Michael Dolan Dot Com

Tuesday, November 27th, 2007

Two interesting datapoints on the PC / desktop; and if you’re buying a new desktop/laptop, buy one with Linux or at least buy a Mac

I noticed a couple items hit my radar this morning.

First, ZDNet’s David Meyer outlined 10 things holding back technology. I happen to agree wholeheartedly with his first item:

1. Microsoft’s stranglehold on the desktop
Windows unified the personal-computer market, and led it into the enterprise. A good thing, surely? Yes — if unity is more important than innovation, flexibility and a free market. The European Commission disagreed with that, as have courts around the world.

For most people, computing means Windows, not because they choose it but because the company’s immense power in retail and business channels, together with the inertia that comes through decades of market dominance, make it a default that’s hard to change.

So why does this hold back innovation? The European Commission ruled that computer users are unnecessarily used to products like Windows Media Player — applications that are mediocre just because Microsoft has no real incentive to make them better. Monopolies are anti-competitive and therefore anti-innovation. Just look at Internet Explorer’s long stagnation.

Microsoft’s stifling influence on new ways of thinking goes beyond applications, however. As Vista so readily proves, rehashing the same idea again and again does not make for progress. For everyone’s sake, especially Microsoft itself, the company needs to learn to compete fairly again.

It would be great to see this stranglehold loosened and allow new innovators to enter the market.

The other item of interest I read was over at CNet who listed the Top 10 terrible tech products. Windows Vista made a strong showing at #10 (somehow they overlooked Windows Me):

Windows Vista
Any operating system that provokes a campaign for its predecessor’s reintroduction deserves to be classed as terrible technology. Any operating system that quietly has a downgrade-to- previous-edition option introduced for PC makers deserves to be classed as terrible technology. Any operating system that takes six years of development but is instantly hated by hordes of PC professionals and enthusiasts deserves to be classed as terrible technology.

Windows Vista conforms to all of the above. Its incompatibility with hardware, its obsessive requirement of human interaction to clear security dialogue box warnings and its abusive use of hated DRM, not to mention its general pointlessness as an upgrade, are just some examples of why this expensive operating system earns the final place in our terrible tech list.

So we’re stuck in a market that lacks innovation, forces over-reliance on a single vendor and leads to poor products that do not meet the needs of the customers. And yet, the poor product still maintains a dominant market share and can charge a premium. This is a monopoly the industry must break free from in order to innovate and deliver unique value to users. Unlike some, I don’t see the market shifting to a cellular/non-PC world anytime soon. There will be some shift, but the shift will take years, and may never fully replace the laptop/desktop.

Is 2008 the year to shake up the desktop market? I think so. I must admit, even if the market shifts to Apple Mac OS I’d be fine with that. We need some change in the market and if Mac meets the needs of consumers (and I think it does), let’s at least promote choice. I happen to like Ubuntu myself (as does my wife who doesn’t know she’s using Ubuntu).

Finally, I just love this Apple ad: