Evaluation of Apple & M$ 2007 strategy

After debating the SWOT analysis of two companies, the evaluations for their future plan also should be discussed. Both Apple Computers and Microsoft Corporation have the important plans for 2007. That year could even be the most competitive year for those two companies. Microsoft Corporation will release the new operation system named Vista and the new digital music player named Zune. Those two products are the main products of Microsoft Corporation in 2007. As for Apple Computers, it will release new operation system named OSX 10.5 and new serial of iPod. Although many other products are expected to be released in 2007, Apple Computers usually keeps the new products confidential. A new generation of iPod is that most people predict to be released in 2007 in order to meet Zune, so they will strongly compete with each other next year.


The evaluations of Microsoft Corporation’s policy are below. First, Vista, the new Microsoft operation system, will have six different versions to meet the different needs. That seems a considerable policy to customers. However, sometimes the consumers may be confused about which one they should choose. Second, It is very unusual for Microsoft Corporation to delay the release date of Vista many times from Autumn 2005 to Spring 2007. It will have the strongly negative impacts to the company because it may be thought that the company has no very precise plan. However, many people still look forward to Vista. According to the information that Microsoft announces, Vista has many stronger functions.


However, many people are also stunned by the high system requirement and high price of Vista. If Vista requires such a high equipment, but many people may need to change their current computers. It is argued that is negative for consumers because they do not want to spend money and tend to use the current operation system. Many people also feel upset about the high price. Those factors will affect the sales of Vista.


Compared with the uncertainty of Microsoft, Apple’s new operation system seems to be more stable especially the embarrassing period of switching IBM CPU to Intel CPU is almost over. It should be the time for Apple Computers to enjoy the benefits. However, the majority of computer users still use the Microsoft XP and they are not familiar with Apple’s operation system. What Apple Computers can do is to attract more users to use their operation system to extend their market.


Another plan of Microsoft Corporation is the release of new digital player named Zune. Compared with iPod, Zune has more functions. It seems to be the killer of iPod. However, many people now have already owned a digital player and it is a question that they want to buy the new one. It seems to be significant that \some people, especially the iPod fans, won’t buy Zune. Another doubt comes from Zune itself.


Although Zune has a number of functions, people do not really want those new technologies. Take Sony as an example. Sony’s last PDAs has many fantastic functions. It was released in Summer 2004 and many of its functions were still superior to most current PDA but Sony received bad revenues from PDA because of its high price and many people do not need such the new functions at that time. That leads to Sony to stop its PDA sales in Autumn 2005. According to the example, it should be proved by time if Zune brings positive or negative impacts to Microsoft Corporation.


Those are the evaluations of the future plan for 2007 of two companies. It seems that Microsoft Corporation has less positive impacts. However, it has already been very strong in this industry. They can use their strengths to excess Apple Computers. The consequence can not be known until the year really come.