Fighting battle royale.(Microsoft, Apple Computer each tout their new operating systems)(Brief Article)

Tech titans plot new platform moves

Mapping out dueling stratagems with new versions of their flagship operating systems, Apple Computer Inc. and Microsoft Corp. are vying in a meticulously choreographed game to win the allegiance of hardware makers and developers.

But it isn't clear yet whether consumers -- who will ultimately buy the software -- are willing to play along.

Apple unveiled its Mac OS X last month and Microsoft is putting the finishing touches on Windows XP for a summer release. The upgrades, touted by both companies as their most significant operating releases in years, promise everything from eye-popping graphics to fewer crashes.

They're hugely important to both companies. Cupertino, Calif.-based Apple hopes the overhaul will help sell more computers, and in securities filings warns investors that speed bumps in OS X's adoption could hit its bottom line. …