“Apple is conceding that its decision to include a utility in its new Leopard operating system that lets users boot Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) Windows could cause some developers to discontinue writing applications for the Mac OS,” Paul McDougall reports for InformationWeek.
“In a report to investors released last week, Apple warned that the utility, known as Boot Camp, ‘may deter developers from creating software applications for Mac OS X if such applications are already available for the Windows platform,'” McDougall reports.
“The report was filed Thursday with the Securities and Exchange Commission,” McDougall reports.
“On the other hand, the presence of Boot Camp gives users of Intel-based Macs immediate access to the full range of Windows applications — which greatly outnumber those available for the Mac OS. That could help spur Mac sales, as many potential Apple customers have until now stuck with Windows-based PCs because of the greater selection of applications,” McDougall reports.
Full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: A non-story. This disclaimer has been part of Apple’s financial reports – as the company is responsible to state potential risks – for some time now. For example, here’s last year’s 10-K statement, “The Company’s recent announcement that it plans to add a feature to the next version of Mac OS X that will enable Intel-based Macintosh systems to run Windows XP may deter developers from creating software applications for Mac OS X if such applications are available for the Windows platform. Moreover, there can be no assurance software developers will continue to develop software for Mac OS X on a timely basis or at all.”
We agree with the following assessment, especially as Apple has seen the ranks of Mac developers swell, not decline, post-Boot Camp:
It’s possible, but not very likely. Mac users are Mac users because they want to run software in the Mac interface. The large software companies that publish programs on the Mac understand that, and so do the small Mac developers who are making the coolest OS X apps around. I’d tell you that the middle-range developers with a flagging commitment to the Mac would be the ones most worth worrying about, but honestly, the Mac OS X transition already shook most of them out of the Mac market. – Jason Snell, Macworld, June 2005
Slow news day eh MDN?
El Guapo,
Maybe not a slow news day, but I’ve been having trouble loading the site all day. So they probably need to fix those issues.
More like slow server day at MDN.
An equine’s postmortem flagellation?
Unfortunately, I’ve encountered man “IT” folks who now use bootcamp to justify not supporting Mac OS X. For instance, Fidelity investments now claims that they support Mac — just run our Windows application using Bootcamp.
This is a mistake. The market votes with it’s feet.
;-}
Scott / Grigori – I saw a message earlier today that MDN’s servers were being upgraded today.
MDN – did I misread the message? (Perhaps it was my company mentioning that we’re having an upgrade today.)
Peace.
“This is a mistake.”
Which is why I’ve wanted Apple to use some of its cash to fund OS X only development of vertical business apps. And games too, but that’s a slightly different issue.
Whatever. I’ll NEVER buy the Windows version.
@Scott
Maybe it’s the plethora (couldn’t resist that one) of non-news that’s slowing the server!
For games, maybe. But I have Parallels and bootcamp on my 10.4.11 system, and I hardly use it……..in fact, I don’t think I’ve used it in over a month.
It’s called standard boilerplate language. Every company has to list even the most remote risks, so that investors can’t say they weren’t warned.
Tonight’s weather is dark, follwed by widely scattered light in the morning!
I have to say that any developer who takes this stance is certainly not worth my time as I have no interest in completely re-booting my computer just to use a piece of software.
I know that there is always Parallels (which I do have, but use only for my work’s e-mail client, Lotus *sigh* Notes), and Fusion, but neither of these environments run all Windows apps. For example… Ross-Tech Vag-Com, which I as a Volkswagen Driver would love to have as it allows one’s computer to interface with, for example, my GTI’s ECU, and various control modules.
As much as I would love to be able to use that software, I refuse to partition off valuable drive space and be forced to re-boot any time I want to use it. It’s just plain silly… silly I tellz ya
Just out of curiousty, have any of you used boot camp for Windows games and do they play well?
@NeoTheta: “This is a mistake. The market votes with it’s feet.”
Besides your mixed metaphor, you’re ignoring for what the market has already been voting, since Boot Camp’s introduction.
Notice how quickly Qwest jumped up to say that they do indeed support the Apple OS when reports said otherwise.
I’ve heard directly from Windows-only services that they are NOW responding to market pressures, and working on Apple versions of their software, long after Boot Camp became available.
The market is voting with its wallet, and its wallet is opening up to Apple.
A standard SEC warning, nothing more. And the chances of this happening considering the resurgence of all things Mac are non-existent. No worries here.
TELL THOSE GESTAPO IT DEPARTMENTS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN BY “SUPPORT FOR THE MAC” IS SUPPORT FOR OS X ON A MACINTOSH, NOT FOR WINDOWS ON A MAC.
Developers would be stupid to ignore or continue to ignore Mac users. Mac users buy proportionally more software, and they’re more inclined to pay $$ for software.
We even pay for “free” software!! I sent money to 4 freeware/donationware developers this week alone!!
Actually, software developers know better than anyone the reluctance of Mac users to put up with windows and all those issues we avoid by going with Apple. Malcrosoft will never catch up with Apple in user interface development. I can’t think of any software compelling enough to get me to load Windows of any stripe to run it. The other side of the situation is that people who want a Mac but have been sold on the “got to run windows because”…… lie, may be the very ones to demand a Mac version of important software.
“An equine’s postmortem flagellation?”
nope, an Equus’ postmortem flatulation.
@El Guapo
Good ‘un. Classic Carlin!
To Willie G:
I also use Notes, however there are a OS X versions, I use the 7.0.3version (its Universal) , and the newest one, 8, which I think is a major revision wil l be out as beta probably by the end of Jan. Hope this comment helps you from using a Windoze version.
Wandering joe: But isn’t that marely gas?
What new Mac OS programs are there? New ones in the last year not created by Apple?
MDN – give us a list of all the “new” OSX developers and the new programs they have made for OSX.
…flagellation or flatulation, who cares! You either beat it or pass it.
From all the developer’s reviews of Leopard that I’ve heard it seems that there is a great deal of excitement at the prospect of developing for Leopard. The frameworks in Leopard made one guy at Ars Technica proclaim that developers were wishing that there was no need for backwards compatibility with Tiger; Leopard is that much better. The upshot is that we users won’t see the real power and benefit of our switch to Leopard for about a year, when applications taking advantage of all the Leopard underpinnings finally start hitting the streets. Cooler apps coming from more robust development tools will assure that best in class software remains on the Mac.