Microsoft`s Vista Industrial Design Toolkit: Taking a Bite out of Apple - Stealing a page from Apple's book
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Since the very beginning of Apple's rebellious rise in the world of personal computers there has always been an emphasis on finding ways to make the design of the system complement and reflect the design of the operating system on it. For example, consider the brushed metal components of Apple's OS X and the bare aluminum dressings on the G5. The merging of both these otherwise separate yet critical segments of the computer industry has helped to create a strong and very loyal customer base -- something that Microsoft wants to cash in on in the same way Apple has.
While both Microsoft and Apple operate in completely different areas of the computer industry, both have the same ultimate goal: market share and profit. Microsoft undoubtedly has the greater market share of the two companies with a near 90 percent penetration of the market (if not more) compared to Apple's relatively small five to ten percent penetration. Inversely, Microsoft has a rather mixed blend of users that includes pirates and hackers as well as Fortune 500 companies and housewives. Apple, on the other hand, has a very devoted following of users who, for the most part, represent professionals and advanced users.
Recently, though, the tide has started to shift. Through recent advertising campaigns unseen since the heady 80s during a rather significant Super Bowl commercial Apple has aggressively solicited in an attempt to convert new users to the Mac ideology.
Apple has grown significant stronger with the introduction of the iPod and iTunes service and has gained notable market penetration and brand recognition because of these. The influx of fresh capital and profits from these two brands has increased Apple's desire to expand its user base for its first, and flagship, product: the Apple computer.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is on the verge of releasing its newest operating system to an audience that can barely stifle its collective yawn. In an industry where price is king Microsoft has continued to release new versions of their operating system that can often represent nearly a third of the total cost of a computer (or more). At a time when new PC sales are expected to either stagnate or decline and when numerous enterprise companies are still running operating systems nearly a decade old, what is Microsoft going to do to increase sales and drive up revenues while at the same time fend off a revived rival?
Well, in addition to the Vista Industrial Design Toolkit meant to emulate and hopefully surpass one of Apple's much applauded strengths, Microsoft plans to attack them on another front with the Zune media player.
Zune is scheduled for release this Christmas and is being touted as the "iPod killer." The Zune media player is a handheld device designed to be the equivalent of the video iPod. The Zune will feature abilities similar to the Toshiba Gigabeat S. It will be able to play videos and music, and is rumored to have both Wifi and VoIP capabilities. The device's design is very similar to that of the iPod; it includes a scroll wheel clicker pad and an awfully similar control layout.
The device will be able to download music when connected to a PC (likely running Windows Vista) and can share files with other Zune users through the wireless connection. However, the music can only be purchased when connected to the PC and shared files with other users do have a short expiry (currently estimated as a day).
Next: Facing the music >>
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