Premium Essay

Microsoft Move

In: Business and Management

Submitted By janakkyada
Words 1183
Pages 5
By Geoffrey Rowan The Globe and Mail, September 3, 1997
Apple Computer Inc., which has misstepped more times lately than a drunken clog dancer, has finally made a move in the right direction, but it's probably too late.

Apple is reclaiming its unique interface — the Macintosh operating system. And in any business, controlling the interface is where the money is, says intellectual property attorney Ron Katz of the San Francisco law firm Coudert Brothers.

Any business, that is, except computers, where the interface war is long over.

“With the Microsoft purchase [of $150-million (U.S.) worth of Apple shares], Apple is just a subsidiary of Microsoft now,” Mr. Katz says. “Apple has lost the battle. They lost it years ago. It was inevitable they'd lose it because they didn't control the interface.”

True enough. When most people interact with a PC, they do so through a Microsoft Corp. operating system. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple made a futile attempt to expand its relevance in 1994, by licensing its Mac OS to clone makers.

Its hope was that more companies selling Macs would expand market share for the operating system, creating a virtuous cycle. More market share would mean more independent software developers writing programs that run on the Mac OS, and with more of that so-called application software available, more people would buy Macs.

But in reality, by the time Apple licensed the Mac OS, its place in the market had been cemented. All the clones did was eat into the company's remaining share of the market, and cut into its profit margins.

By purchasing Power Computing Corp., the largest Mac clone maker, in a stock deal worth $100-million, Apple is sending a strong message that it intends to control the fate of its interface. At least it won't be done in by an evil twin.

There's a large body of evidence suggesting that control of the

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Sample

...The role of IT in supporting the organization’s other departments during the move The Information Technology department at Riordan Manufacturing during the move will follow strict guidelines to support each department during the move. The most critical of the move is that the core business processes are not interrupted. These include the daily collaboration of managers with the manufacturing, purchasing, engineering, and logistics staffs, and the critical tasks of integrating enterprise resource planning with accounting, pricing, and finance. During the move the consideration of the software platforms and applications relied on to support these processes such as e-mail, the website, intranet portals, content management systems, manufacturing-related processes, including inbound and outbound logistics, time. and materials scheduling. To ensure these processes are not interrupted the systems and databases that contain records will be first replicated and moved to a short-term hosting center in Shanghai. The Information Technology will assume the roles of IT infrastructure, ensuring that the proper procedures for server and desktop, network cabling is installed properly, the installation of server cabinets and racks for switches are put in place properly, and the VoIP telephones lines are all working prior to move. The plan will ensure minimal down-time by preparing present operations and to patch schedules and relocations one department at a time. Having the newly moved, IT...

Words: 354 - Pages: 2

Free Essay

Lala

...are special type of interaction between species. Sometimes beneficial, sometimes harmful, these relationships are essential to many organisms and ecosystems, and they provide a balance that can only be achieved by working together. Symbiotic relationship is different from any other interactions that happen between species because in this relationship live together. Symbiotic relationship is evident in dance in emotion because one of them can’t survive without the other one. Emotions and dancing show mutualism. Mutualism occurs when both species benefit from the interaction. For a dance to be demonstrated well, emotions must be shown by the dancer. A dancer might memorize the steps easily but without emotions, the dancer will not be able to move people and engaging the audience is the most important thing when performing for people. Emotions of a person while dancing can be shown by making facial expressions and body language. In dancing, the body is used as an instrument to portray what the dance really wants to say. On the other hand, emotions use dance as a medium for a person to express his/her feelings. Ballroom dancing refers to a series of dance performed with a partner in both, social as well as competitive settings. Dancing in competition style will usually incorporate...

Words: 1672 - Pages: 7

Free Essay

History

...Today culture hasmany problem, here in the US and around the world. One major problem that people are starting to notice is that back in china many people are intentionally hitting pedestrians. This phenomenon is caused when a person is hit by a car and the person drives back over them, then reverses and crushes there skull into small little pieces. Why would a person want to do this? Well in china if you injure the person you will be paying a lot more money than if you just straight up kill them. So by run over them many times they are saving money. The risk they have to take is if caught they will go to jail for a long time. But to them the risk is nothing compared to the money they could be paying. This article gives vital info about how our world has changed. This info should be given to everyone who cares about our world and countries alone. Many people around the world would benefit greatly from this considering it gives info that can help us all. People who are planning on taking a vacation to china are one of the top priorities of people who need to know about this. The danger of people being in china and not knowing this is very high. The info given in the article can help citizens to be more cautious around sketchy drivers. These drivers will not stop for anything to save them money and get away with it. By doing this people don’t realize how much it affects others. This doesn’t just affect the person and close relative it affects friends. These friends may go into...

Words: 487 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Linux vs Windows

...fulfills company operations on these servers with their 750+ array of desktop and laptop computers – all running Windows XP Professional. Linux may just be a little dog in the Microsoft park, but a company that makes the big switch can expect Linux to yield benefits in cost savings, increased security, and arguably better usability. However, each individual enterprise situation is always different, so a cookie cutter solution of which system to use will never suffice. Rather, the numbers through subjects of cost, market share, programming capabilities, software compatibility and availability, and the ever-important user interface will tell the best choice. Cost The only way to evaluate cost is to get down to the basics, and look at the statistics. The first topic of cost will center solely on the price for Windows operating system software, first for the network side, then the node side. Other topics will focus on the cost of the Ubuntu Linux distribution, which will run on the servers and desktops, and how the cost of each compare. The network operations of X Industries currently push around 177 servers (150 Windows 2008, 10 dual boot Windows 2005/2008, 10 Windows Web IIS servers, five Windows Exchange e-mail servers, and two Windows dependent ERP servers.). According to Microsoft (2010), the price for licensing 162 copies of Windows Server 2008 at $1,209 equates to $195,858. The...

Words: 3478 - Pages: 14

Premium Essay

Madonna Case Study

...Software Category: Platform : Windows Macintosh Linux Web apps Other All Microsoft Word 2010 keyboard shortcuts Tags: MicrosoftWord | Office | Word Processors Shortcut keys >> Microsoft apps Adobe apps Google Apps Web Browsers Email programs Photo/Imaging MP3 HTML Editors List of shortcut keys Shortcut Command How useful(?) Display and use windows Microsoft Word 2010 ALT+TAB Switch to the next window. + – ALT+SHFT+TAB Switch to the previous window. + – CTRL+W or CTRL+F4 Close the active window. + – ALT+F5 Restore the size of the active window after you maximize it. + – F6 Move to a task pane from another pane in the program window (clockwise direction). You may need to press F6 more than once. + – SHFT+F6 Move to a task pane from another pane in the program window (counterclockwise direction). + – CTRL+F6 When more than one window is open, switch to the next window. + – CTRL+SHFT+F6 Switch to the previous window. + – CTRL+F10 Maximize or restore a selected window. + – PRINT SCREEN Copy a picture of the screen to the Clipboard. + – ALT+PRINT SCREEN Copy a picture of the selected window to the Clipboard. + – Use dialog boxes Microsoft Word 2010 TAB Move to the next option or option group. + – SHFT+TAB Move to the previous option or option group. + – CTRL+TAB Switch to the next tab in a dialog box...

Words: 4011 - Pages: 17

Premium Essay

Microsoft - John Wolford

...Case 4a: Microsoft Q1: A company’s ability to attract, motivate, and retain superior people is a key determinant for success in any organization, and Microsoft was at one point unmatched in their ability to do just this. Subsequently, their recruiting and retention strategy was indeed likely their core source of competitive advantage when the company was an engine of exponential growth. As Microsoft entered the 90s however, with the company’s growth slowing, and the organization moving towards the behemoth we know today, the strength of this competency, and its importance to the organization began to shift as well. Inevitably, as a company grows, the ability for an individual to make an outsized impact declines dramatically. This is best expressed in the change in Microsoft’s vision statement from “a computer on every desk and in every home running on Microsoft software” to “to empower people to do anything they want, any place they want, on any device.” The first statement is concrete, concise, and measurable, while the second statement is considerably less so. Developers working to achieve the first vision statement were excited to be a part of something bigger than themselves. This was evidenced by statements like: “we were literally changing the world. You felt you were at the center of the universe,” and that Gates and his top managers had “created a culture where everyone felt like their excellence was material to the bottom line.” It’s difficult to feel...

Words: 1834 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Txtsdsdsdsdsdsd

...Keyboard shortcuts for Microsoft Office Word Show All Hide All The keyboard shortcuts that are described in this Help topic refer to the U.S. keyboard layout. Keys on other layouts might not correspond exactly to the keys on a U.S. keyboard.  Note    This article does not cover customizing keyboard shortcuts or creating keyboard shortcuts for macros or AutoText. For more information, click a link in the See Also section. In this article Finding and using keyboard shortcuts Microsoft Office basics Navigating the Office Fluent Ribbon Quick reference for Microsoft Office Word Function key reference ------------------------------------------------- Finding and using keyboard shortcuts For keyboard shortcuts in which you press two or more keys at the same time, the keys to press are separated by a plus sign (+) in Microsoft Word 2010 Help. For keyboard shortcuts in which you press one key immediately followed by another key, the keys to press are separated by a comma (,). Use the keyboard to expand sections * To expand all sections of the article, press TAB until Show all is selected, and then press ENTER. Press ENTER again to collapse all sections. * To expand just one section of the article, press TAB until that section heading and plus sign are selected, and then press ENTER. Press ENTER again to collapse the section. Search this article Important  Before you start to search, press TAB until Show All is selected, and then press ENTER. 1. Press CTRL+F...

Words: 4672 - Pages: 19

Premium Essay

Creative Brief

...from 2010 to 2012 (BBC 2012). This is a good indicator of how the Xbox 360 + Kinect has captured its target market in a growing games industry which promotes family bonding through entertainment. 1.1 Market Share and size of market Currently, Xbox 360 holds 47% share of the overall current-generation console market, with Kinect sales accounting for 19 out of 67 million copies of Xbox consoles sold (Microsoft Corporation 2012). Enabling Microsoft to achieve 13.3% of the current market share in the gaming console industry with the Xbox 360+Kinect. Figure 1. Market share of Xbox 360 + Kinect in the industry. Source: (Microsoft 2012) 1.2 Market Position The following graph depicts year on year sales of the Xbox 360 console against competitors since its inception in 2005. Undoubtedly, the Xbox 360 has garnered the most sales in 2012, characterized by steady growth over the seven years (Microsoft 2012). Figure 2. Console Hardware sales in the US. Source: (Microsoft 2012) 1.3 Company’s principal product in terms of features and benefits Other than the Xbox 360, Microsoft has launched products, which were equal or even more representative of the company. Being the most popular platform, with a 10-year old history, Windows XP Operating System is thus considered to be the principal product of the company. Research shows that it had a 48.06% share of the market in the month of April 2012 (Stankiewicz 2012). XP’s key features are ClearType, side-by-side assembly sharing, fast...

Words: 5687 - Pages: 23

Free Essay

Yoga

...are free to copy the content of the book but with the proper actions. Mention the name and link of the book wherever you use the content of the book. All the trademarks and logos used in this eBook are the property of their respective owners. Windows 7, Microsoft, Windows 7 logo & icons are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in US & rest of the world. Uses of these trademarks in this eBook are for educational or reference purpose only. For more information on distribution and legal policies, visit www.thewindowsclub.com Page | - 3 - The Complete Windows 7 Shortcuts eBook About the Author The author of this eBook, Nitin Agarwal is an independent technology analyst for Windows IT Pro and other Microsoft products. He writes about Windows 7 and gives tech updates on his blog, known as Windows Lifestyle (www.windowslifestyle.com). He is an active member of Microsoft forums & communities. TheWindowsClub is his favorite Windows discussion forum. He is Microsoft Certified Professional and also completed various courses, Clinics & certifications conducted by Microsoft eLearning Website. He also attended several of Webcasts, Podcasts & Virtual Techdays sessions conducted by Microsoft MVPs, Professionals & Windows Experts. He regularly tweets at @nitinagarwal198 About the Publisher TheWindowsClub is a...

Words: 9310 - Pages: 38

Premium Essay

Excel Shortcut

...to access the ribbon. It also lists Ctrl combination shortcut keys, function keys, and some other common shortcut keys for Microsoft Excel 2013. In this article Keyboard access to the ribbon Will my old shortcuts still work? Ctrl combination shortcut keys Function keys Other useful shortcut keys Keyboard access to the ribbon If you're new to the ribbon, the information in this section can help you understand the ribbon's keyboard shortcut model. The ribbon comes with new shortcuts, called Key Tips. To make the Key Tips appear, press Alt. To display a tab on the ribbon, press the key for the tab—for example, press the letter N for the Insert tab or M for the Formulas tab. This makes all the Key Tip badges for that tab's buttons appear. Then, press the key for the button you want. Will my old shortcuts still work? Keyboard shortcuts that begin with Ctrl will still work in Microsoft Excel 2013. For example, Ctrl+C still copies to the clipboard, and Ctrl+V still pastes from the clipboard. Most of the old Alt+ menu shortcuts still work, too. However, you need to know the full shortcut from memory — there are no screen reminders of what letters to press. For example, try pressing Alt, and then press one of the old menu keys E (Edit), V (View), I (Insert), and so on. A box pops up saying you're using an access key from an earlier version of Microsoft Office. If you know the entire key sequence, go ahead and initiate the command. If you don't know the sequence, press Esc...

Words: 2819 - Pages: 12

Free Essay

Xbox and Microsoft Strategic Management Case Study

...team recommends that Microsoft develop the software for non-gaming set-top boxes and partner with a hardware company. This option is likely to produce the greatest ROI for Microsoft because Microsoft’s core competency is developing operating software and this option carries the least amount of risk. Background The consumer demand for the ability to seamlessly integrate and connect devices and data that they use in their daily life is growing rapidly. The ability to connect mobile phones, television sets, tablets, and personal computers has provided consumers with an unparalleled opportunity to the access to information (I), communication (C), and entertainment (E), collectively known as ICE. The struggle amongst Microsoft and archrivals like Apple and Google is to develop the “must-have” product that would redefine the way content is consumed in the living rooms around the world. While streaming content via game consoles has been on the rise, the introduction of streaming content via non-gaming set-top boxes has become increasingly popular. Microsoft must choose how to position itself in this rapidly changing market so that it does not render itself irrelevant and so that it can capitalize on this shift in the way that content is being consumed. Ultimately Microsoft can make one of four choices. Microsoft can: (1) keep the status quo, (2) develop the software for non-gaming set-top boxes and partner with a hardware company, (3) develop a Microsoft branded non-gaming set-top...

Words: 3776 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Microsoft’s Search

...2012 MICROSOFT’S SEARCH SUMMARY * In September 2008 the executives at Microsoft looked at alternatives to improve the company’s position. * The company got serious about search five years back, made great progress, but still lacks behind Google. The division leader is looking for a new ‘game changer’ move which helps then catch and pass Google. Microsoft in 2008: * Since its origin, Microsoft has grown to sell a complex line of software, services, and hardware. * The historical heart of the company was its line of operating systems for PCs, which was introduced in 1980. IBM had come to Bill Gates looking for someone to build a PC operating system. Gates purchased an OS and modified it to meet IBM’s needs, and named it MS-DOS. Rights to use this system were sold to IBM. * During the 1980’s this system dominated a rapidly growing market for PCs. * By 1990, clone makers (Compaq, Dell, etc.) were licensing MS-DOS for $15 per PC. Microsoft’s OS ran 90% of the worlds PCs, while Apple had a 7% share. * Apple launched Macintosh in 1984, and Microsoft introduced Windows 1.0. In 1990 Windows 3.0 was introduced, then Windows 95, 98, XP and finally Vista in 2007. * Development costs rose from $500 million for Windows 95 to $10 billon for Windows Vista. By mid 2000’s, Microsoft sold 95% of all OS, while Apple had a share of 3%. Application Software: * 1980’s: Microsoft entered the business of making application software. * 1983-84: They released...

Words: 1860 - Pages: 8

Premium Essay

Web Based Operating Systems

...There have been many attempts to hoard market share on Web Operating Systems like Microsofts Windows 2003 Server Web Edition (Pingdom, 2011). But basically WebOS Servers are common operating systems serving the public over the internet. Most of these are server editions vary among todays popular operating systems like Windows, Linux, MAC, and UNIX. An additional platform is usually common to layer on top of these operating systems and these come in various flavors as well depending on the function of the website. This paper will target the popular server operating systems that are common on the internet today with emphasis on why these systems are popular and some of the features these systems offer as systems suitable for internet servers. Windows Servers Without question Microsoft Windows bases servers are among the most popular servers on the internet today. Need proof? Just look for the .htm extention at the end of the URL and you will find that most websites are easily identifiable as a Windows based server (J. Kyrnin, About.com). Windows based servers are popular operating systems in general because they offer a wide variety of popular system platforms that are also commonly used on the web today such as Microsoft Hyper-V, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft SharePoint, and Microsoft even offers a web server platform customized for content management with (MCMS) Microsoft Content Management Server (MSDN,...

Words: 1086 - Pages: 5

Free Essay

Microsoft and the Internet: How to Respond to the Rise of Google?

...MICROSOFT AND THE INTERNET: HOW TO RESPOND TO THE RISE OF GOOGLE? Microsoft started investing in the market for internet search and internet advertising in 2003. Despite some interesting technological and marketing moves, however, the company was still a distant third to Google 5 years later and was losing money. In the early 2009, Microsoft’s executives were wondering which bold strategic moves could be made to change this situation. How the Microsoft adventure began At the end of 2008, Microsoft, founded by Bill Gates in 1975, was a giant with revenues of $60 billion and operating cash flow of $22 billion. A large part of Microsoft’s success had come from operating systems for personal computers. Operating systems were the core software that coordinated a computer’s activities. In the early 1980s, Microsoft was chosen by IBM to develop the MS-DOS and to tailor it to IBM needs. Bill Gates, who believed that many other companies might also adopt the same system, sold IBM the rights to use the software for $80,000 but insisted that Microsoft kept the copyrights on MS-DOS. This worked beyond expectations as the many competitors -for instance, Compaq or Dell- who imitated the IBM PC adopted MS-DOS as well, paying Microsoft licence fees of $15 per machine. By the early 1990s, Microsoft had over 90% of the operating system business, Apple gathering most of the rest. Armies of developers were also developing hundreds of software applications that ran on MS-DOS. Microsoft’s dominance...

Words: 3935 - Pages: 16

Premium Essay

Business Administration Marketing Economy

...| Company Write-up: Xbox 360 | Built for Fun | | Michele Herriman | Principles of MarketingDr. Dennis Pedrick | 4/18/2011 | | Company History The Microsoft Corporation, as many people know, is one of the world’s leading computer software manufacturers. Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, the company is known for developing, manufacturing, licensing, and supporting a range of software products and services for various computing devices worldwide. Established in 1975 by Paul Allen and Bill Gates, Microsoft began developing interpreters for microcomputers. By 1980, Microsoft entered the operating system business after signing a contract with IBM, which resulted in the branding and ownership rights of MS-DOS. By 1984 Microsoft had developed its first version of the operating system Microsoft Windows, and by March of 1986, the company had gone public with its stock. Today Microsoft has expanded to much more than just the familiar Windows Operating Systems, such as Windows 7 and Windows Vista. The company also provides enterprise consulting and product support services, training and certification to developers and information technology professionals. The company offers online information products, such as Bing and MSN, and an online advertising platform for publishers and advertisers. More recent products include the Windows Phone and the Zune digital music and entertainment platform, and application software for Apple’s Macintosh computers...

Words: 3659 - Pages: 15