[kingu]

Apple could have 40 percent of the desktops out there, all it has to do is give up the hardware game. Until then - it’ll be as it always has been, poised to take over, but never quite reaching it.

[jwparkerjr]

Apple's plight has proved how difficult it can be to recover once you're behind the power curve. I worked for Computerland in the early 80’s. I was there when IBM released its original PC. Before that we sold lots of Apples and an occasional Osborne. Apple made it difficult, and expensive in 1982 terms, to develop software for their systems. You had to buy the information needed to write any sort of software. As I recall it cost about $1,500 or so. When IBM burst onto the scene they were just the opposite. Their original systems came with all sorts of documentation, all packed in neat IBM labeled notebooks in the box with the computer. They wanted people to develop programs for the PC. They were even willing to put their brand on something a freelance developer had written and sell it along with their own offerings. It wasn't long before all sorts of things started being available for the PC. Apple meanwhile released the Mac and made it even more difficult to get information on the OS and ability to program at a compiler level, or heaven forbid, at the assembler level. The rest is history.

I am recalling all of this from memories that are over 25 years old now, so I could be off in some respects, but the overall idea is valid. Apple made it very difficult to be a developer, IBM practically begged you to develop and share.

It was obvious from the git-go that the Mac had a lot of advantages because of its Motorola 64000 processor compared to the Intel series. The biggest advantage was the 64000’s ability to address lots of and lots of memory while the Intel had to depend on 64k and a very confusing paging system to trick the OS into using any more memory.

Just a recollection or two from “the good ol’ days”!

[Spktyr]

Apple already tried that. It darn near killed the company.

By the way, current projections say that Apple *will* have 40% of the new computer market... by 2010.

[Sunnyflorida]

“Apple could have 40 percent of the desktops out there, all it has to do is give up the hardware game.”

If you read the 10q or 10k you will see that this suggestion is pure foolishness.

[TheBattman]

Remember - just a little over a decade back, Apple DID turn lose of the hardware part - licensing the OS to 3rd party makers.

The lesson learned by Apple - it nearly killed them.

Now, with OSX, that game might not be so deadly for them, I still believe that experience is still in Steve Job’s mind.

[Brainhose]

If I could dual boot the Mac OS on my AMD desktop, I’d buy a copy of it right now.