In the past year, Apple has sold more than in the previous 28 years combined.
These objectively impressive numbers, in my opinion, demonstrate how much the IT world needed innovation. Apple adopts strategies that I mostly don't agree with (proprietary formats, binding contracts, obsession with patents, even the most controversial ones, etc.). But it cannot be denied that – unlike other producers – it devotes a lot of resources and a lot of time to quality and research.
The qualitative difference between a Mac and a PC, in hardware but above all in software, cannot be dismissed as a joke of the eternal "nerd" computer warfare. It was incredible that an operating system like Windows, so vulnerable, unstable and slow (with the same resources), could last so long. Something was wrong with the laws of the market.
Now it seems that the mechanism has unlocked. And in fact for the majority of users it is no longer so mandatory to use Windows. The Internet has really made it easier to exchange documents. Hard disk and floppy file systems (closed, non-interoperable, strictly proprietary) are now irrelevant. And the beneficial effects can be seen. Even for Windows users. With version 8 Microsoft introduces some concepts that could (and should) have been introduced 20 years ago. And if it finally does now it's probably in response to the above numbers.
It would be great if in a few years we could choose our computer based on how it works, and not on how well it satisfies the commercial and patent blackmails of this or that multinational. It would be a great thing if Public Administrations around the world (a fundamental customer for software houses) imposed open and interoperable formats, banned closed file systems, asked for clear and transparent rules for ecosystems such as iTunes or Google Music.
I'm sure we'll get there, hopefully not in another 20 years.
Adapted from: Page Three.
