“Boot Camp is for those people who need to occasionally run programs or access services that are unavailable on the Mac. Apple isn’t selling or bundling Windows, and Boot Camp offers only dual-boot capability: You can start up the Mac in either Mac OS X or Windows, but not both,” Jeff Carlson writes for The Seattle Times. “So is this a baby step toward Apple selling Windows machines? Not likely. Apple’s computers are beautiful and induce envy in even the staunchest Windows lover, but day to day you don’t operate a computer, per se, just as you don’t go home and eat a table for dinner.”
“Even given Apple’s engineering feats, it’s Mac OS X that delivers the Macintosh experience,” Carlson writes. “Okay, if Mac OS X is so wonderful, why not forget hardware and license Mac OS X to computer makers, and thereby out-Microsoft Microsoft?”
Full article here.
[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Sketchtrain” for the heads up.]
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Related articles:
Should Apple just go all the way and license Mac OS X to Dell, HP, Lenovo, others? – April 07, 2006
Dvorak: Will Apple ditch Mac OS X for Microsoft’s Windows? – February 16, 2006
because then it would encounter a lot of the same problems windows enjoys, im sure it would tackle them better but still, i like things the way they are for now
enuf of these stupid boot camp storys about what is going to happen. Shut Up Already.
Why? Because the money for Apple is in the gorgeous hardware they make. In this case, the OS is an accesory. An excelent one, but an accesory.
MW: our, like in “The OS is our choice”
I think Apple needs to take some market share away from Dell, HP and others before licensing. Get up to say a total of 10% and then allow licensing with some strict guidelines.
“Okay, if Mac OS X is so wonderful, why not forget hardware and license Mac OS X to computer makers, and thereby out-Microsoft Microsoft?”
Because then OS X would become the trainwreck that Winblows XP is.
Why? Because the money for Apple is in the gorgeous hardware they make. In this case, the OS is an accesory. An excelent one, but an accesory.
MW: our, like in “The OS is our choice”
I also believed in that mantra, but unfortunately that’s not the case anymore. Apple is nowhere as dependent as it once was on hardware sales. It can now generate revenues from iPod sales (another kind of hardware), ITMS, Software, and soon, movies and tv shows, so it is morphing into a computer-related entertainment company.
Steve wants to dethrone Billy Boy too, so expect to see a licensed version of OS X around 2008.
Boot Camp is the first step, the final one is Mac OS X volume licensing for authorized pc manufacturers. I believe HP will be the first one.
Old school Apple is dead.
I don’t see apple selling windows machines but it makes sense for them to sell dual platform like they’ve already introduced. They’re going to own the world and Steve Jobs will be on the new $2 bill. I’m sure of it.
Andrew Hamilton
Videographers in Las Vegas
http://www.hiproductions.com
Interesting story. Even more interesting if you read the original posting.
But running OS X on the cheapest piece of crap hardware could be a problem. If you do not control the hardware, can you be sure that the OS will run as smooth?
If I were Apple, I would consider transitioning but would go — v e r y — slow.
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N.
PPC,
I doubt Apple will ever license their OS. See my above post for the reason why.
Basically, tying the OS to the hardware makes for a better end-user experience and makes Apple a more “nimble” company when it comes to product cycle, including OS updates (witness Micro$haft$ problems getting an update to XP out the door – 5 years and counting!)
It’s a baby step toward everyone ELSE selling a whole lot fewer Windows machines
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The Mac is a system of hardware and software designed TOGETHER. No change to that magic is in sight.
I could see Apple eventually licensing OS X to a specific manufacturer (like Sony) with specific hardward specifications. Although, I think the better option would be for Apple to eventually create more models with more price breaks. If they can offer multiple choices at multiple pricing options, there would be no need to license OS X to anyone.
Apple is a unique company (in a myriad of ways) in that they build the whole computer. I refer to them as a computer company instead of a hardware company (a la Dell) or a software company (a la Microsoft). I’d argue that the software is more important to the Mac experience, but the hardware is a necessary part of that. If nothing else, I’ve learned to never say never where Steve Jobs is concerned, but if they were to license the Mac OS again, I think they’d do it with some very select partners, or perhaps the way they did the iPod + HP. They would certainly also strictly control the pricing so that their licensees wouldn’t eat their lunch like the first time. I don’t think they’ll do it though. With Boot Camp in place, they are the only computer maker that can dual boot the two biggest OSs in the world. Why should they share that. It’s kind of how they refuse to license FairPlay to other music services. They own the iPod. Why share it?
OSX will not be available for generic PCs for a long time if ever.
The selling point of Apple’s Macs will be that they can run anything, OSX, Linux and Windows if you must.
Virtualisation will be the next big thing. Running up another operating system just like you’d run an application. Bootcamp is the first step down that road.
Steve, I’m still waiting for the 17″ Macbook Pro. Pull your finger out!!!
OS X will get licensed or get hacked. Either way it will be on many PCs. The real issues involve considerations such as how many PCs it’s ultimately installed on, how well, how soon and whether or not that installation process involves monetization, ongoing support and quality controls. Apple will participate dramatically in resolving all those questions, I believe.
Boot Camp – A full-time indoctrination programme into a rigorous discipline.
Sounds like a Windows Vista primer to me.
Vista on Mac already
Try this link
http://forum.osx86project.org/index.php?showtopic=14448
It’s more likely that many Mac users will switch to running Vista full time because of all the software available for Windows will lure them into using it more and more.
Eventually Mac OS X will be dropped.
Remember folks, content is KING.
Why do you think Microsoft is buying up game makers, software developers and the like?
Apple is doing none of this, eventually they will have no content and no Mac OS X.
The end is near folks, the end is near.
gwm…a hacked OS X will not take hold among anyone but the OSX86 fanbois. It’s already been hacked but doesn’t have much of an install base. Why? Difficulty to install, lack of drivers, broken features, etc. It will never be a threat unless the hackers solve those issues.
Mawdog, In recent years, Apple has been targeting the consumer user.. Instead of buying up software developers, Apple is developing the most important Mac software themselves ala iLife… Apart from iLife, the only important software titles the average consumer user need to buy are Word and Excel.. The Mac comes fully equipped and ready to go with everything most users will ever need..
And don’t forget Apple’s Pro apps… Who needs 100,000 available applications when the 10 apps you need most come with the computer?
Games are another story… That’s what Boot Camp is for!
The answer: No.
Mawdog, we’ve been hearing that “the end is near” for over 10 years… And in that time Apple has just gotten bigger and stronger with every passing quarter…
Even if Apple never increases it marketshare, it could go on indefinitely as a self-contained company with an extremely loyal user base and still remain extremely profitable..
The Mac user base and marketshare are growing not shrinking.. OSX is gaining more developers then ever, not losing them. And Apple is growing three times faster than the rest of the PC industry.
So please give up the doom and gloom Apple is dead sentiment already, it’s simply nonsense.
Why do you think Microsoft is buying up game makers, software developers and the like?
Because The Sales Guy is running MS.
One of the best things MS can do for Apple is to massively increase their own headcount. The more PC developers MS pulls into the morass the better; it turns nimble and truly innovative firms into just another part of the MS bureaucracy.
VirtualPC is a great example of life after MS assimilation.
The end is near folks, the end is near.
Maybe, but not for who you’d might think.
D’nomder,
Couldn’t agree more.
The End Is Near is the mantra for anyone whose M$ partership is dependent on Windows.
I think it’s funny reading some of the comments on here… Business 101 says “innovation” is the driver of any sucessful business. Who’s been in the news more for “innovation” … I’d say APPLE. The truth is the bigger picture. Technology is advancing to the point of extreem sophistication and miniatureisation. Sp??? What APPLE is doing is beating Microsoft, DELL, LINUX and all towards the “future” of computing which is virtualization. The OS is irrelavent here. It’s the hardware and software now… we’ll see what happens but the future is bright with APPLE.
Yeah I know, Rory. I monitor the OSX86 Forums RSS feeds. That’s why I said what I said.