.... and I know I am not alone... in how I feel or what I'll do about it.
My search for my next OS begins today. I am uninstalling the Windows 7 beta partition on my hard drive and will start shopping for the right version of Linux... I already tried going back to XP... HP doesn't have the drivers. I will have to live with Vista a bit longer. But I'm looking for that replacement. I'm hopeful that a good replacement is out there...but even if there isn't...Microsoft is not unlike the company that ran the great liners... sooner or later someone's going to invent the computer equivalent of the jet plane and Microsofts "liners" and their coffers are going to be empty.
Posted by Claude Lovell | February 24, 2009 3:02 PM
Hello Claude,
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Whilst Ive never played the flight sim, Im sure its every bit as great as you say. I too have read that piece of news and whilst I can imagine how upset I would be if my favourite game was discontinued (World of Warcraft) MS (like any firm) needs to scale down projects which it believes are not cost effective.
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I cant knock MS since its obvious that the money made was not sufficient enough to fund its continued development, however the issue does highlight an important point about Open Source.
Since MS are disbanding this product, its unlikely anyone else will purchase it and continue development on it (IMO), if it had been open source, then the game would have lived on. Its similar to any proprietary product, you really are at the whim of the company owning it.
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I cant honestly recommend any alternative to FS, and since you appear to have tried the major OS's cant really suggest where you should go.
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What I would say though is, just because MS has stopped development of FS is no reason to boycott Windows if the platform was most suitable for you. MS have to make money (like any firm) and in these economic times its even more important to streamline.
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Much as I would like to say "dive into Linux and a FS alternative" what I would say here is stick by the software you feel most comfortable with.
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You never know, if demand is great for a continued FS project, another company may step up to the mark and produce an even better franchise.
Posted by Goblin | February 24, 2009 3:54 PM
"In the battle of price versus value, price is winning"
THe right phrase is
"In the battle of price versus looks, price is winning"
What is the value that Mac give over Windows? I am still not able to understand. My wife has a $1799 Mac laptop for designing, but she still has to use a Windows Laptop for all the other application related work coz nothing works on Mac other than a few software, and Office is one of them.
No doubtt, Mac are the best looking, sleek, etc. But value? Please.....
For a $1799, you can buy a Win laptop that will last you for 7-8 years atleast and can run 3-4 future Windows Operations systems.
Posted by guest | February 25, 2009 4:25 PM
@guest:
Re: "What is the value that Mac give over Windows?"
Mac + Final Cut Express is vastly superior to anything on Windows for the serious HD home video production enthusiast on a moderate budget.
Other than that, serious graphics arts professionals swear by the Mac and wouldn't use anything else, even if they had also used Windows XP since it came out. But I wouldn't know from my own experience, as Ubuntu + Gimp + Inkscape + OOo + Scribus are well-matched to my own talents and budget. (But I'm a hard-code C++ developer, not a graphics professional, even though I also produce a lot of pretty good technical documentation.)
But those two areas aside, yeah, you're right. For now and the near future, at least.
Posted by Philosopher | February 25, 2009 8:31 PM
@Claude Lovell:
Re: "For the first time in my life, I understand what it must have been like to sit in a lifeboat that cold night in April 1912, and watch the greatest ocean liner of all time sink with great loss of life right before my eyes."
Actually, it was one of 3 ocean liners of its class. The White Star line was losing out to its competition, and needed help. Three great liners were conceived and they were given names out of a battle from mythology: Olympus (after the gods who won), Titanic (after the Titans who lost), and Gigantic (after the Giants who sided with the losing Titans).
Olympic was launched first. But as she left the harbor, her wake sucked in a Royal Navy cruiser and she was badly damaged. After her repairs, she plied the North Atlantic with great success.
When Titanic was launched, she was assigned some of the best crew and help from the Olympic, as she wanted to make the best possible impression on her maiden voyage. Like the Olympic, her great bulk created a wake that sucked in another liner as she was leaving port. Quick action by harbor tugs prevented a collision by just a few linear feet. By only a few feet, destiny assigned Titanic to a spectacular watery grave instead of the whimper of an aborted voyage.
After the Titanic bit the dust, or ice as the case may be, the Gigantic was deemed to be too arrogantly named, and she was re-named Britannic. WW I pressed the Olympic into ferrying troops across the North Atlantic, and the Britannic was re-assigned as a hospital ship.
The Britannic sunk after what is believed to have been a mine. She was found with her forward water-tight doors opened. Most people got off safely, but not all. The captain tried to head toward shallower waters, but the bow was sinking and the stern was rising. Two lifeboats were launched while the captain was turning the ship, and the now-exposed screws ended up shredding the two lifeboats and their occupants.
The Olympic came under attack by a German U-Boat, but I guess in WW I that submarine technology was still very young. The Olympic's caption decided to ram the sub, as she had no other means of defense. But such a big ship does not turn easily, and while turning the stern of the Olympic struck the U-Boat and sank it. Thus, the Olympic is the only ocean liner that is known to have destroyed an enemy submarine in combat.
After the war, the Olympic resumed her role as a luxury liner and successfully plied the North Atlantic route. However, liners were known to cut corners coming into New York's harbor in a rush to make good time, and a Coast Guard lightship was stationed close to the path of these short-cuts. One Coast Guard man once remarked that someday a liner would hit the lightship. Sure enough, one did, and it was the Olympic. She cut the Coast Guard lightship in half and killed many of the sailors.
That shocking tragedy and stock market crash of 1929 were a double blow to luxury ocean liners, and the Olympic was scrapped. But unlike her two sisters, she did not sink, and she herself sunk two vessels, one enemy and one friendly.
Well, Claude, this IS Microsoft Watch, but on the other hand, this was a LOT more fun than complaining! Thanks for the lead-in to the Titanic!
Posted by Philosopher | February 25, 2009 8:50 PM
You are mainly right, i understand you and i think the same thing. Mainly. Microsoft Windows and the PC have reduced sales from an important period. This thing represents the alarm mostly for the PC Industry and for the Microsoft Company to invest more in the development of the software/hardware. Although this, there are many programs or applications that are helping the MS users to make their Operating System to work smoother and without any problems or issues. A great example would be jv16 PowerTools 2009, a software made created and developed in order to optimize Microsoft Windows, clean efficiently the registry, and also offer protection for the computer itself (back-up files and setting etc.).
Posted by macejv | February 27, 2009 3:40 PM
@Claude Lovell
dissing Microsoft products for a fucking flight simulator is idiotic, to say the least.
and for your son, i really hope you're buying it a PS3 at least, because the Wii is a fucking joke (that being said by a blind nintendo fanboy, recently converted to a XBOX360, which is the console you should buy to your son btw)
Posted by Iron84 | April 6, 2009 8:38 AM