In a new article on BusinessWeek Online , Charles Haddad says that Microsoft’s practices may give Apple its first real opportunity in 15 years to take away market share in the corporate market.
Calling Microsoft “the big grizzly of the software industry,” Haddad said that Microsoft is hooked on mediocrity and that users are getting wise to the company charging for small incremental improvements in its flagship products like Office.
Haddad notes two initiatives from Microsoft that he says will ultimately give Apple a chance to make some gains. The first initiative, Windows Product Activation, requires users to register Office with Microsoft before they can use it. The second initiative, the Open License 6.0 program, rewards companies and organizations that upgrade within Microsoft’s schedule.
“These outraged users are creating a great opportunity for Apple,” Haddad wrote. “And the two best alternatives — Apple’s OS X and Linux platforms — have never been stronger. Apple’s new operating system, based on the Unix kernel long used by big companies and universities, is as dependable and feature-rich as Windows XP, if not more so.”
Haddad also lauds the power and price of Apple’s new Xserve rackmount server. He noted the unlimited Mac OS X Server license that comes with the Xserve, too — a $1,000 value if purchased separately.
Haddad ended his column with a word of warning for Microsoft. “Long term, however, Microsoft better be careful. The corporate graveyard is studded with the tombstones of once domineering companies that died slow deaths through self-inflicted wounds.”