Apparently there will be separate pricing (like Vista) for the new Mac OS X Leopard (due in October). Here they are:
- Basic: $129
- Premium: $129
- Business: $129
- Enterprise: $129
Feel free to re-read that list. Take note of the retail price. Bahahaahahaha... Psyche! Ya, Apple doesn't need to learn anything from Redmond in the OS business. Stable, one price, 64-bit from stem to stern, and wicked in every way. Why do I sound so sure? Why am I willing to go out on a limb and make statements about beta software? Because it what I have come to expect from Apple and OS X.
I am an ambidextrous geek, which means I am happy in both Windows and OS X environments. I can get what I want out of any computer system. There is a crucial difference between why I use both systems. I use Windows because I have to. I use Mac OS X because I want to. Now that I can run Windows as an application inside OS X (google "Parallels") there is little reason for me to require a separate noise tower in my office. This is sheer delight. For those who think Windows is for "real" computer users and OS X is for casual (and by extension less knowledgeable) computer users, I cheerfully remind you that there is substance underneath the candy coating of OS X. The core is a robust Unix system which has a venerable lineage in computer history.
The only thing that Redmond has done lately that has me swivelling my head in their direction is the Surface Computing stuff they are doing. If they can deliver consumer grade and well connected versions of this, then we may have a reason to keep a Windows box running after all.
Good luck MS, just be careful when you play with cats!
