The REAL tablet wars are about to start

[HC_Chief]

I read your "middle management" rants and agree, middle managers (typically) suck, but they are NOT the people making the decisions: executives are. Why is it the executives are foregoing Apple products for Windows? (Rhetorical question; we all know why: broader hardware base, much better price point, lower TCO, greater ROI, MUCH broader application support base).

I have Apple products (MacBook Pro, MacBook, iPhone, iPad), I have had PCs running Linux (great for playing around; tons of potential, excellent if you're running a startup), and I have Microsoft products. Apple was great...in comparison to Vista (total POS). Compared to W7 and W8, it is sllllloooowwww aaaaaasssss ffffffffaaaaaaaacccccckkkkkkk, and severely limited in functionality (unless you load W7 or W8 in Parallels/dual-boot/VMware).

The iPad is a great form factor, but it is ultimately a trendy high-tech toy. There are lots of cool little apps for diversion, but not a lot of practicality. It has a ton of potential, but may (Microsoft's bet is it will) eventually be eclipsed due to its limited acceptance in the corporate world.

As for "rebelling against Microsoft", it's the same old story since the antitrust proceedings due to Microsoft having the nerve to *gasp* include a browser with their OS. Haters are going to hate, nothing anyone can say to change that. Fact is no one has been able to make much of a dent in their dominance. Google has been a massive failure on that front; Apple has been successful with their smartphone (revolutionary), and their tablet....in the consumer space. They have made moderate inroads in business with each, but they are still a minority in terms of phone for business. The iPad, on the other hand, was really the only game in town...until now.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

The iPad, on the other hand, was really the only game in town...until now.

From a purely OS standpoint... Apple is behind the 8-ball now. Windows 8 has the runaway advantage in the corporate world(obviously) and Android is set to make a huge jump forward with Jelly Bean 4.2. Why do I say that? Because now you have both competitors to Apple with support for multiple user profiles. That's a pretty huge step forward.


Oh, another great thing in Jelly Bean 4.2... native support for Miracast. For those who don't know what that is.. it's an open source, standards based alternative to Apple's AirPlay. It can support 1080p streaming to any Miracast certified device.. which are few and far between right now, but Samsung, Intel , etc have all just signed up and are pushing it hard.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

From a purely OS standpoint... Apple is behind the 8-ball now. Windows 8 has the runaway advantage in the corporate world(obviously) and Android is set to make a huge jump forward with Jelly Bean 4.2. Why do I say that? Because now you have both competitors to Apple with support for multiple user profiles. That's a pretty huge step forward.


Oh, another great thing in Jelly Bean 4.2... native support for Miracast. For those who don't know what that is.. it's an open source, standards based alternative to Apple's AirPlay. It can support 1080p streaming to any Miracast certified device.. which are few and far between right now, but Samsung, Intel , etc have all just signed up and are pushing it hard.

The multiple user thing is HUGE for education use. As in, if iPad doesn't come out with their own in the next year or so, I can see way more classrooms moving away from iPad. Of course, I'm pretty confident that Apple will have implemented it within the next year or so.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by NewChief

The multiple user thing is HUGE for education use. As in, if iPad doesn't come out with their own in the next year or so, I can see way more classrooms moving away from iPad. Of course, I'm pretty confident that Apple will have implemented it within the next year or so.

The way I see it, they have to implement it by late July of next year or they will see some serious blowback from education purchasers moving on to better and cheaper Android tablets.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by AustinChief

The way I see it, they have to implement it by late July of next year or they will see some serious blowback from education purchasers moving on to better and cheaper Android tablets.

I think you overestimate the adaptation timeframe for education (and many institutions). You're not talking about a massive switch. It's always going to be a slow paradigm shift. I'm not convinced that, from a detached evolutionary perspective, Apple won't end up in the tablet/phone market in the same place it's ended up in the PC market. I just don't see it happening in the NEAR (next couple of years) future, which is where I part with Apple haters and Droid enthusiasts.

[HC_Chief]

Originally Posted by NewChief

I think you overestimate the adaptation timeframe for education (and many institutions). You're not talking about a massive switch. It's always going to be a slow paradigm shift. I'm not convinced that, from a detached evolutionary perspective, Apple won't end up in the tablet/phone market in the same place it's ended up in the PC market. I just don't see it happening in the NEAR (next couple of years) future, which is where I part with Apple haters and Droid enthusiasts.

apple is without Jobs...again. Last time that happened...

just sayin'.

[NewChief]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

apple is without Jobs...again. Last time that happened...

just sayin'.

No doubt, and they appear to be making even more missteps since his death.

[AustinChief]

Originally Posted by NewChief

I'm not convinced that, from a detached evolutionary perspective, Apple won't end up in the tablet/phone market in the same place it's ended up in the PC market. I just don't see it happening in the NEAR (next couple of years) future, which is where I part with Apple haters and Droid enthusiasts.

that's exactly what I have been saying..

And just to be clear... Apple is already there NOW with phones. Their natural market share is in the 10-17% range. That is where they are with Macs and iPhones and iPads are quickly approaching that. (depends on how you count tablets.. if you ignore white label or not.. even if you leave off the shadow market, Apple has now slipped below 50% from 70% a year ago .. no way they aren't below 30% next year)

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

I read your "middle management" rants and agree, middle managers (typically) suck, but they are NOT the people making the decisions: executives are. Why is it the executives are foregoing Apple products for Windows? (Rhetorical question; we all know why: broader hardware base, much better price point, lower TCO, greater ROI, MUCH broader application support.

I agree that execs are making the decisions.

I disagree with almost all of your reasons why.

The number 1 reason to choose Windows? I already have so much of an install base I CAN'T change even if I wanted to. Organizations, especially in this economy, don't want risk and change is risk.

The hardware base is broader and the hardware costs initially are lower. However, your assertions on TCO and ROI are debatable AT BEST.

The simple fact is that further Microsoft purchases leverage the existing install base and no exec ever got fired giving business to Microsoft.

[HC_Chief]

Originally Posted by htismaqe

However, your assertions on TCO and ROI are debatable AT BEST.

Check Alinean. The numbers tell the story.

Too often people mix their personal preferences into these discussions. Perception is NOT reality; it is perception. An objective, broad view of the landscape indicates that ROI is higher, and TCO is lower. The factors that you indicate as the reason are variables in the calcs, to be certain, but they are not the sole variable.

[htismaqe]

Originally Posted by HC_Chief

Check Alinean. The numbers tell the story.

Too often people mix their personal preferences into these discussions. Perception is NOT reality; it is perception. An objective, broad view of the landscape indicates that ROI is higher, and TCO is lower. The factors that you indicate as the reason are variables in the calcs, to be certain, but they are not the sole variable.

Licensing alone often prevents Microsoft from having the best ROI or TCO.

To make a blanket statement that Microsoft's solution has the best ROI and/or TCO is dubious at best and at worst, outright false. You can't talk in such broad generalities.

There's also the fact that Microsoft has purposefully made 3rd-party solutions more expensive in the foundation (see Citrix).