I saw authorized Mac clones by UMax circa 1997 in Best Buy, when Apple was about to go down the tubes (i.e., before Jobs returned to AAPL . Umax made some.Why are there no MaClones? - Red Badger.
Why are there no MaClones? Because Steve Jobs. And his vision of the Mac as an integrated hardware/software product.If a PC doesn’t work, you complain to the hardware vendor and he points at Microsoft, and Microsoft points at the hardware vendor. If a Mac doesn’t work, you complain to Apple and there is no one for them to pass the buck to. Apple responds without finger pointing. At least in theory, and I think also in practice. Especially if you live within reasonable proximity of an Apple Store (which I no longer do).
This is pretty much in the past. It was very difficult and took years to perfect. But by now with Windows Ten and even before, Microsoft is ultra coordinated with the major computer manufacturers as far as the OS working seamlessly with the hardware. If Apple is at 100% due to being hardware and OS supplier, then modem MS Windows computers made by Dell, HP, Acer, Asus etc. are at 95% or higher. This had to be done or they would all die, especially with the smart fone onslaught. Windows Ten is almost a zero cost commodity. You can buy Win Ten keys for a few bucks on ebay (gotta do an ebay international search) for a build your own. I have done this.