When the term “technological conglomerate” has been mentioned recently, three contenders step into the ring.In one corner, we have Microsoft. Microsoft is definitely the senior contender in the group, but it is still fighting strong amongst many challengers.In the second corner stands Apple. Apple has really started to take over in the ’00s and is threatening Microsoft on many levels.In the third corner, we have the newcomer Google. While Google has been around for a while as a search engine, it has only started its reign as a big-time contender in the tech world.These three industry giants are fighting each other on many different fronts. Let’s take a brief look at the epic battle between Microsoft, Apple and Google.ROUND 1: Hotmail vs. MobileMe vs. Gmail Apple’s MobileMe and Google’s Gmail are very similar when it comes to the ability of wirelessly syncing your mail to your computer/phone (cloud computing). Microsoft’s Hotmail unfortunately just isn’t what it used to be in the past. But with Gmail becoming largely integrated with college campuses around the country (including LSU) it stands on top when it comes to e-mail. Winner: GoogleROUND 2: MS Office vs. iWork vs. Google Docs It really isn’t fair to put Google Docs in the same category as Office and iWork since the latter two offer more features than Docs. Therefore, it comes down to Microsoft’s Office and Apple’s iWork. Considering Microsoft had to make Office available for Macs to make Apple’s notebook catch on around college campuses, this one is easy.Winner: MicrosoftROUND 3: Windows vs. OS X vs. Chrome OS Because Google’s Chrome OS isn’t out yet, it’s not much of a contender on this one. Windows has had its problems, but comparing it directly to Mac’s OS X is like comparing apples and oranges – different strokes for different folks. Split Decision: Microsoft and AppleROUND 4: Internet Explorer vs. Safari vs. Chrome While IE and Safari come pre-installed on their respective platforms (Windows and Mac), Google’s Chrome browser is available free for download on either platform. IE is just a sorry excuse for a Web browser despite its recent updates, and Safari was never anything special to me – I’ve seen most people download Mozilla Firefox to replace both. But Chrome is sleek, fast and very user friendly. It’s also replaced Firefox on my laptop. Winner: GoogleROUND 5: Zune Marketplace vs. iTunes vs. Android Marketplace When it comes to app downloads, nothing can beat iTunes. With more than 200,000 apps available as well as music, movie and TV show downloads iTunes stands far above the rest in this medium. Android is catching up fast with nearly 50,000 apps, but this one is easy. Winner: AppleFINAL ROUND: Windows Mobile vs. iPhone OS vs. Android Let’s start this one with Windows Mobile…HA! Now that that’s out of the way let’s look at the two real contenders. While the iPhone is easily the most popular smartphone out there, the open source Android OS makes developing apps much easier for creators. Plus Android’s customization keeps each user constantly engaged with new features. Nonetheless, it is hard to argue against Apple’s “Jesus phone.” With easy integration with iTunes backed by the 200,000+ apps, that’s a big pull in Apple’s favor. Unfortunately, this winner isn’t as clear cut. Split Decision: Apple and GoogleHonorable Mentions: Zune vs. iPod: Winner – Apple Bing vs. Google Search: Winner: Google Bing Maps vs. PlaceBase vs. Google Maps: Winner: Google I would love to discuss the many “rounds” being fought between these industry giants, but my word count is coming to a close.Unfortunately, it’s difficult to pick a clear cut winner. But it is safe to say this war among the giants will continue for years to come, and I can’t wait to see what kinds of twists and turns are coming.
Adam Arinder is a 20-year-old communication studies junior from Baton Rouge. Follow him on Twitter @TDR_aarinder.
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