[quote author=“Drachen”][quote author=“OnMyWayUp”]Well how long do you think it will take before people are reflashing their BIOS with a Mac BIOS that was had through some simple (to hardcore geeks at least) reverse engineering or just copying the BIOS in some way? Can’t that be done now as it is? I guess Apple could put a lot of work into copy protection, but as it was quoted with the release of SP2 “Microsoft took two years to make what hackers broke again in 10 minutes” (not verbatim but it was to that effect.)
The same reason people buy DVDs instead of packs of DVD-Rs and a Netflix subscription. It’s not all that hard to rip all the DVDs you want for $18/mo + DVD-Rs. Most people are lazy and not terribly clever when it comes to computers. That’s why most people won’t run Linux+WINE.
Believe it or not some folks also believe theres a moral dilemma associated with breaking copyright laws. Crazy, I know.
[quote author=“jashsu”][quote author=“Drachen”][quote author=“OnMyWayUp”]Well how long do you think it will take before people are reflashing their BIOS with a Mac BIOS that was had through some simple (to hardcore geeks at least) reverse engineering or just copying the BIOS in some way? Can’t that be done now as it is? I guess Apple could put a lot of work into copy protection, but as it was quoted with the release of SP2 “Microsoft took two years to make what hackers broke again in 10 minutes” (not verbatim but it was to that effect.)
The same reason people buy DVDs instead of packs of DVD-Rs and a Netflix subscription. It’s not all that hard to rip all the DVDs you want for $18/mo + DVD-Rs. Most people are lazy and not terribly clever when it comes to computers. That’s why most people won’t run Linux+WINE.
Believe it or not some folks also believe theres a moral dilemma associated with breaking copyright laws. Crazy, I know.
So your saying the only reason people wouldnt make copies of dvds for themselves is because they’re too lazy ? The hefty fine accompanied with imprisonment has got nothing to do with it ?
[quote author=“tifosiv122”]If they get OSX to run on a x86 chip, what’s to stop PC users from using a MacOS?
Let the distinction between Windows PCs and Mac PCs begin. Or better yet, just drop the androgynous “PC” label altogether.
It would be interesting if Apple does release a Mac OS that can be installed on a plain x86 box. All the folks who are fed up with Windows’ follies could make the ‘switch’ without having to make a hardware investment. Seems unlikely though, what with Apple’s insistence on controlling both the hardware and software development of Macs.
[quote author=“jashsu”]Believe it or not some folks also believe theres a moral dilemma associated with breaking copyright laws. Crazy, I know.
If people were to meet the scumbags responsible for many of the current copyright laws, I’m confident that they would feel justified in breaking them. :wink:
8) does this means ill be able to buy a powerbook and use just windows inside? no OSX? if thats the thing i promise ill get one 12"Apple one that i loved for ages…
[quote author=“jashsu”]It would be interesting if Apple does release a Mac OS that can be installed on a plain x86 box. All the folks who are fed up with Windows’ follies could make the ‘switch’ without having to make a hardware investment. Seems unlikely though, what with Apple’s insistence on controlling both the hardware and software development of Macs.
They would try their hardest to make sure OSX never makes it to non-Apple machines. The bulk of their profit is hardware: Macs and iPods. OSX, .Mac and iTunes are value-added services and products. I don’t know about OSX and .Mac, but I know for a fact that iTunes operates at a minimal profit. Apple needs you to make the hardware investment or it doesn’t make sense for them to have you as a customer.
Also, remember that Apple works so well the way it does because it’s a closed system and doesn’t support all the hardware out there. I suspect this will remain true for the forseeable future. If they simply sold the software as it is, they would have to setup even more Apple Customer Care centers since 90% of the calls would be “my [enter device of your choice] doesn’t work”.
Another reason people don’t go out and copy DVDs is that it’s more or less pointless. Yes, DVD-Rs are less than a dollar but in many cases you’ll have to make a “worse-quality” version to fit it on your DVD-R. Also, with all of the crazy deals at places like Best Buy, it’s only a few more dollars to get the real thing along with all of the special items. I think people still feel they get “more value” from DVDs as opposed to CDs where more people feel cheated by the crap tracks and feel more inclined to just get the song they want.
[quote author=“gr00vy0ne”]Also, remember that Apple works so well the way it does because it’s a closed system and doesn’t support all the hardware out there. I suspect this will remain true for the forseeable future. If they simply sold the software as it is, they would have to setup even more Apple Customer Care centers since 90% of the calls would be “my [enter device of your choice] doesn’t work”.
Then again if they’re getting rich selling stand-alone x86 Mac OS, maybe thats not an issue for them. Afterall, X is based on bsd, which is a pretty stable platform.
Apple’s industrial design team is oft praised, but I think at this point where almost all the parts in a Mac are androgynous (think of how different internally Macs were a decade ago compared to now), all they’re really doing is “gussying” the exterior. So in other words, Apple is just another boutique x86 hardware vendor, with the exception that they have their own operating system. Well then you wonder, why don’t they license their OS to other vendors like Dell, HP/Compaq, etc. They could have this “Made By” and “Powered By” thing a-la-ATi where they can still charge a premium on their hardware, yet get the Mac OS out to a larger audience. To prevent crazy incompatabilities, they would only allow vendors with pre-authorized system builds to install Mac OS, similarly to how MS currently handles XP Media Center.
I guess I don’t see them getting rich purely selling the OS just right now. At $149, I just don’t see that covering the costs of maintaining a customer care center (even if they move it offshore). If they did release it on all x86, they would have to post a very exact hardware specifications list. And even then, it’s not going to support a lot of devices right out of the box.
Basically, I d;n’t think Apple wants to do anything that will detract from the entire “Apple” experience where everything just works happily (or doesn’t at all). Allowing OS X to simply run on any generic PC box takes away from the Mac experience which seems counter to their company mantra. I think Apple liked being seen as the little guy but they pretty much destroyed that part of the mystique with their partnering with Intel.
[quote author=“jashsu”]So in other words, Apple is just another boutique x86 hardware vendor, with the exception that they have their own operating system. Well then you wonder, why don’t they license their OS to other vendors like Dell, HP/Compaq, etc. They could have this “Made By” and “Powered By” thing a-la-ATi where they can still charge a premium on their hardware, yet get the Mac OS out to a larger audience. To prevent crazy incompatabilities, they would only allow vendors with pre-authorized system builds to install Mac OS, similarly to how MS currently handles XP Media Center.
They won’t sell OSX as a standalone product for three reasons: First, unless you’re MS and can do the volume they do, selling an OS is not going to be terribly profitable. Secondly, the moment they try to license OSX to a PC vendor, they become, as you said, another x86 hardware vendor a la Alienware. Third, if Apple tries to sell their OS to Dell or HP, they are encroaching on MS’s bread-and-butter territory and they will respond. In addition to having Dell and HP by the pricing balls, MS can also hold important software like Office over Apple’s head. Office is one of, if not the best-selling piece of Mac software and is critical for business use.
this piece of news… is so friggin UNnewsworthy to me… who GIVES a rats ass. just look at who uses apples (ipods): buncha hipsters, yuppies and artsy fartsy types. granted, i support the arts, i donate to orchestras/museums. But can someone just kill their PC divsion already? and let them sell their stupid ipod shuffles?
[quote author=“TonyC”]this piece of news… is so friggin UNnewsworthy to me… who GIVES a rats ass. just look at who uses apples (ipods): buncha hipsters, yuppies and artsy fartsy types. granted, i support the arts, i donate to orchestras/museums. But can someone just kill their PC divsion already? and let them sell their stupid ipod shuffles?
If it was so unnewsworthy maybe you could have just ignored it instead of trolling.
Just because you’re not a Mac user doesn’t mean this doesn’t have bigger possible implications for computer users of all varieties. Open your mind.
don’t see how i’m ‘trolling’ (possibly the most overused word on all forums). thread is CLEARLY marked “Off-Topic” AND “Speak on it”, ie, invitation for opposing opinions.
unless Apple eventually focuses on SMEs, leading to the S&P1500s;?, there will be no future even for mac mini. anaylyst said: “Wednesday - May 18, 2005 Mac mini v.1 sales curve slows” after only 4 months. after infusing intel power into Macs, what’s left as novelty for steve jobs? even smaller ipod’s?
There are people who agree with this conclusion: http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=1480 . the ipod train will eventually stop running. then what? by then Lenovo will be producing half of the world’s computers, and we’ll still be PC whores and drooling after trendy/artsy Sony laptops… so tell me what part of my mind do i need to change???
[quote author=“TonyC”]don’t see how i’m ‘trolling’ (possibly the most overused word on all forums). thread is CLEARLY marked “Off-Topic” AND “Speak on it”, ie, invitation for opposing opinions.
I really hate to dwell on this, but if you’re going to post something inciendary like “who GIVES a rats ass. just look at who uses apples (ipods): buncha hipsters, yuppies and artsy fartsy types.” thats pretty much trolling. Just because this thread is in off-topic doesn’t mean knee-jerk stereotypes make an appropriate post.
Now your thought on “infusing intel power into Macs” is a bit more on-the-mark. Though many people see it primarily as a cost-cutting feature rather than any kind of benefit in computational capability. I think theres plenty that Apple can do to stay innovative. The shift to intel is really not such striking news, as Darwin has been x86 compat for a while.
