Apple needs to address one more problem
Apple made a bold move just over 1 year ago today. By releasing Mac OS X, they asked their users to completely change their digital lives and switch over to a brand new operating system. If it isn?t done correctly, they will have nothing but angry users split between 2 worlds, and if it does go correctly, they will have nothing but happy users. So what happened?
In my mind, there are three ways which most people reacted to the release of Mac OS X. The first group ran out and bought a copy of Mac OS X, installed it, and never again glanced at Mac OS 9. The second group, bought Mac OS X a few weeks or months later, installed it, and hopped back and fourth endlessly and still continue to do so. The last group, is running Mac OS 9.2.2 at the latest.
Personally I am in the second group, what I personally think is the largest group. I bought Mac OS X two weeks after it came out, and installed it quickly. I keep switching back and fourth, but never kept Mac OS X as my primary OS. I still use OS 9 more than 80% of the time. And I don?t think that will change very quickly. This is not a good thing for Apple.
As I write this article I am in (gasp) Mac OS X, but I am running Word 98 in classic to type it. Why? Because I don?t feel like spending hundreds of dollars for Office X, which I know I need. The only new feature that I need is for it to operate under Mac OS X. Apple Works looks pretty good, but it?s still second class, and I still have to pay $80 for it. In my mind it?s not worth the $80.
If I were Apple, I would give Apple Works for Mac OS X away like iTunes and iMovie, just to get people in Mac OS X. Apple already provides it with the purchase of an iMac. A large problem in Mac OS X is that people need new upgraded software. Lets face it classic is a pain in the butt. Nobody wants to deal with it on a daily basis. Once in a while is OK. By making Apple Works part of it?s iProgram suite, it would basically be able to say that once you buy a computer and Mac OS X, you have everything you need to get started. You can type up your papers, manage your finances, create presentations with Apple Works, create movies with iMovie, listen to music with iTunes, and manage your photos with iPhoto. Install Palm Desktop 4 and you can have a really good address book and calendar on your computer, that even prints out really well.
Lets see what that would be on the “dark side” shall we? Well you buy the computer, and you get Windows XP, just like with a Mac you get Mac OS X. Then you need to buy software for video editing, unless you buy a package deal. You need something else for photo?s. You can use media player for MP3?s, but it?s not easy to burn music. And then you can type up your papers with? notepad!
By including Apple Works as part of it?s iProgram suite of software, Apple would better be able to justify the cost of buying a Mac, which lets face it is a bit more than that of a PC. Buy the Mac, and you are ready to go. Nothing else needed. With Windows XP, you have to use? Notepad.
Now I think that would make a significant impact in Mac OS X usage. It would get me over, and I don?t think I am the only one. It would also show Microsoft a bit of a message. Mac users already have a free Office productivity tool. To get users to buy Microsoft Office X, they would need to lower the price a bit for home users. Maybe then we would get it within the $300 range, which I personally feel would be a bit better. I acknowledge that Office X is a bunch of good programs, but not worth what they are charging for. A home licensing plan, allowing home users to have Office X at a reduced fee would help that out a bit as well.
Only then will Mac OS X finally have what I need to live in it. It?s got the looks, it has the speed, it has the stability. But it?s lacking in the business software.
