Apple and Microsoft's successes are not easy to compare because (1)they sell different products: Apple software is bound to it's own hardware versus Microsoft software which runs on publicly cloneable hardware; and (2) they target different customers: Apple products appeal mostly to consumers while Microsoft targets consumer and business customers alike.
* Innovation-wise, Apple is successful.
Apple proves to invent and innovate not just on technology (iMac, iPod) but also on services (iTunes). They have the right to say that Windows is "legacy" because their Mac for example is the first to have the best features possible not available in other OS.
* Market-wise, Microsoft is successful.
Unfortunaely, Apple's innovations target consumers but not strongly business customers.
The success to market favors Microsoft because of the popularity and availability of (1) hardware for their software and (2) software for their software. Besides being already ahead in the consumer market, Microsoft also has a steady growth in the business market.
Unless Apple can prove its worth to business customers (like Linux can), Apple can only rely on the consumer market. But since most PC sales worldwide are driven by business customers, Apple has a lot of work to increase its market share.
Business-wise, both are successful.
* Innovation-wise, Apple is successful.
Apple proves to invent and innovate not just on technology (iMac, iPod) but also on services (iTunes). They have the right to say that Windows is "legacy" because their Mac for example is the first to have the best features possible not available in other OS.
* Market-wise, Microsoft is successful.
Unfortunaely, Apple's innovations target consumers but not strongly business customers.
The success to market favors Microsoft because of the popularity and availability of (1) hardware for their software and (2) software for their software. Besides being already ahead in the consumer market, Microsoft also has a steady growth in the business market.
Unless Apple can prove its worth to business customers (like Linux can), Apple can only rely on the consumer market. But since most PC sales worldwide are driven by business customers, Apple has a lot of work to increase its market share.
Business-wise, both are successful.