What Windows 7 Could Mean for Mac OS X
Email
Print
But if there is a correlation between Mac sales and Vista,
wouldn't there also be a negative correlation between Mac adoption and Windows
7's success?
Windows 7 probably won't stop Apple's rise in the consumer space. The iPod and
the iPhone are contributing heavily to its success and not even Windows 7 can
stop that. But in the enterprise, it's entirely different. Those companies that
moved to Mac OS X or are considering deploying Apple's operating system might
need to think twice. Windows is still the leader in the enterprise for good
reason. Unlike Mac OS X, Windows is the operating system platform
for almost every software package designed for businesses. It's a more
business-friendly operating system. Apple's Mac OS X doesn't enjoy those same
benefits.
In the end, it's Windows 7 and its value that will dictate how well Mac OS X
will perform in the enterprise going forward. If Windows 7 can live up to the
hype, Apple's growth in the enterprise will be stymied. Companies that had
thought about getting new hardware to replace their outdated XP computers will
need to choose between Windows 7 or Mac OS X. As long as Windows 7 ships to the
enterprise with as much value as Microsoft has promised, Mac OS X won't be the
chosen operating system. Microsoft will be able to return to absolute dominance
in the enterprise.
As long as Microsoft releases operating systems that don't quite match the
requirements of the enterprise, companies will think about deploying Mac OS X.
That's why Windows 7 is so important. If it can live up to its promise,
companies will adopt it, they will opt for an HP, Lenovo or Dell PC instead of
a Mac, and Apple's growth in the enterprise will end.
Windows is an extremely powerful operating system. It dictates the enterprise
market. It controls how companies do business. And, it seems, it plays a part
in Apple's success. But with Windows 7 promising greater appeal than Vista,
Apple might already have enjoyed its best days in the enterprise.
