Stan's List

InformationWeek reports Net Applications shows Mac OS X at 7.94%, resulting from an increase of 0.18% every month this year. Next month the report is expected that Mac OS X will be above 8%.

ComputerWorld reports that the gain is 100 percent from what it was 2 years ago. “Apple has graduated into the big league.” Then it was one or two Macs, now there are reports of 50 to 1000 are present in a number of businesses. A substantial motivation is the ability to virtualize other operating systems. The reliability and stability are recognized, but interviews reveal there will be no whole sale replacement as some do not see the software tools equal to that of Windoze. While, surprisingly IT personnel are pointing out that the Mac OS tools are not always recognized for what they are or what potential they have. More …

ITWire reports on Sun’s xVM VirtualBox joining the other virtualization software such as Parallels, with the ability to load every OS except Mac. Apple permits virtualization of the server software. xVM VirtualBox is available free of charge for personal, educational or evaluation use, More …

Expression Professional subscription program, a desktop and web-based graphical interface design package, will include the virtualization software, Parallels Desktop. In a press release Parallels notes the significants of this with the statement:

Including Parallels Desktop for Mac in the Microsoft Expression Subscription gives designers a valuable tool for working across platforms,” said Serguei Beloussov, CEO, Parallels. “It is further evidence of the productivity benefits that our virtualization software offers customers, and strengthens our ongoing partnership with Microsoft.

Expression Professional Subscription will be available June 2008 for $999.

As mentioned in the press release, this will open a significant cross-platform door, encouraging switching to the Mac. As mentioned Windoze runs as fast in Parallels, as it does on a PC.

We are reminded of what Michael Dell said more than 10 years ago. He was asked what he would do to fix Apple. Michael Dell said before a crowd of several thousand IT executives:

What would I do? I’d shut it down and give the money back to the shareholders.

This was October 6, 1997, and this blatant statement would be quoted again and again when Apple’s market cap passed, doubled, tripled and now quadrupled that of Dell. More …

This update addresses issues and improves compatibility with Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Windows Vista running on a Mac computer using Boot Camp. It is highly recommended for all Boot Camp users.

Important: Installation of Boot Camp 2.1 is required before installing Windows XP Service Pack 3 (SP3)

You will need the specific Boot Camp for the version of Windows you have installed or will install. Most will use Boot Camp for XP, while others will want either Boot Camp Vista 32 or Vista 64.

A substantial draw to the Mac is virtualization software. Unlike the 68000 through the 60X days, when Virtual PC ran Windoze at a fraction of its PC pace, today Windoze runs as fast or faster than on a PC. Today, Parallels announced they had sold their millionth copy of virtualization software. The level of PC duplication is pretty astounding.

Parallels Desktop not only broke down the barrier between the Mac and PC worlds, it also broke down the barrier that kept desktop virtualization from becoming a mainstream technology for consumers and professional users, said Serguei Beloussov, CEO. We will continue innovating to extend our position as the desktop virtualization leader and provide our users with the fastest, easiest and most seamless solution available.

Echoing a growing confidence in Apple’s future, Seeking Alpha details how Apple will continue its success. Mac sales have been stellar and there no end in sight, growing four times the market average. With the 3G iPhone predicted to be 6 to 8 weeks away, Apple will stay ahead of competition and is predicted to sell 45 million 3G iPhones in 2009. While iPods sales may slow, 150 million iTunes users motivate Apple to add new media, possibly including video games. More …

According to this Businessweek article, Apple presents itself as a consumer products company. The iPod, iPhone and most of the Macs are consumer level. But under the hood of all the Macs is software technology that presents a real threat to Microsoft’s dominance.

XP is now 6 or 7 years old, including the 5 years it took for Vista. The hardware most companies buy to run XP workstations ia gaining years. The expense to shield XP is enormous. My company prevents viruses and malware, including keystroke watchers, but does not prevent internet trackers, so when my system slows, I run Ad-aware and Spybot which eradicates those minor buggers. Small to medium companies cannot afford the necessary protection. Single users are likely spam conduits 30 minutes after connection to the internet.

Ripe for the plucking!!

October, 2006 Gartner made the suggestion that:

Apple should leverage its close relationship with Intel and team up with Intel’s closest ally, Dell.

Today, Barrons reports Gartner predicts the Mac to double its share of the US and European markets by 2011.

Apple’s gains in computer market share reflect as much on the failures of the rest of the industry as on Apple’s success.