To: Halfmanhalfamazing
Isn't going to happen. First, Apple is a hardware company. Second, part of the stability of OSX comes from Apple's control of the hardware that it runs on (and, as a correlary, much of the remaining instability in Microsoft's OS is due to cheap hardware and bad third-party device drivers). Third, Apple is a hardware company (in case you missed that the first time).
Now, if Steve Jobs was really devious, he'd wait for Microsoft to port MS Office to Mac OSX for Intel and then open up OSX to run on any PC so that users could have MS Office on an Intel PC without Windows. That could make Bill Gates' head explode.
To: Question_Assumptions
There's a great deal more to MS Office for Windows that makes the Mac OS port unsuitable for integration into large companies that use Microsoft's servers and server software.
Apple is developing its own versions of these features, in a manner that in my opinion will eventually result in an Apple brand of office software targeted at providing the feature set of Microsoft's enterprise server software for small and medium sized business.
Many people disagree with me on this, but I personally think this is going to happen much sooner than later.
9 posted on
11/22/2005 12:25:59 AM PST by
coconutt2000
(NO MORE PEACE FOR OIL!!! DOWN WITH TYRANTS, TERRORISTS, AND TIMIDCRATS!!!! (3-T's For World Peace))
To: Question_Assumptions
I've had conversations with a former Mac guy who runs a small internet business that runs 100% Microsoft. The first thing that comes out of his mouth when I ask him about switching to Macs is "commoditization of hardware." It's just simpler and cheaper for businesses to run PCs. Nobody wants to learn a new OS (as easy as OS X is) and more importantly, buy new software (especially when a lot of pirating is going on)
Even when Apple switches to Intel, Apple will not support loading OSX on your Dell. Sure, people are going to try it, but the results are probably going to be less than spectacular for long-term use. I hope Apple makes this experience so bad that OS X will not be passed around like a cheap whore amongst the pirates.
An analogy is appropriate here: switching would be like the U.S. converting to the metric system. Sure, the metric system is better, but the cost of retooling and reeducation is too high in the minds' of businesses. That, and the 800 lb. gorilla, Office, still has to be tamed.
Finally, a lot of Mac users simply appreciate the engineering and design of the entire Power* line. Most PC users could care less (unless they are case modders). Certainly the average family views the PC as a box that plays games and sends email, much like a fancy dvd player or microwave. It's just another appliance. And sadly, most of them don't care or want to know how to get rid of all the spyware and viruses.
11 posted on
11/22/2005 5:19:39 AM PST by
opticks
To: Question_Assumptions
It's true that Apple isn't too likely to compete with itself again (as it did during the hiatus between Jobs, when it licensed companies to build Apple clones, and they were all based on Apple-built PM 7200 motherboards if memory serves), but Mac OS X sales to people hacking it to run on Wintel CPUs doesn't seem all that farfetched.
Lawsuits to follow of course.
15 posted on
11/22/2005 9:25:15 AM PST by
SunkenCiv
(Down with Dhimmicrats! I last updated my FR profile on Wednesday, November 2, 2005.)
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