Posted on 07/19/2002 7:15:01 AM PDT by rdb3
osOpinion®
The x86 OS X Success Strategy
Contributed by Kelly McNeill
osOpinion.com
April 10, 2002
http://www.osopinion.com/perl/story/17176.html
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| If one were to ask the computing masses how Microsoft achieved its operating system success, they likely would answer, 'By providing a superior product.' | |
For those of you who have been wishing for a copy of Apple's Mac OS X to run on your x86 PC, your wish may soon be granted if recent reports regarding graphics accelerator companies ATI and Nvidia are to be believed.
According to the reports, the two companies apparently have set up teams to investigate porting OS X to an x86 CPU.
It has been rumored that an x86 version of OS X exists somewhere deep within the confines of Apple Computer's software laboratories, although none of us mere mortals living outside the company's Cupertino campus truly know for sure.
Unless, of course, you consider Darwin -- the underlying open source core of OS X -- which has had an x86 version for several months.
Because ATI and Nvidia are investing research resources in an x86 version of the OS, this suggests that Apple has given these companies an OS X x86 pre-introduction in hopes that they will have a product ready when Apple unveils its OS to the PC-using public.
Assuming the report isn't merely hearsay and Apple is indeed planning on releasing such a product, the timing couldn't have been better.
If one were to ask the computing masses how Microsoft achieved its operating system success, they likely would answer, "By providing a superior product." They would add that the reason no competing OS ever caught on was because "their product was apparently inadequate."
Nothing could be further from the truth. Several companies developed operating systems that would have been great successes if only they were given a chance.
As discovered during the MS/DOJ antitrust trial, Microsoft bullied PC OEMs so that bundling of alternative operating systems would result in cancellation of the license that allows them to include Windows on their machines.
While it is plausible that Microsoft would have generated a reasonable following with Windows in any event, there is no reason to believe that the company would enjoy the market share it holds today without these OEM contracts.
As a matter of fact, sales of boxed versions of Windows have been selling poorly, reinforcing the notion that Microsoft's success is tied specifically to the OEM contracts.
Boxed Success
Although Apple includes Mac OS with its own hardware, sales of boxed copies of the OS have far outpaced boxed Windows sales on the PC side, reinforcing the notion that Apple's OS success is not solely tied to hardware bundling.
Now, with the courts keeping a watchful eye on Microsoft with regard to restrictive licensing contracts, Apple is free to arrange deals with PC OEMs so that it, too, can leverage the high-volume distribution that the OEMs can bring.
Misguided Meaning
It has long been argued that an x86 version of OS X would eat into Apple's margins, which are heavily dependent on Apple hardware sales.
Only if Apple were to release hardware that was dramatically more powerful than an x86 PC (while also being perceived as such) would hardware sales not be cannibalized.
People looking for the best solutions to meet their computing needs would buy Apple-branded equipment, and those merely wanting to experiment could do so without going all the way.
The upcoming IBM-Motorola G5 will be able to provide such a performance edge.
Software Success Story
By making an x86 version of OS X to coincide with the release of the G5, Apple could save face by showing in the inevitable side-by-side processor comparison that its computer is the performance leader. At the same time, it could appease PC users' demands that it be more open with its computing solutions.
Not only would the speed leader be obvious and indisputable, but Apple's mind-share would increase a thousand times over.
Suddenly, those OS companies that support only one processor family would acquire the unfriendly aura that hung over Apple's head for so many years.
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WHOO-HOOO!
Underlying Darwin (BSD) so The Penguin Ping (*NIX) is in effect.
Got root?
Why not go all the way - if the price is right?
Cheers, CC :)
Why not go all the way - if the price is right?
Cheers, CC :)
Re-posting - my cat just walked across the keyboard........
AB
As a consultant for graphics drivers may be. I could see a company like Omni Group being brought in to consult for a good deal of it.
I'm probably just not reading the article through well enough.
But, during MacWorld this week steve was asked about x86 for the OS and for the first time commented. Something like, we have decided to explore all options now.
Also,the iPod is now being released for Windows this week. 20gig, 10gig, and 5gig models.
OS X on the PC could be the first big competition for Microsoft for OEM business (MS's real customers). Now that some MS customers have merged (HP & Compaq), MS won't have as much muscle to force OEM's into restrictive exclusive contracts.
The operating system is an open source version of Unix (BSD) and the source code for the operating system has been available on the internet for years!
TiVo has had the source code for their Linux kernel available in the Internet too.
True. And HP (although I hate their boxes) is heavily behind Debian Linux.
Something has to give in order for this market to pick up again. Maybe we are beginning to witness something interesting, no?
Really? I'd love to get my hands on one of those 20G models.
That's the problem, dear. Price.
Remember a few months back when I was stomping my feet wondering why Apple didn't port to the PC? Well, my wish may come true.
Re-posting - my cat just walked across the keyboard........
Uhh, CC... Maybe you want to watch that in the future. That sentence can be taken in a lot of different directions.
Whoo, boy!
It is available now for Mac and Windows. It comes with a wired remote and a protective case.
5 GB $299.00
10GB $399.00
20GB $499.00
Yes, OS X changes the UI, mostly for the better. You can set it to behave almost exactly like OS 9 if you want, although most users are taking advantage of the new featuress.
OS X sales are slow, and programs aren't showing up for a platform that nobody besides early adopters and koolaid drinkers want to use.
This is just entirely wrong. Check versiontracker, there are thousands of Mac OS X apps. The big guys like Adobe took a while to port their software just because it was so complex, but at this point there's very little that you can do in OS 9 that you can't in X.
Not quite. When my wife got her new 1.4Ghz laptop from her employer, it had WinXP installed. She was fit to be tied about its looks. She couldn't find anything, and that new "Start" menu made her say words that I hadn't heard her say in a couple of years. After I played with it, I got it to go to its "classic" look. Then she was okay with it.
And so Mac users such as myself are deserting the platform.
But, why? The OS is still good, right?
Today, Apple's release of yet another Unix clone on X86 hardware won't save the company.
From a business point of view, I'd have to disagree. First, Apple's prices are prohibitively high when a new computer buyer wants a system (when comparing that price to one of a new PC). I look at people gawking at OS X on a 22" cinema display all the time, yet they balk at the price of not only the G4, but the monitor as well. Of course, one could live without a 22" monitor. I've heard several things said in these situations, like how much "prettier" the Aqua interface is than both WinXP and KDE or Gnome. So, what does that leave me to believe? If these people could buy OS X and use it on a PC box, they would. I can't see how this hurts Apple. If anything, it hurts MS.
So, if you leave Apple, are you going MS or Linux?
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