Mac OS on a Dell? Dell in favor, Apple opposed

MacCentral ^ | June 20, 2005 | Tom Krazit

[Panerai]

If Apple ever decides to let its Mac OS X operating system outside of its confines, the company can count Dell Inc. founder and Chairman Michael Dell as a possible customer.

With the recent news that Apple plans to become a fellow customer of Intel Corp. for x86 processors, Dell has expressed interest in selling Mac OS X-based PCs, he said in an e-mail to Fortune published on the magazine’s Web site Thursday.

“If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers,” Dell wrote in the e-mail. A Dell spokesman confirmed Thursday that the e-mail exchange took place.

Apple, however, is not keen on striking a deal with the world’s largest PC vendor.

“Mac OS X will only run on Macs. Apple has no plans to sell Mac OS X software to run on PCs,” an Apple spokeswoman said in an e-mail response to questions about Dell.

Dell’s interest in Mac OS X raises numerous questions about how such a partnership would work. Dell’s current PC product strategy is famously one-sided: Microsoft Corp.’s Windows operating system and Intel’s processors for all. Dell executives believe this arrangement allows them to keep their operating costs as low as possible.

However, Mac OS X, with its Unix underpinnings and secure reputation, might pique the interests of many IT managers looking for a low-cost PC that is easy to maintain. And Dell’s position as the industry market share leader could expose Mac OS to a much wider range of users.

[television is just wrong]

LOL, just kidding. Old boss used to refer to Dell as that. My friends have dell computers. I myself (my family) own 2 apple powerbooks, mac mini, G-5, linux (home built), and a windows machine.

[ShadowAce]

...how long before we see MS-Linux?

[Echo Talon]

The loss is - What happens when 20% of the people who buy OS X can't get it to run/or work with their equipment? OS X isn't mature enough to work out of the box with all the junk people use in their computers. And yes, there is a lot of junk out there. That is why Apple is what it is, quality products. Apple has control over the hardware and software, and it's a whole lot easier to get things to work when that happens. That is why I am saying that it will simply take time, but it will eventually happen.

well, sell a $100 OS is PURE profit a CD costs what about $0.10 ? It would be up to Dell to make it work, with the BIOS manufacturer and the peripherals that they sell with it. Apple could assign some engineers to Dell to help with the process and only let it go IF they approve. But, I do believe that this is would be the best way for the majority of people to get accustomed to MAC. And for MAC to make a huge profit.

[LongsforReagan]

Hard to believe they will do this.

Doesn't "no" mean "we're negotiating"? It would be good for IT and software vendors if this were to happen.

[ThinkDifferent]

if they could sell their $100 OS to WAY more people what is the loss?

It would have to be tremendously more to make up for the loss in hardware sales. In reality OS X costs much more than $130; a large part of it is hidden in the hardware price. Apple would have to compete with Microsoft head-on, and the history of other OSes that attempted that is not encouraging.

[HAL9000]

Apple didn't build 100+ retail stores to sell Dell computers.

[B Knotts]

Well, either they are either going to bring back ROMs, or some other equivalent hardware, or they are talking out of their hind quarters.

I do suspect that latter.

[SengirV]

If you buy OS X for you POS machine and it doesn't work, who are you goingto blame? Dell will tell you Apple is to blame, and Appel will say DEll is to blame. You simply load Microsfot XP and conclude that Apple is garbage since you can't get it to work while XP works jsut fine. you are now a person who will actively lobby against Apple whenever the subject comes up, since OS X wouldnt' run on your POS computer. So, while making a lot on the 1st release, there would be a VERY negative opinion of OS X on Dells because a good % jsut don't work. That is NOT the way to do it, and will NEVER be the way Apple will do it.

I have no doubt that your "apple engineers at dell" thing would happen, but it will happen long before OS X is sold for a dell. That is why I say it will take a little while.

[ShadowAce]

Well, either they are either going to bring back ROMs, or some other equivalent hardware, or they are talking out of their hind quarters.

I do suspect that latter.

My bet is on the former.

[Echo Talon]

I see what your saying. But I wouldn't release the sale of the OS X to the mainstream PC market... It can only work on "Mac friendly" PC's... at first it would be Dell, then Apple could certify motherboards like AMD does. They could have a Apple certification process. 2 BIOS on the mobo and you use a jumper to switch it from mac to pc or something...

[B Knotts]

I would agree, except that they had ROMs, and eliminated them quite intentionally.

[ShadowAce]

Personally, I hope you're correct. But after watching Jobs these past 25 years, I'd put money on whatever option would cost Apple market share. ROMs would do that. Talking out their collective @$$, though, is more conducive to allowing any PC to run it and giving them more market share (in the OS arena).

I guess it'll come down to how they think their engineers have stabilized it, and whether it's ready for the wild wild west of computer PC hardware.

[js1138]

my Dell servers have been running non-stop for 3 years. Desktops have been humming for 2 years without a burp.

What about this is "long"? If they have run for three years without rebooting, that would be good, but I wouldn't believe it. Too many software installations and upgrades require rebooting.

[UseYourHead]

Those stores are for iPods and iPod accessories.

[UseYourHead]

If you buy OS X for you POS machine and it doesn't work, who are you goingto blame?

It's Linux - why isn't it going to load? Sounds like protectionism to me.

[UseYourHead]

Its not long but it is MUCH longer than some of the comments here would lead you to believe. AND, yes, it has been rebooted for updates, upgrades and patches but that's it. No failures, no intrusions, no hiccups.

Of course it doesn't measure up to big iron but no desktop OS does. Not even Linux can match them.

[kezekiel]

But, I do believe that this is would be the best way for the majority of people to get accustomed to MAC. And for MAC to make a huge profit.

Right, only Macs are hardware made by Apple. If somebody else sells the hardware, it won't be Macs and Apple won't get the profit.

[SengirV]

We're talking OS X, why are you talking LINUX?

It possibly wouldn't load for MANY reasons. Right away it won't load because apple will restrict it's loading to Apple hardware, later, it could be that the style of motherboard you have is incompatible, how about the memory(Macs seem to reject memory others would allow, I know this by experience). Then your CD/DVD/etc... might not be compatible, etc...

[skinkinthegrass]

DELL, Doesn't Essentially Last Long...Not quite correct - my Dell servers have been running non-stop for 3 years.

I must agree...mines been runnig for 2.5 year unfettered. (knocking on wood :)

[kdot]

Hate to pile on, but my Dell Latitude is solid as the day I received it from work, 4 years ago. I telecommute, so every day, I shutdown, undock, travel, and redock. It should be the poster-laptop for Dell. That's over 1000 undock/redocks.

I used to own a Mac for home use. But after 3 years of worry, "Does this work with the Mac?" the flyback transformer quit (IIRC). I just threw it away.

The Mac was fine. The Dell is fine. Whatever works for you. I just don't understand the MacSnobbery. There's a reason for the 97% vs. 3% (+- whatever) marketshare.

Don't flame me; it's just my $0.02.