Has Apple Inc. got what it takes?
I don’t think there’s much point comparing the hardware. Ever since Apple switched to Intel processors, the two machines have become nearly identical. Same processors, same motherboards, same graphic cards and so on. And there is no doubt that Apple hardware is top notch.
The difference is in the software. So does Apple have what it takes to supersede Microsoft as the dominant platform? I really can’t say for other countries, but in Korea, I’d say Apple has a long way to go.
Now, the quality of the software is not bad. In fact, it’s brilliant. Apple really knows how to design software to be user-friendly. The amount of effort they put into designing the user interface shines through on all the products, ranging from their OS X operating system to the iPod.
What’s really keeping the Mac tied down, especially in the Korean market, is compatibility issues. Apple seems to be something of a control freak, always trying to control every single variable. When you control all the variables, it’s easy to claim that “it just works.” But this, in my opinion, is really hampering the potential the Mac possesses.
The issue of compatibility is most pronounced when surfing the web.
Again, I’m talking from a Korean’s perspective, so what I say may not apply to all markets. In Korea, many websites require you to install various small plugins, collectively called ActiveX. Unless you install this, the site will not show up properly and will not work. Mac doesn’t support ActiveX, and neither does Firefox for that matter, even if you’re running it on Windows. So unless you’re using IE, you’re stuck with a non-functional website. As a Korean, using a Mac severely limits my web surfing. I can’t buy things from an online mall. I can’t use online banking services. I can’t play online games. I can’t even check my e-mail if I’m using a Korean service provider. The list goes on.
Apple’s OS X may beat Windows in all rounds from stability to usability, but when it comes to compatibility, I have to give it to Windows hands down. And this last round is really the deal-breaker for many prospective Mac buyers in Korea. Despite everything else, how can I possibly buy a machine that just won’t work?
Some, but not all, compatibility issues can be gotten around by installing Windows on an Apple machine; but this completely defeats the purpose of buying a Mac in the first place.
Perhaps Apple should open their eyes for a moment and take in the reality of the situation. Perhaps they should loosen up a little and let go of some of the variables. It would do them, and us, a world of good.
November 21st, 2007 at 9:47 pm
[…] said, in Has Apple Inc. got what it takes?, Apple’s OS X may beat Windows in all rounds from stability to usability, but when it comes to […]
November 22nd, 2007 at 4:03 pm
You mention the Mac (Safari, I assume) and Firefox as not supporting ActiveX, is there any browser other than Internet Explorer that does?
So, is it Apple who needs to open up (to Microsoft’s proprietary technologies) or Korean websites who need to follow standards?
I understand your frustration with Korean websites still using ActiveX, but I have a hard time blaming it on Apple’s being a “control freak.” In fact, it is my understanding that Active X controls on web pages actually contain windows software, so I don’t believe Apple could support them even IF it wanted to.
Just some food for thought…
November 22nd, 2007 at 9:09 pm
Apple could support ActiveX if they wanted to. You can’t run Windows Media Audio (wma) and Windows Media Video (wmv) files on a Mac by itself, but you can download 3rd party software that will run them. Apple is deliberately refusing to support MS formats. And yes, Apple should comply with the majority. Lets face it. MS has over 90% of the market in operating systems. Are you saying that this 90% should try and comply with a 10% who, for one reason or another, decided to choose the minority platform?
January 7th, 2008 at 9:31 am
I don’t give a damn for a man that can only spell a word one way.
January 30th, 2008 at 7:14 am
Joon, you are missing the point.
Apple is not being a “control freak.” If anything, Microsoft is by refusing to open up ActiveX to wider open communities, thus hindering implementation. Safari perfectly supports open standards. In fact, Safari has the best implementation of web standards (set by the W3C) of any browser I know of.
Contrast that with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, which continually refuses to cooperate with standard web practices and implement open standards. Instead, Microsoft relies upon outdated and intrusive technologies to achieve functionality.
I can certainly understand your displeasure with not being able to access certain websites which use the proprietary ActiveX technology. However, you should not blame Apple (or Mozilla, for that matter): webmasters who do not adopt cross-browser compatibility should be directed to initiatives such as the Web Standards project, which supports adoption of standards which work across platforms - operating systems, cell phones, and even text-only browsers.
January 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm
The issue really isn’t Apple’s support at all. It is Microsoft’s. ActiveX used to be supported on the Mac using Internet Explorer for Mac. Apple could not support ActiveX on their own because doing so would violate Microsoft’s intellectual property among other substantial technical issues. The lack of ActiveX support on the Mac is the result of decisions (in favor of “lock-in” business practices) by Microsoft, not Apple)
This is fundamentally deferent. Supporting wma and mwv only requires writing software that is capable of decoding these file formats. Supporting ActiveX would require implementing a complete Windows API.
The fact is, Microsoft realized that ActiveX was the wrong direction to take the web years ago and has been moving away from it (toward silverlight and other rich web technologies). ActiveX was always billed as an Internet Explorer only technology and was never designed to be able to be implemented by other browsers. Windows might have 90% market share (Internet Explorer, on the other hand, does not), but I would bet that ActiveX, a depreciated Microsoft technology, doesn’t have even 3% market share on the web.
Apple never decided not to support ActiveX on the Mac, Microsoft did, if you have problems with that, take them up with Microsoft for using “lock-in” business tactics.
Sorry if that is a bit rant-ish, I am tired and sick : )
Goodday.
February 11th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Thanks for the clarification. I assumed ActiveX was just a plug-in that would work anywhere. I realize that ActiveX is not a popular technology elsewhere in the world, but unfortunately in Korea, ActiveX is widely used. The two largest Korean web portals - Daum and Naver - both require ActiveX for their services, so obviously, other smaller sites will follow their example.