“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
if apple went from a hardware company to a software company the cost of 0s X would have to go up. additionally apple would probably charge different prices for 0s X w/ilife as compared to w/out ilife. We already complain that we have to pay for each major update, imagine how much we’d have to pay for the os if this scenerio ever came to pass.
Why don’t Apple just team up with McDonald’s and create a piece of sh*t of a computer, which has os x lite on it, no applications, but lots of crappy hardware inside the case… maybe even shape it like a burger.
They could call it the McMac.
No chance you say? Neither has Dell at the moment.
“gaba gaba gaba gaba gaba”
What he said.
“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.”
I agree with your first sentence, but not your second. Some users of mac hardware will be tempted or forced to install the window’s operating system.
I, for example, would much rather spend $250.00 on a window’s operating system and run it on a super fast intel mac that I already own then buy a $300.00 cheap PC box. In other words adding windows to my home configuration would become more cost appealing.
I also work 90% of the times on a windows machine and wouldn’t mind having the compatibility at home.
Adding windows to a mac environment will become easier and more cost effective for mac users, which in essence will increase market share for Microsoft. Yes, many will decide to use mostly the mac operation system, but this certainly will not happen overnight. Steve Jobs doesn’t want to wait till he is 85 before dethroning Billy.
No, stupid. We’re not at the infancy of the industry, stupid. The industry has infiltrated the infrastructure of the world, stupid, which is a sign that it’s not in it’s infancy, stupid. As a matter of fact, stupid, the industry had pretty much flattened out until the release of OS X Tiger and Apple’s announcement to go with Intel, stupid. So, we can probably consider this chapter of the industry “Computer Industry 2.0” stupid.
This is Steve Jobs against Billy, not Steve Jobs against the other PC players. Once he beats Billy, he beats everyone. Don’t you get it?
“No, stupid. We’re not at the infancy of the industry, stupid. The industry has infiltrated the infrastructure of the world, stupid, which is a sign that it’s not in it’s infancy, stupid. As a matter of fact, stupid, the industry had pretty much flattened out until the release of OS X Tiger and Apple’s announcement to go with Intel, stupid. So, we can probably consider this chapter of the industry “Computer Industry 2.0″ stupid.”
My point, exactly, genius.
By the way, I think you need to relax. Take some vacation time. See a doctor. Get a woman that really cares for you, etc….
Hey, someone on the web with a brain. It’s about time. I totally agree that OSX isn’t going to the PC masses, not now, not ever.
Apple Computer is a company that builds and sells computers. It makes software for it’s own computers and that’s all with a few exceptions being iTunes. As far as Apple releasing any OS to any other platform is out of the question unless Apple changes to Apple Software Inc.
Not going to happen. Apple is a hardware company not a software company. It’s primary business is computer hardware.
you’re talking circles now, dude
and keep your arm chair psychiatry to yourself. what would you know about “get a woman . . . ” that’s presumptuous and really lame
jjr,
APPL is now playing their middle game… when they’re ready to say checkmate to the current opponent (which I believe is Mr. Dell), you can be sure that this game will set them up nicely to take on the next player.
When Apple enters the intel arena they will start competing with the likes of Shuttle Computer. Dell is just a box builder but Shuttle builds PCs with the style and quality of Apple. And Shuttle builds some very nice small form factor chassis. This is where Apple will be competing so they must be prepared to provide a product to compete with that. If MacIntel computers can actually run Windows applications then the stakes will be very high for Apple. This is a new mindset for them, a chance to really ‘Think Different’. But I believe they are up to the task.
“and keep your arm chair psychiatry to yourself. what would you know about “get a woman . . . ” that’s presumptuous and really lame”
I am sorry if I hurt your feelings.
Shuttle Computer looks interesting. Not quite as refined as, say, a G5 box, but no doubt appealing to a more discriminating crowd. Would be an interesting licensing deal with Apple’s OS X.
lots of people buy Dell flatscreens… and run OS X inside it. I wonder if those are the same saying they’d never buy a Dell with MacTel inside.
Justified,
Shuttles are indeed interesting, but not as nice as the products of Hush Technologies, which are probably the only PC I’ve ever seen that would look nice in a living room.
MCCFR,
The hush products are nice. They look like stereo components and DVD players, so they’d fit in nicely with home entertainment systems. Again, an interesting licensing deal for Apple’s OS X.
When you say “the only PC I’ve ever seen that would look nice in a living room,” you DO mean PC, don’t you?
Apple makes great software, and great hardware. As it stands, they make more on hardware than on software.
Back in the clone days, the overall marketshare of MacOS went UP, but the marketshare of Apple Macs went down. Apple lost money. It *hurt* Apple. I don’t want to see that happen again.
I still think Apple will continue to use Open Firmware on the Intel-Macs. This will provide a small but effective barrier against OS X on PCs, and Windows on Macs. Yes, its circumventable. A creative hacker could do it. Microsoft could build Windows to run on Open Firmware. But with the difference between OF and BIOS, it’ll keep the casual user from installing one on the other.
Get it?
Smart people can still get Windows on Mac. But it won’t be supported, and it’ll keep Joe Average from doing it. What will be supported? Virtual PC… of course…
Yeah….and mac will never run on Intel.
I wouldn’t buy that Windoze software yet. Check out this article: http://macdailynews.com/index.php/weblog/comments/6107/
That means that you’ll be able to run those Windows apps without buying Windows. No blood money fees to Microsux and you get to run what you need to on a stable, secure, and rock-solid OS. As I’ve been telling friends, it will be the best of 3 worlds: Linux, Windows, and Mac.
I’m really surprised. From all the stuff I read here and at numerous other sites and forums, it appears no one really gets what’s going on.
Apple is not very likely (and for the near future) to become a software only company. Apple’s greatest profit margins come from their hardware sales. Apple obviously wants to sell Macs to PC users, and that’s Mac hardware, not the Mac OS.
Imagine if Apple could get the typical PC user to buy a Mac, make them enthusiastic about it, and do so without having to drop the price of a Mac. (BTW, if I’m right and a compnay’s profitability has anything to do with stock prices, now might be a good time to buy Apple stock.) And by typical PC user, I mean the 99.99 per cent who will never build their own PC, let alone install extra ram, a HD, or any kind of card. These days, the D.I.Y. crowd probably accounts for less than 1% of computer users.
Intel Macs will run Windows, so during the next couple of years a typical PC user looking to replace an older PC will have good reasons to buy a Mac instead of anything else, even if the Mac is more expensive.
Why? Because in the world of retail, there is something that almost always beats the lowest price factor. Two for the price of one.
That’s what you will get with an Intel Mac. Two computers for the price of one.
Intel Macs are Apple’s trojan horse.
MDN word – farm. As in “Don’t bet the farm on Apple becoming a software only company.”
leodavinci,
I think two OSs in one computer is too complicated and too confusing for that typical, non-DIY crowd that you’ve mentioned. I don’t know anyone outside of the geek crowd (not flaming) that has any inclination or desire to have two operating systems.
The beauty of the Mac is that the OS is transparent. The user never has to think about the OS. Dual booting will cause the non-DIY crowd to have to think about OSs.
I just don’t think Macs with Windows is what this is all about.
justified,
As for dual booting be too complicated, there’s no real technical reason it should be significantly different than say…multi-user switching.
I won’t argue points you make, and I didn’t intend my comments to mean that I thought that “Macs with Windows” was what this was all about. I just think that Apple has incentive to let Windows run on Intel Macs, even if they don’t “support it,” and why I doubt Apple will become a software only company. They could just as easily keep Intel Macs from running Windows, but they aren’t going to do that. Why?
I’m certain Intel Macs will offer definite advantages to companies with dual platform environments. I also think a lot of non-geek, Windows PC users will buy Intel Macs instead of buying another “Windows only” PC.
The next 24 to 36 months should give an indication of whether I’m right.
FUCK DELL
Now Mary Dell wants to or think of selling mac software. Just like a bottom feeder, burnning the bridge with somebody and jump on the next boat. Remember awhile back Mary Dell said that Apple was no problem to his company. Now they are starting to see the change in the tide and want to jump on the band wagon. So he can sell sell more junk. And take all the credit. This company is so sorry. They don’t have nothing to say is theirs. They take other companys products and put their name on it.Take a look at the printers, the TV, and even the sorry junk box they said it better than Ipod. Now if you was Steve Jobs and I wish I was. I will call this nut case up, no better yet I will go by and piss on his F@#king leg and take one of his junk computers and take a big dump in it. and say YOU SELL SHIT, NOW YOU ARE REALLY SELL SHIT NOW.
Apple has already proven that those who “subscribe” to the MacOS environment are readily willing to pay $129/year for advancements in the OS as long as 200 plus features have been improved and the stability an innovation is advanced. This is 5 x more than Microsoft in the same amount of time. Combine that with must have accessories such as the iPod which has it’s on economy attached via the iTunes music store and futuristic ammenities as smooth video via iChat with the $149 iSight webcam. Why wouldn’t Apple want to have Dell onboard selling MacOS computers within the guidelines of Apple’s specifications. It would be a win-win-win situation for Apple, Dell and Intel. All of the pieces are falling into place. Apple is holding all of the right cards. Once Leopard is released, Apple will be a new beast. The cat’s black stripes will change to spots of gold. It will be where Xerox would have been if they knew what they had way back in the early 70’s. It will surpass Microsoft and will become the rightful reigning king of the OS wars. The killer applications will be the iPod and other peripherals that will make MacOSX the must have OS.
Why dilute your product and brand with a Dell box? Apple might be moving to Intel, but as far as revenue goes, they’re still primarily a hardware company.