“Many in the tech world are excited about the possibility that Apple’s Mac OS X might get more popular in the wake of CEO Steve Jobs’ decision to move the software to Intel’s hardware. My exclusive report last week that Michael Dell said his company would be interested in selling machines loaded with OS X only fueled the fires,” David Kirkpatrick writes for Fortune.
“While Dell’s interest is newsworthy, I doubt Jobs will let him sell OS X anytime soon. The Apple CEO has said he won’t, though in the past he has been known to say that he won’t do things right up until he does them. And such a move would be challenging for Apple financially. That’s because, for all of the company’s software smarts, its revenues are still heavily reliant upon computer hardware,” Kirkpatrick writes.
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
Mac OS X Leopard to contain ‘Red Box’ for natively running Windows applications? – June 23, 2005
Is Apple morphing Mac into the ultimate PC capable of running Mac OS X, Windows, Linux? – June 20, 2005
The Washington Post: ‘In a year or two, the best Windows PC may come from Apple’ – June 19, 2005
Intel’s built-in virtualization tech could be one way to run Windows on Intel-based Apple Macs – June 16, 2005
If Intel-based Macs can run Mac OS X and Windows, buying a Mac will be a no-brainer – June 15, 2005
Apple could use Trusted Platform Module chip to keep Mac OS X off non-Macs – June 14, 2005
Intel-based Macs running both Mac OS X and Windows will be good for Apple – June 10, 2005
Why buy a Dell when Apple ‘Macintel’ computers will run both Mac OS X and Windows? – June 08, 2005
Microsoft and Dell must have a lot of bricks lying around today – June 07, 2005
Apple to use Intel microprocessors beginning in 2006, all Macs to be Intel-based by end of 2007 – June 06, 2005
Mr Jobs does what ever he wants. . Regardless of what he says in the past. . I love it.
But dell selling Mac OS X loaded computers. . Humm je sais pas.
I personally would never buy a MacinDell.
Let Apple build the boxes and stock them full of software, slap a Dell logo on it and call them Granny Smiths.
A lot more sanity contained in this article than in the GEEK.com article postulating that Apple will turn into a software company.
I am SURE Dell would like to sell OS X for their boxes, Almight Macs able to run ANY operating system have a very simple, punchy, and easy to understand advantage. They are gonna blow a hole a mile wide in Dell and other Windows only box maker’s sales.
Make that “Almighty Macs”
gaba gaba gaba gaba gaba
— Edna Mode
Apple won’t have a choice.
Microsoft’s share will increase as more Apple users begin to install window’s on their intel mac. Windows will now have the advantage of being able to run on all brands of PC’s.
Apple needs to be able to do the same to compete. Hackers will be installing it anyway for free so why not make money from it.
Sure, hardware sales will take a hit, but in the long run it is the software, stupid, that will make them a bigger company. This is how Steve will get close to beating Billy.
Microsoft did well selling software only, stupid.
Yes, I am aware that Apple will run into problems with having OS X running on different hardware, but then customers could buy the total package if they wanted to solve compatibility issues: Mac hardware with Mac software.
methinks Kirkpatrick is writing this for those who aint all that famililar with Apple or Jobs.
…that or he’s gotta justify a paycheck by producing…. SOMETHING.
Would Apple make more money selling it’s OS X software to 90% of the market or selling it’s hardware to 5% ?
This is an amazing backdoor approach to selling Macs to Windows users.
Apple claimed that they won’t prevent it from happening, but they also said that they won’t support it… let the buyer beware.
Those that do buy it to run Windowsose will surely take a look at OS X out of curiousity. Many will like what they see and decide to keep it the way it is. Those that don’t and use it as a Windows machine will always have the install disks to fall back to when they get fed up and realize what they are missing.
One more thing….
This would be different from the clone era.
For one, OS X is superior to XP. Second, the distribution channels for OS X will be enormously larger.
Put this article in the “No Duh!” file.
“Microsoft’s share will increase as more Apple users begin to install window’s on their intel mac.”
Are you serious? Please read what you wrote and realize how absolute foolish that sounds.
“Microsoft did well selling software only, stupid.”
That was at the infancy of the industry, stupid.
It ain’t gonna happen that way.
And so what if people buy it and run Windows on it and never get around to getting addicted to OS X. Apple still made some revenue off of the hardware sale that fuels the next round of products.
je NE sais pas
“That was at the infancy of the industry, stupid.”
Are we still in the infancy, stupid?
“Are you serious? Please read what you wrote and realize how absolute foolish that sounds.”
Regardless of your opinion of Microsoft, bottom line is that 90% of computers users use their software.
If you think all mac users are against this company and would never think of using their software, you are foolish.
Also, some mac users will need to install windows based on necessity or changing circumstances regardless of their preference for platform.
Do you honestly feel that Michael Dell, of all people, would publicly announce his desire for Mac OS X?
For you psyche majors, he is saying Steve and I will be working together so don’t be surprised when OS X is running on a Dell.
The same thing happened a few years ago, when the Intel CEO stated his desire for Mac OS X.
I wouldn’t be surprised that Apple develops a WINE derivative for OS X just as it did X11 for UNIX apps.
That way, users could run windows apps without having to run windows. I for one do not want to have to pay $250 for WIndows XP to run the occassion SW.
That would really piss M$ off – they will lose a revenue stream and be able to do nothing about it, except for maybe break M$ apps from running on WINE.
jjr,
I spend 75 percent of my computer time using Windows, so I am in that 90% that you speak of.
A machine sale is a machine sale, no matter how you slice it. It’s an Apple computer sale that didn’t exist before.
You can be assured that there will be more buying the machine to run OS X on it than there will be to run Windows.. by a large margin. This is NOT going to increase Windows market share.
Mr. Dell is worried that he is going to have to compete with a quality player in his ballgame
I will install Windows for the very few specific industry apps that I need, hopefully in a protected layer like Virtual PC for virus security, but won’t spend a second longer in Windows than I have to.
Once having worked with both Windows and OSX, the vast majority will make that same choice, no matter what the hardware is,assuming the hardware is decent quality.
If we can run Windows apps without emulation, but with security, so much the better, but I will do it either way.
Those of you who think you can live with only OSX apps, you just must not get out much in the computer world. But since most people really use computers for entertainment, that would not surprise me.
I work with my computer, so can’t avoid industry specific apps.
Dell is following Napster – they just don’t know it yet…
kenh,
Are you saying that you were a previously non-Apple hardware purchaser that would be switching to Apple’s hardware to run Windows apps?
I’m hoping your answer is a definite yes, because it means more hardware market share to Apple and less for the other players.