Which company is more successful: Apple or Microsoft?

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.
 

bonddonraj

MP Guru
Apple was the first to come out with an easy to use graphic operating system. Click on an icon and voila, the machine responds. Microsoft did develop its own graphic operating system, Windows, for the IBM PC, but years late, and a few features short
What is the Reality?

There is much debate today (and their has been in the past) about the different between the use of Microsoft DOS/Windows and Apple/Macintosh Computers. There have been numerous articles in national magazines over the years, opinions by both the Macintosh and Windows (so called experts) etc. What are the facts? What is the reality? How computer literate are the writers who make these statements about the Windows, or the Macintosh in national magazines. Do they own (own) and use (use) both machines? We hear them telling us that they used them (not clear how much) but do they own both types of computers also?

It is similar to the debate about the Dvorak Keyboard and this keyboard we all use today. We all use the current keyboard today, since it is the standard, (a time consuming standard). The standard is not always the best way of doing things, and it can be very time consuming. How many man hours and productivity is lost, because we picked the wrong standard for the keyboard? Once something becomes a standard, we are stuck with it, even though a better thing is available.

This site adds add one more opinion to the debate about DOS/Widows/Apple computers (the cause). The events leading up to the Microsoft standard we have now. This site comments are based a large collection of computers (DOS/Windows and Macintosh). The one thing that is puzzling- it appears that all these experts on both sides, have little experience in the use of the machine, they are very critical of? It appears both the Macintosh and DOS/Windows people are so sure of themselves, without the experience to even make a wise judgment?
 

deya

Par 100 posts (V.I.P)
wow......nice piece both of u!!!! gr8 info in both of them......

da s/w sector is da most spoken abt sector........there r a lot more sectors where people r makin money, sure dis is 4 nw makin money da most.....yet.....we shud also look into other sectors!!!

sayin so i vl also try find nice infoz on other sector;)
 

nilesh

New member
microsoft is the biggest sucess story of all time. they have came all the way from scratch. apple which has introduced mac format is an innovation run company, they are very powerful in their technology. their latest success is their apple ipod. they have also produce apple color monitors etc.
apple is one of the fast growing company.
there was a dispute between both this gaint for many years. but in march this dispute has came to an end when apple used the windows operator service in their latest version of laptops.
so both of them are top in their respected markets
 

ajay.surana

Par 100 posts (V.I.P)
I equally consider both of them in terms of success.....now it depends how u measure success...in terms of product innovations its Apple and more user friendly product its Microsoft...
 

rhs

Par 100 posts (V.I.P)
For engineer (technical) students apple will always be an inspiration whereas for bms students(business) ms is an inspiration.
Ms is successful because it is more user friendly but mac is the best.
 

ranma2463

New member
Depends on what standpoint you are looking at...
On the olden schools of thought, where economies of scale prosper or with the production perspective would say that its Microsoft who's successful since its producing more and selling more.
But in modern schools of thought, where customer loyalty and customer-oriented perspective rules, it would be Apple hands down. Though Apple's customer base is not as many as Microsoft, it has managed to make fiercely loyal customers with its technology and service. A luxury that only a small scale company like theirs can provide, unlike with Microsoft's mass-based set-up.
If Apple were in Microsoft's shoes, I dont think they'd do any differently from what Microsoft is doing now, or vice versa. They are equal in some aspects, but not quite.
 
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