JP
It’s been around a long time. The Microsoft-Apple war. People on both sides of the fence argue until they’re foaming at the mouth about “who is better.” The media has even poked fun at it but Apple has full on embraced it with the Mac and PC Guys in commercials. That being said, these CEO icons are no longer really at war, and even though Microsoft still pushes more units each year, Apple is the clear winner.
As much as I hate to admit it, Steve Jobs is the jock. He’s the cocky guy that knows he’s the best and most of the time, he’s right. Bill Gates is the nerdy type with a chip on his shoulder. He knows he’s smart and he wants to let you know too. Both guys lack social decorum, but one comes out on top as the victor time and time again, and that’s Steve Jobs.
And you know, what? It’s all about advertising. Not only is Apple the “cool” company, they are so cool they can make fun of themselves and PC in one move. The Mac and PC Guys are famous–the Mac guy is cocky and sure of himself, PC guy is self-depreciating and likable. What other company can portray their opponent in a more lovable fashion and still come out on top.
But nothing has done more to stoke the company war than the media itself. Parodies abound all over the net–feel free to try your hand at the SuperNews game below (it’s good stuff)–and the rivalry continues even though Gates is no longer Microsoft’s CEO! It will forever be a Jobs/Gates duel, because they are merely icons of the war between what is cool and what is the norm. And really, who wants to go with the norm, anyway?
9 Responses to “Jobs v. Gates: Icons of a Media War”
TS July 30, 2008
Steve Jobs will never win, because Apple will never win. It’s not just Apple vs Microsoft. It’s Apple vs Microsoft and Dell and Sony and Toshiba and Samsung, and every other cell phone and computer company that uses and sells a Microsoft product. As long as Apple refuses to allow others to sell its operating system (I actually don’t know much about the matter, I may be wrong,) Microsoft will win. Sorry Steve.
NeutralBrenda Stokes July 30, 2008
I understand what you mean, TS. But when it comes to style and committed customer base, Apple wins hands down.
+2WillyDavidK July 31, 2008
TS, that is a very ignorant outlook on the situation – there is a distinct reason that apple doesn’t allow others to use it’s own operating system. Apple makes it’s own hardware, a key distinguishing factor between apple and Microsoft. This is the key reason that os x has been proven more stable, more secure, and generally faster and easier to use than the ‘norm’ of windows. Windows has to be more bulky, less secure, and less stable because it has to be prepared for millions of possible hardware configurations, while apple can code their operating system specifically for one or a few hardware configurations. If Apple sold out like Microsoft not only would they no longer be trendy or ‘cool’, their operating system would become just as buggy and insecure as Microsoft’s.
The reason Apple is ‘better’ as the writer states isn’t ONLY because they have written a superior operating system (tho they have, in my opinion) but because of the way they have integrated it into streamlined systems, not to mention building their computers very well (for the most part, there are still plenty of hardware defects out there) and having a very keen sense for design.
+1Leo July 31, 2008
This is a very ignorant post to begin with. I’m sure this lady feels completely right as she writes this in her cool but overpriced mac book pro. But when it comes to this apple vs ms war everyone knows 80% of women and gay people go for macs as they both like pretty and expensive things as well as being told what to do by a some one “cooler” as in the cool guy in the commercials. I still think they commercials are really funny but it just shows how ignorant we all are, if someone chooses to buy a mac by watching one of those tv ads well then you can easily tell what kinda of person they are.
+1Neuco July 31, 2008
I used to see all these comments before about how Slashgear was an Apple biased site, and I never believed it. Well, now I do.
Just how is Apple the “clear winner”? Sure they sell a lot of iPods, to the point where people think all digital music players are called that (like Q-Tips instead of cotton swabs, Coke instead of soda, etc.). However how are they clear winners overall? On both a consumer and business level, more people own Windows based PC’s then they do Mac computers. Just about every PDA and BlackBerry on the planet has a mobile version of Windows on it. Sure, you see Apple computers all the time in the movies, but then again, they are just movies. Just becuase you think something is better doesn’t make it the “clear winner”.
On that note, I guess the New England Patriots were the clear winners in football last year. Oh wait…
+1Brenda Stokes July 31, 2008
Leo: I never said that I bought Apple products based on their funny commercials. Sure, Apples are pretty and expensive, but I use them because they run better, are more reliable and are easier to use. PCs are cheaper and the more business-minded choice, sure, but one only need to use Vista for five minutes to know that there is an underlying problem with the PC hardware and operating system.
Neuco: This was an editorial. My opinion, only. Apple computers are the clear winner not due to sales–because we both know PC wins there–but because they make and keep customers. You always hear about people turning from PCs to Macs, but never the other way around.
+1AB July 31, 2008
This is my opinion, and I may be completely off, but I think that Apple’s main customers are younger to middle-aged people who have little to medium knowledge of computers and buy Apple simply because of the “cool” factor. They see the commercials, they hear the negative talk about Windows, and they possibly find Apple’s look to be simpler and therefore less problematic. So Apple wins in a “try this, all the cool kids are doing it” kind of way. Have you heard of Windows Mojave?
NeutralAlso, saying Apple wins is pretty much like saying the imperial system won over the metric system as the worldwide standard.
Paul July 31, 2008
There is no winner or looser. If you work with design for example, MAC might be better. If you work with finance, Windows will be better. It all depends on what you do and how you like doing it. I have an IPOD and love it, but I also love Vista. Why do we have to pick one side? Anyways, if I had to choose, I would stick with Bill…
+1Neuco August 1, 2008
AB: Couldn’t agree more.
Paul: Also agree, except for that last part about Bill. He has left the company.
-1;)