Hey, I switched back in 2004 when the iMac G5 first saw the light of day and I knew Apple was the only alternative to Microsoft (and all the problems XP wrought on my newly, self-built, cutting-edge PC).
Now here we are almost two years later and Apple is still the best alternative to any competition. Vista is yet on the horizon and despite the delays, it will eventually get here. The "Leopard versus Vista" articles will be flying all over the web shortly after these two camps release their new wares.
In the meantime, desktop Linux (such as, Suse "SLED 10.1" and the aforementioned Ubuntu) quietly grows more user-friendly and capable and even stylish and trendy. Think there aren't enough applications to justify making the switch to Linux? Take a look at http://www.linux.ie/newusers/alternatives.php. There are a lot of Mac users who have abandoned their PC roots (mostly due to Windows' issues) and have settled down with their Macs and enjoy their new experience. Yet, these same geeks (me included) miss tinkering with the hardware and building their own boxes. For them, the PC hardware was never an issue - it was the OS. Give them a viable OS replacement for Windows and they'll happily build another box (hardware bragging rights are the sweetest!) with easily updgradable parts to be home to it.
Apple should be more concerned about what Linux can do to their newly-found market share (PC Switchers like me) than any threat from the wounded giant MSFT can inflict. The latest rumors are Microsoft is planning to build their own iPod killer. Normally, this wouldn't be news but the other part of this rumor says Microsoft will freely replace all your iTunes purchased music for free from their Janus based online music store. That alone may be the nudge a lot of would-be iPod upgraders needed to dump the iPod. I mean, these people most likely aren't Apple computer owners so they don't "need" iTunes.
Almost every iPod competitor out there has a built-in radio (something Apple has mysteriously avoided) and some have a voice recorder too. The iPod excels at what it does - much like a screwdriver does what you'd expect. But, if you had the choice between a quality screwdriver and a Leatherman - and they both cost the same - which would you buy? Apple can't afford to get lazy now. This is the time to strike with better, more capable iPods and they need to really push (read: advertize) the heck out of the benefits of OS X (Tiger, Leopard... pick your cat) and they need to push this beyond the simple and cutesy "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" ads making the rounds now.
Consumers are comparison shoppers. They can recognize a bargain when they see one and many will turn away from Nike because a better deal can be had at PayLess. Apple needs to show the world what it looks like when you drag a file to a folder and it pops open to reveal its sub directories. They need to show the world its built in parental controls (before Vista one-ups them). And, as I peer into a future that shows me a growing Linux population, Apple needs to release its OS for the PC platform. Some will argue this will kill Apple hardware sales but not if Apple keeps creating the most innovative enclosures guaranteed to work best with their OS. And for those who prefer to build their own computers, a legal Apple OS would be another nail in the coffin for Microsoft and Linux. Apple is still the current best desktop but just as the world is comprised of shifting plates, no one can predict the damage the next earthquake announcement will bring.
