Apple Vs. Microsoft: A Changing of the Digital Guard?

Is Microsoft more innovative than Apple?

Some folks have been making that case lately, including Sean Hollister in this CNET piece  (opens in a new tab). And he’s not alone. At Mashable,  Chris Taylor mounts a strikingly similar argument  (opens in a new tab)—and has 110,000 social shares to show for it.

Microsoft’s eye-popping Surface Studio is unlike any other computer  (opens in a new tab) the company has ever created. Meanwhile, Apple’s MacBook Pro update  (opens in a new tab), which introduces a touch-screen keyboard bar but removes a bunch of ports, was met with some disappointment.

Perhaps the most interesting explanation for this turn of events comes from Business Insider‘s Matt Weinberger  (opens in a new tab), who argues that the iPad still isn’t good enough to replace the MacBook Pro for many users. So Apple has to modestly update its laptops to reach a core audience, but not innovate so much that it confuses the broader market.

“So with Apple stuck in this weird stage between Mac and iPad, it’s the perfect time for Microsoft to get people jazzed up about Windows 10,” Weinberger writes. “That’s where the Surface line comes in, making the case to consumers that Microsoft is really good at helping you get stuff done and at coming up with nifty new touch-screen experiences.”

A couple of years ago, it seemed possible that Macs could become more common in your office, but is that vibe changing? It’s something to keep an eye on in the coming months—especially if you’re in a workplace that’s already committed to the Mac.

Rethink Your Networking

Start #Networking  (opens in a new tab) with People Outside Your Industry https://t.co/3OTvdC7l1F  (opens in a new tab) #AssnChat  (opens in a new tab) #professional  (opens in a new tab) #development  (opens in a new tab)

— John Ricco (@johnricco) October 31, 2016  (opens in a new tab)

The problem with building your network in a single industry is that it boxes you in. At Harvard Business Review, writer Dorie Clark recommends reaching outside your industry  (opens in a new tab) for networking contacts. The reason? It extends your reach when you look to make a career shift.

“You may have a few outliers in the mix, but unless you’ve been deliberate about your networking, the vast majority of people you know probably work in the same field or industry as you,” Clark argues. “It may seem innocuous, but that inadvertent myopia can put you at serious professional risk.”

Other Links of Note

“There was a recognition that in order to solve the company’s problems, we first have to admit what they were.” So says Zenefits CEO David Sacks, in an interview with Fast Company  (opens in a new tab), describing Zenefit’s road to recovery after a rocky period in which compliance became a major issue.

Is Google AMP worth it for publishers? Turns out, there is a little frustration with the speedy mobile technology, according to the Wall Street Journal  (opens in a new tab).

Credit card fraud isn’t just a problem for retailers. Nonprofits can be at risk, too. A recent post from iATS Payments  (opens in a new tab) offers some thoughts worth considering when dealing with this kind of financial problem.

(Microsoft)