Embedded strategy

I finally watched the Keynote and what struck me was how different Microsoft and Apple are treating the embedded market.

Microsoft's embedded strategy is basically Windows everywhere. Except that developing for the different varieties of Windows is not always a straight forward task. And Windows isn't the most nimble of OS'. Add that to the reluctance many hardware manufacturers have had for Microsoft to own their space as they do the desktop world and you see why there have been problems with the Windows everywhere strategy.

With the latest software update, Apple is taking a completely different route. Instead of having hardware manufacturers tailor an OS for their hardware, the iPhone/iTouch duo acts as the brains for essentially dummy hardware. It's a lot easier to program and update an iPhone app vs. something that is more hardwired and can't be updated as easily if a product doesn't have a network connection handy.

I am so excited to see what is being developed. Just chomping at the bit.

Netbook hurting Microsoft

The biggest seller in the computer category is the netbook, small low-powered laptops. I've written about them once before and I have been thinking about getting one forever; the portability just can't be beat.

The only one not excited about the netbook is Microsoft. Turns out these tiny systems are hurting their business more than Apple. Why? Because netbooks sales contribute very little to their bottom line. 

1. Roughly one-third of netbooks ship with Linux. 
   
2. Those that do ship with Windows tend to ship with the low-cost Windows XP, an OS Microsoft has been trying to bin since Vista came out. 
   
3. Most netbooks don't run Office, since the software costs as much as the computer itself. 
   

A more detailed summary can be found here on Macworld via Computerworld.