<discuss> Something that many technology journalists seem to have missed is the fact that the latest iterations of Windows and OS X are the first, and only, not to have been helmed by Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Gates bowed out from Microsoft the other year and Steve Jobs was, sadly, not well enough to work at the time.
Jobs made a triumphant return to public life today but what type of Apple has been moulded in his absence?
I believe that we’re seeing with Windows 7 and OS X Snow Leopard operating systems that have been created by the accountants. Without the creative and domineering input of these two giants, Microsoft and Apple have simply been left to ‘get on with the job’ for the first time, and it’s interesting they’ve both coincided.
What we’ve got are two operating systems that are light on new features but leaner and fitter. Would we have had these under Gates and Jobs?
We’ll probably never know the answer to this question, however I don’t believe it can be argued that either operating system will be worse off for the change. Both are much improved over their predecessors, which goes doubly so for Windows 7!
With Jobs back at work will we see more innovation and excitement with the next version of OS X? Conversely, with Gates now firmly out of the picture, will future versions of Windows turn into something that’s solid and dependable but, ultimately, a little boring?
Only time will tell. </discuss>
