Apple ’s prevue of Mac OS X Leopard succeed rave reviews from technology industry analysts who say that Monday ’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote set a potent tone for the do months .
“ With sweetening to live feature like Spotlight , iChat , Mail , and new features like Time Machine and Boot Camp , I think that Apple has show that there is enough note value in Leopard for Mac users to upgrade , ” Technology Business Research senior analyst Tim Deal toldMacworld .
Michael Gartenberg , vice chairman and research director at JupiterResearch , concord . “ There is certainly a strong effort to show that most of the affair in Vista are already available in [ Mac OS X ] Leopard and Tiger , ” he said . “ Without show their paw , [ Apple is ] showing how they can move beyond where [ Microsoft ] Vista is survive . ”
While that upcoming operating scheme from Microsoft has been the brunt of many jokes from Apple CEO Steve Jobs over the years — including several during Monday ’s keynote — Apple executives say the society is n’t focused on Microsoft .
“ Our goal is always going to be to create the best desktop operating scheme that has ever existed , ” say Brian Croll , Apple ’s fourth-year director of Software Product Marketing . “ It ’s all about delivering the thing that our client desire . ”
Developer support
Past overhauls to OS X have unremarkably brought with them ill about Apple adding characteristic that mirror offer from third - company developer — think back to the controversy over Dashboard and its similarities to Konfabulator when Tiger was preview at the 2004 developers conference .
Apple could be in store for alike criticism with Leopard . The OS ten update includes backup capabilities and iChat enhancements including television effects . Both features are available via third - company applications .
However , analysts downplay the theory of controversy . “ There ’s no developer that has an app quite like Time simple machine , ” said Gartenberg . “ There ’s still opportunities to create new matter or enhance the be products — Apple is thinking of its customers first . ”
Take Dashboard , Gartenberg said . Its cellular inclusion in OS X touch Konfabulator developer Arlo Rose and Perry Clark . But add up the Dashboard feature to OS X opened the door for many more developer to enter the grocery .
Deal said that Apple require to be more open with its developer . “ It is essential for Apple to do work in concert with third - party diligence developer or risk alienating them and drop off them whole , “ he added . “ I think the company is beginning to understand that the Mac ecosystem boom on third - company collaboration . ”
Mac Pro reflexion
Leopard was n’t the only Apple offer showcased Monday . The company also released the Mac Pro screen background powered by two Intel Xeon processors and annunciate a Xeon - establish Xserve . psychoanalyst conceive the move to Xeon chips was smart for the company ’s retentive - term goals , proving that the company is serious about power in its pro machine .
“ With two Xeon chips , and double the functioning of the Power Mac , the new Mac Pro is a sweet box , ” Deal said . “ Apple has also follow in differentiating the Mac Pro from high - end iMacs , which could aid prevent cannibalizing of sales like in past mathematical product launch . ”
Apple executives articulate the company wanted to give its gamy - goal customers the best products with the adept technology it could .
“ That ’s what our pro client deserve , ” said David Moody , Apple ’s frailty president of worldwide Mac merchandise marketing . “ We need to keep them at the head of the technology so they can do the best work they can . ”
Deal trust Apple succeeded at doing that with its former hardware . “ It utter volumes about the company ’s drive to come after within the professional environs , ” he added . “ In order for Apple to be take seriously by business customers , it could in no way skimp on ironware performance in the server outer space . ”
Not only did the Apple return powerful pro background and server machine , but it also did so at a gaudy price than the Mac Pro ’s PowerPC - base predecessor . This will go a long to avail Apple ditch the perception that its offerings are more expensive than those of other microcomputer manufacturers , analysts say . “ Apple has made substantial strides in becoming more price competitive , however the company still has far to go to convince the world of that , ” Deal said .
