Apple seriously challenging Microsoft’s computing dominance

Microsoft’s grip on the core of computing is finally weakening. According to Businessweek, a recent upgrade to the Mac operating system has moved Jobs ‘co. closer to challenging Microsoft for overall computing dominance, even in the corporate market.

With one finger you press “Control” and with the other you press “right arrow”, instantly being able to switch from a Macintosh operating system (OS) to a Microsoft Windows OS. This easy toggling on an Apple computer, enabled by a feature called Spaces, was but an interesting side note to last fall’s upgrade of the Mac OS. But coupled with other recent developments, the stars are aligning in a very intriguing pattern.

Apple’s (AAPL) recent release of a tool kit for programmers to write applications for the iPhone will be followed by the June launch of iPhone 2.0, a software upgrade geared toward business users. Taken together, these seemingly unrelated moves are taking the outline of a full-fledged strategy.

Windows users, in the very near future, will be free to switch to Apple computers and mobile devices, drawn by a widening array of Mac software, without suffering the pain of giving up critical Windows-based applications right away.

Despite Apple’s relative scarcity on corporate desktops, Mac laptops are already well accepted within the enterprise, with a market share of more than 20% and growing. For business travelers, the new MacBook Air, some three pounds lighter than comparable Windows-based laptops, already offers one huge advantage.

The easy virtualization of two radically different operating systems on a single desktop paves a classic migration path. Business users will be tempted. Apple is positioning itself to challenge Microsoft for overall computing dominance, even in the corporate realm.

And now, with the ability to jump back and forth between Mac and Windows applications, more corporate users are bound to embrace Mac laptops.

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