I was just reading the thread regarding OS X on PCs. Do you think Apple Should Set OS 10 Free?
Why Or Why Not?
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1.33 GHz iBook G4, 10.5 ; PowerMac B&W G3 400MHz, 10.4 ;1.66 Ghz Mac Mini Intel Core Duo, 10.5
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Bill: What's That
Steve: A iHouse
Bill: But It Doesn't Have Any Windows!
Steve: Exactly!
Apple is not a software vendor, they are a hardware vendor. OS X was written, (as have all the other versions of the OS) to run Apple hardware. If you allow the OS to be installed on PCs, this will cause the end of Apple. If nobody is buying Mac computers, Apple takes a huge hit to the bottom line. The iPhone, iPod are not going to keep Apple afloat.
I think they could make a deal with some hardware vendors to allow it to run on specific hardware. Also, sell it at a higher price for certain configurations for those that want to customize their own PC with OS X on it.
Apple would still sell a TON of Macs.. especially once people had gotten a taste of OS X on PC hardware. The requirements for running it on a PC would be about the same cost as running it on a Mac either way.. therefore, there wouldn't be a price difference between buying a Mac or PC with OS X.
It would also force Apple to be more competitive with their hardware pricing. Which, in the end would be a good thing for consumers.
The PC vendors could provide the Macs that Apple isn't willing to introduce into their own lineup. For example, a mid range upgradable tower that OS X will run on. There's a huge market for that and Apple would reap the benefits of people purchasing licenses for OS X on that hardware.
So, I say.. set it free.. but, with a little longer leash.. not off the chain
Apple is not a software vendor, they are a hardware vendor.
I think this is getting a little long in the tooth. Apple is a hardware and software company. They sell both. They would sell a LOT of software if they made some of it work on Windows. iWork is an example. There's a lot of people out there that could really use a cheap alternative to Microsoft Office that works well. iWork is that software.
Even their pro software would make a killing in the PC world. If they released Logic or Final Cut for Windows.. it would blow the competition out of the water. And, they'd make a lot of money doing it. There's money in software and if you do it well.. you can make a LOT of money from it. I can't think of a better software vendor than Apple.
iLife could be sold on Windows too. Of course, still come free with the purchase of new Macs.. but, if they want adoption.. make a windows version.. it would only further the amount of people willing to hop over to the Mac world because they've found out how great their software is.
If any company could transition themselves from a hardware to a software vendor... it's Apple.. and they'd do well at it.
I think they could make a deal with some hardware vendors to allow it to run on specific hardware. Also, sell it at a higher price for certain configurations for those that want to customize their own PC with OS X on it.
Apple would still sell a TON of Macs.. especially once people had gotten a taste of OS X on PC hardware. The requirements for running it on a PC would be about the same cost as running it on a Mac either way.. therefore, there wouldn't be a price difference between buying a Mac or PC with OS X.
It would also force Apple to be more competitive with their hardware pricing. Which, in the end would be a good thing for consumers.
The PC vendors could provide the Macs that Apple isn't willing to introduce into their own lineup. For example, a mid range upgradable tower that OS X will run on. There's a huge market for that and Apple would reap the benefits of people purchasing licenses for OS X on that hardware.
So, I say.. set it free.. but, with a little longer leash.. not off the chain
If they do end up doing that, then they would have to sell the consumer the operating system disc. So possible they could run it on any system. The only this probably could be done is unless vendors make there systems like macs, so it can't run on any other computer.
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1.33 GHz iBook G4, 10.5 ; PowerMac B&W G3 400MHz, 10.4 ;1.66 Ghz Mac Mini Intel Core Duo, 10.5
_____________________________________________
Bill: What's That
Steve: A iHouse
Bill: But It Doesn't Have Any Windows!
Steve: Exactly!
I think this is getting a little long in the tooth. Apple is a hardware and software company. They sell both. They would sell a LOT of software if they made some of it work on Windows. iWork is an example. There's a lot of people out there that could really use a cheap alternative to Microsoft Office that works well. iWork is that software.
I don't think it's a little long in the tooth. Apple makes most of their money off of hardware, it's a fact. Check their quarterly statements.
You are assuming they would sell alot of software. Alot of PC people are cheap. Those same people are my friends, so I know. I'm not sure what they spend they're money on? They're car? As well there are some people/companies that will never change no matter how much it makes sense to change.
And what do you mean by set OS X free? No software is free of an owner. Apple owns OS X.
Dumb idea (no offense.) This would completely destroy Apple's business model, and cause innumerable headaches getting functionality and compatibility with the astronomical number of possible configurations sorted out. Anyone who truly hates Apple and wishes to destroy the Mac couldn't do better than to support this nonsense.
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