The Rise of Apple and Micrposoft - design context essay by David Huertas

THE RISE OF APPLE AND MICROSFOT

THE TITANS OF TECHNOLOGY From small companies to economical giants who have changed the world with their ideas, Apple and Microsoft are names that most people instantly recognize now. These companies slowly created idea of modern computers and phones as we know them.

One way both Apple and Microsoft (Apple mainly) still remain as two of the most important companies in the world is due to their priority one user interface and usability. If you ever used an Apple or Microsoft product, and you most likely have, you can probably remember how simple it seems to use it. The moment you turn on one of Apple’s phone, you can see how simplified things were, big easy to see app icons, settings neatly Even Siri/Cortana to help you with anything you need, from keeping a schedule up to date for you to telling jokes. This way of doing things, such as smart phones, Skype, MacBook, and Internet Explorer became role models for any future companies who attended to compete against the kings of their market, who would always remain ahead of the rest, making new products that would create the same sense of excitement and as the first product they made.

In a sense, Apple and Microsoft inspired each other to achieve such high status in the world. Rivalry and alliances between each other are what I believe allowed them to create innovative products in order to keep up with one another.

Thanks to Microsoft’s help, Apple was able to create the first Macintosh, a computer that would later on be upgrade into Macintosh II, the computer that started Apple’s great success.

Thanks to Apple’s success Microsoft finally had a rightful competitor on which be inspired upon, creating things like Windows 1.0. In their early years they were much more distinct to one another with Apple focusing on making computers and Microsoft creating software. As they became competitors their ideals somewhat overlapped, creating a stronger version of each other.

One way Apple gain more clients is their great advertisements they created throughout their life. From day one Apple intended to make themselves a unique brand, something people would want to choose instead the more commonly known computer and phone companies. On the other side Microsoft started to open its arm to the world, leaving a trace of the company on every product it could if it did not buy the product itself outright to further work on it. These were two clearly different paths to further expand, and each one came with its ups and downs.

Most advertisements for both companies did well overall, but one of them that Apple created definitely stood out as being one of the best ads Apple ever created: “Think Different”. This advertisement was made in 1997 and paid respect to the famous creators of history, telling the viewer to be revel, a troublemaker, different. And what is the best way to be different? By buying Apple products. This kind of mentality remained with Apples to this day.

Another point for Apple would be its relentless persistence on design and comfortability for the user towards every single new product it released, Holding a smartphone now feels normal, but back then when the first iPhone came out, it was much superior to any previous phone before it.

Phones went from products to call one another to a computer that was light, fast (for its time) and fitted in your pocket no problem. Apple’s user-friendly products were definitely a dominant point of the company, each button and icon were simple to use just felt right when doing so.

While Apple was more user friendly oriented, Microsoft focused on the more general side of things. In almost every piece of technology to this day, Microsoft probably either had a say on it or inspired them to make it. This general style of things is what allowed Microsoft to remain one of the titans of technology for so long, its ability to morph and change things for every situation made competing against them extremely hard. Apple releases Macintosh? Microsoft releases Windows.

And who could talk about Microsoft without mentioning one of their most successful creations, Microsoft Office. If you need write an essay or prepare a presentation or even just work out a budget,

the first thing you instantly think about and rely on is Office. Its programs made it possible for anyone to open a document and let their thoughts flow, the amount of people that were inspired by them is truly exceptional. Its ability to comfortably lead young minds to for example start a story or practice public speaking skills was what made it so great. To this day Office dominates the productivity suite market. Competition from companies such as Apple or Google has arisen, but nothing has come close to the popularity of Office.

These aspects of Office are also present of many of Microsoft’s products. In a sense, Microsoft has help thousands if not millions of users to be more productive while not sacrificing extra effort or time. Using Microsoft’s programs and software remains fairly simple to accomplish while holding on to that “professional” feeling it gives off.

This balance of attributes creates the best environment for productivity, perhaps even success. Apple may have luxurious user-friendly products, but when it comes to productivity at work or for a leisure, there will always be a clear company with an expertise in giving that same thing, Microsoft.

One feature that Microsoft has the upper hand on would be its compatibility with outside programs. When you download an application/program on your computer, you are almost guaranteed to have a windows version available, but the same cannot be said for Mac. Some programs, mainly the famous ones, may have a version for apple’s products, but others simply do not. This may not be seen as that big of a problem for some, like those who only require the basics for their everyday doings, but for others this feature alone drastically changes their opinion on which computer to buy.

Although one thing Microsoft and its products lacks is design, or good design to be more specific. A Microsoft computer or other product alike usually feels and looks considerable worse than the Apple counterpart. Apple products may cost you dearly, but you will definitely have something to show off from it.

Their laptops are extremely well designed while still remaining fairly comfortable to use. And one really important point about their design is the exceptional durability It has compared to Microsoft based products.

In general, both companies have their ups and downs.

Microsoft and Windows may be perfect for those who run extremely power consuming programs or even run servers or things alike, and Apple might be a great choice for

those who just want a simple yet stylish and user-friendly product in which you can do your everyday things on. This complete opposite takes on features is what I personally believe brings the best of each other, one could not exist or at least be stable without the other.

And Overall if one did not exist the other one could have very well overtaken the remaining one instead of deciding on a neutral alliance such as the one that Apple and Microsoft has come to terms on after years of rivalry.

Perhaps if they did not start at the same time, the world would be a different place and the following companies would have taken charge and produce different types of phones, computer, and software. Apple could not have started up without Microsoft help, but at the same time Microsoft could not have made it this far without Apple’s creative ideas and unique view on technology and design. Apple and Microsoft are the complete opposite and that is what makes them so great, if you do not like one, you probably like the other one. At the end, is all about choice.