Battle of the bytes: up against new contender Windows 95, can Macintosh go the distance?

Up against new contender Windows 95, can Macintosh go the distance?

Until recently, the choice between the Macintosh and PC was pretty clear. For ease of use and cool graphics capabilities, you went with the Macintosh; for lower price, it was the PC all the way. And for the vast majority of users, price was the biggest factor--the lion's share of computer buyers chose PCs.

But now, the release of Windows 95 and the dynamics of the hardware market have changed the equation.

On the one hand, Apple announced aggressive price reductions on many machines last October. As a result, you can now buy a reasonably equipped Power Macintosh for about the same price as an equivalent PC.

On the other hand, Windows 95 incorporates many of the innovations found in the Macintosh operating system. It has even made some improvements over the Macintosh interface, although the Macintosh retains its lead in ease of use in many areas.

Now that the deck has been reshuffled, how does the Macintosh vs. Windows decision stack up?

Better Than Ever

Windows 3.X was a vast improvement over earlier Windows versions and certainly over DOS--but it still couldn't compare with the Macintosh operating system in terms of ease of use. The Windows 95 user interface, however, is far better than Windows 3.X. In many instances, it borrows from the Macintosh interface and, in some ways, has improved on it.

Following are new additions that make Windows 95 similar to the Macintosh:

One great new feature is the ability to work with folder icons that represent files and disk hierarchies (such as the old DOS directories and subdirectories). The Windows 95 interface, however, logically groups data and resources, which the Macintosh doesn't.

A Taskbar menu lets you call up and switch between any software application at any time. This feature is better than the Macintosh's because its use is more obvious. It clearly highlights what's running and allows you to switch programs with a single mouse click.

Control panels have been added for configuring your hardware.

Easy access to frequently used files is provided right from the main Start menu.

You have the ability to create long file names so you don't have to give your files short, cryptic names.

The Help system actually helps you implement its suggestions.

A multilevel Undo command for all file operations safeguards your work--something the Macintosh doesn't offer.

Windows 95 now offers Shortcut icons similar to the Macintosh Alias function, which lets you call up a program right from the Apple menu instead of looking for it on your desktop. But these Shortcuts go beyond Macintosh's; they can refer to data inside documents as well as to files and folders, and can also call up information on a local area network server, remote dial-up computer, Internet site or The Microsoft Network online service.

But while some features of Windows 95 were improvements over the Macintosh system, it also has some hurdles of its own to overcome. Hardware and CONFIG.SYS settings left over from earlier programs can conflict with the new system, causing your hard drive to crash.

Mac On Top

Even as Microsoft has made some advances over the Macintosh, Apple is working to develop a new operating system, dubbed Copland, that will probably beat many of Windows 95's improvements.

Apple is still debating what features will be included when the system ships later this year. Possibilities include a customizable user interface and features such as drawers, built-in indexing and automatically updated search templates to help users manage their giant hard drives more efficiently.

One of the biggest improvements Copland offers is technical changes designed to eliminate the program conflicts that cause crashes in Systems 7.1 and 7.5. A new Open Transport feature will enable you to network systems from multiple vendors running multiple operating systems. And, like Windows 95, Copland will also include a single in-box for fax, e-mail and other communications.

A major disadvantage of the Copland system, however, is that only Power Macintoshes can run it.

Cool Software

Until recently, it seemed the hippest software was available only for the Macintosh. But now, the most innovative products are coming out on Windows first and later--if at all--on the Macintosh.

It's not surprising. A Pentium PC running Windows 95 can now easily run even the most sophisticated graphics software. And, since the vast majority of computer users own PCs, it makes sense for software developers to opt for the platform with the largest market share.

Apple is countering this trend by encouraging developers to create a stream of state-of-the-art Macintosh programs. The big question, though, is whether Apple's efforts can compete with inexorable market forces.

Playing Hard Ball

Because Apple has always controlled the production of its operating system and all compatible computers (unlike IBM, which allowed other companies to manufacture PC-clones), it has always had a more consistent interface that the makers of add-in hardware, such as CD-ROM drives, could work with. As a result, add-ins have always worked better and been easier to install with Macintoshes than with PCs.

Windows 95 has a new plug-and-play feature that allows the operating system to read what's on your machine and automatically configure your new add-in hardware to your existing setup. However, this feature only works if the add-in hardware is designed to support it--and it will be quite a while before the majority of hardware offers plug-and-play capability.

In the meantime, it will continue to be easier for users to add new hardware to their Macintosh systems than to PCs.

WorkIng Out The Bugs

A key factor in the Macintosh vs. Windows 95 debate, of course, is whether Apple can turn itself around and regain the trust of the marketplace. Over the past year, the company has been beset with problems. Among the biggest was a miscalculation of shipment needs, which left Apple without an adequate supply of key components to manufacture enough Power Macintoshes to meet consumer demand. The result: a backlog of orders--and a mass of unhappy resellers and customers.

But a newly released specification for PowerPC-based desktop computers, notebooks and servers, commonly referred to as the PowerPC Platform, or PPCP, should help. The PPCP specification allows Apple systems to s1upport industry standard components. This means more component suppliers will be able to support the Macintosh, alleviating the product shortages that have plagued the company and allowing Apple to respond more quickly to changing market demands. It also means overall Macintosh system costs will continue to fall. Customers should be able to repair and customize their Macintoshes more easily and cheaply, and new technologies that originate outside Apple should become available more promptly to Macintosh users.

The PPCP specification also makes it possible to build a computer compatible with the Macintosh operating system without relying on Apple designs, support and custom chips. This means other vendors will be able to enter the Macintosh clone market, offering lower-priced versions.

The other big benefit of PPCP is it allows the PowerPC to support multiple operating systems, including Windows NT, OS/2, AIX, Sun Solaris and Novell Netware. Windows 3.1 and Windows 95, however, will not be supported because they were designed for Intel 386 and 486 processors. Windows programs can run on the PowerPC, but only in emulation, which significantly slows them down.

And The Winner is . . .

At this point, price is no longer a deciding factor. For the most part, Macintoshes are priced the same as PCs. And now, especially with the imminent release of Copland, the Macintosh will continue to edge out Windows 95 in terms of design elegance and ease of use. For users who are not computer literate and who don't have a computer guru to turn to for assistance, a Macintosh might be your best choice. But the problems at Apple, combined with the mass of applications being created to support Windows 95, leave some questions about the continuing dominance of the Macintosh platform. Users interested in purchasing a system for which numerous applications are available might want to look at Windows 95.

Cheryl J. Goldberg is a former editor of PC Magazine and has reported on the computer industry for more than 13 years. Write to her in care of Entrepreneur, 2392 Morse Ave., Irvine, CA 92714. You can also reach her via CompuServe at 70641,3632 or via MCI Mail at 367-2295.

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