One of the key things about Windows is; unlike the competition (Apple) there are a plethora of motherboard manufacturers, processor manufacturers, memory, North and South Bridge's and components under the sun that need support. Apple has a unique stance, as they 'define' what is, and what is not a 'Mac'.
With that said, Windows users get 'FREE' upgrades and support. You can still download 'FREE' service packs from Win98. With Apple, you must PURCHASE your updates, each and every time.
Apple makes a better machine, it's more stable, and it's easier to use. It's due to complete and utter incompetence, stupidity, and incredably poor business sense that Mac enjoys >10% marketshare instead of the <90% marketshare it had in the early 80's. Needless to say, things haven't improved much in the past 20 years.
For example, if Mac ported it's OS to the x86 processor; I would expect them to take marketshare by storm. Considering that Mac's are now a user interface riding on top of Unix (hence their stabilty), and Unix has existed for the x86 for decades; there is no reason why the Mac OS is not available for x86 machines today. I (personally) have witnessed the Mac OS running on x86 processors in the early 90's.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink.
Horse puckey - that is a lie.
I have gotten 4 or 5 free updates since the last major release, last November.
there is no reason why the Mac OS is not available for x86 machines today.
Again, Horse puckey.
The technical reasons are few, I'll agree - related to the plethora of machines and manufacturers you mentioned.
But the real reason is economic, and quite valid - Apple is a HARDWARE company. If they released OS X for X86 (there has been a working port for years, as I understand it), their hardware business would dry up immediately, because people will buy stuff that has a lower price, rather than stuff that has a lower cost.
That statement is wrong and just plain ignorant. Apple only charges for major updates. The majority of updates are free.
Microsoft would respond by immediately discontinuing Office for the Mac. That's a battle neither Apple nor MS wants at this time.
I (personally) have witnessed the Mac OS running on x86 processors in the early 90's.
Ah, Star Trek. Never saw that, but I did run Rhapsody (which became the first version Mac OS X Server) on a PC and it was quite good. (I also ran it in Virtual PC on Mac OS 9, just to see if it would work, which it did).