plus ça change

I'm an Apple fan.  Unapologetically so.

So, I watched their recent WWDC live stream in anticipation of the new things to come from them.  I really find it quite exciting like, oh I don't know, a world leader frothing at the mouth over some witch doctor.  Yes I know - shoot me now!

Anyway, from as far back as my Apple experience started, 2007 to be precise, Apple's operating system has been OSX (or OS 10).  My journey started with OS 10.4 (Tiger) and continued through to today's OS 10.15 (Catalina).  OSX therefore has been a permanent part of my computing life.

But not, it seems, any longer.

When Apple release their latest operating system in the autumn, it'll be called Big Sur (continuing their penchant for American geography) but it'll also be OSXI (or OS 11).

The reason for this change is largely down to Apple's move away from Intel processors to its own in-house silicone chips.  It also seems to herald in more consistency between its desktop OS with its mobile iOS systems used on iPhones and iPads.  Apple claims that iOS apps will run on Macs and vice-versa.

This will probably mean nothing to me.  My computer usage is basic - web browsing, email, writing, photo editing and a bit of mucking about with video.  I'm hardly what they would call a power user.

But be in no doubt that this change is massive for Apple and for the computing world in general.  I think it's inevitable that Apple will introduce a touch-screen laptop in the near future, further blurring the lines between its (less and less) distinct operating systems.

Apple continues to be a niche product for many in the computing fraternity.  Its market share lags massively behind windows.  Its iPhone though is a different story.  There it is very much the market leader.

If this switch to Apple's own chips is a success, then expect its computers to catch up with windows.  Apple is always notoriously late to the party, but when it gets there it usually gets things spot on.  I don't expect this to be any different.

Plus c'est la meme chose.