Comments on: Response to New Microsoft Ad: Macs are “so sexy” but… http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/ Listen. Share. Learn. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:21:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-2516 Tom Mon, 06 Apr 2009 05:05:24 +0000 http://tomcaswell.com/?p=283#comment-2516 Yeah, Mac software and hardware are separate, and Mac OSX is available on Amazon for $110 (<a href="http://tinyurl.com/csomqy" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/csomqy</a>). So, really, it shouldn't be any different that me buying my PC hardware and OS separately. Even though hardware/software bundles are common for PCs, it's fairly common for people to buy the OS separately. For now the big difference is that Apple is the only game in town for Mac hardware and software. But if they gain much more market share, I'll bet other "Mac friendly" hardware will start popping up from other manufacturers. Or at least a virtual machine on the PC that allows you to run OSX. That would make it possible to use the best of what each OS has to offer on PC hardware. I don't think I'm the only one who wants this. I bet it happens within a year or two. Yeah, Mac software and hardware are separate, and Mac OSX is available on Amazon for $110 (http://tinyurl.com/csomqy). So, really, it shouldn’t be any different that me buying my PC hardware and OS separately. Even though hardware/software bundles are common for PCs, it’s fairly common for people to buy the OS separately. For now the big difference is that Apple is the only game in town for Mac hardware and software. But if they gain much more market share, I’ll bet other “Mac friendly” hardware will start popping up from other manufacturers. Or at least a virtual machine on the PC that allows you to run OSX. That would make it possible to use the best of what each OS has to offer on PC hardware. I don’t think I’m the only one who wants this. I bet it happens within a year or two.

]]> By: Bob Caswell http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-2515 Bob Caswell Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:11:51 +0000 http://tomcaswell.com/?p=283#comment-2515 Does Apple even sell their OS separately for use on something other than a Mac? If they do, then maybe something could happen so that OSX makes it to the PC. For you and me this might be cool, but for the mainstream / general public market, it will hurt Apple. Even if Apple isn't involved, ultimately, any less than stellar performance of Apple's OS on whatever hardware will come back as blame to Apple which will erode the company's core value proposition (think Microsoft, you have a problem with Windows? In the eyes of the public, it's Microsoft's fault, regardless of the intricacies involved with making an OS work everywhere). Microsoft is willing to pay the price (both in terms of engineering costs and potentially weaker brand/image) to be accessible to everyone everywhere. But Apple? Does Apple even sell their OS separately for use on something other than a Mac?

If they do, then maybe something could happen so that OSX makes it to the PC. For you and me this might be cool, but for the mainstream / general public market, it will hurt Apple.

Even if Apple isn’t involved, ultimately, any less than stellar performance of Apple’s OS on whatever hardware will come back as blame to Apple which will erode the company’s core value proposition (think Microsoft, you have a problem with Windows? In the eyes of the public, it’s Microsoft’s fault, regardless of the intricacies involved with making an OS work everywhere).

Microsoft is willing to pay the price (both in terms of engineering costs and potentially weaker brand/image) to be accessible to everyone everywhere. But Apple?

]]> By: Tom http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-2514 Tom Sun, 05 Apr 2009 18:12:10 +0000 http://tomcaswell.com/?p=283#comment-2514 Hmm... in that case I wonder if running Mac OSX on a PC is something that will eventually be accomplished with software. Similar to the way you can use VMWare Fusion or Parallels to run Windows on an Intel mac. I wonder how much control Apple would have over that. In other words, if I buy the Mac OS separately, can Apple really prevent me from running it on a PC? Aren't they making money on their OS? So what's the problem? Just like I would never have switched to Mac hardware without being able to do PC stuff, I doubt I will switch back until I can do Mac stuff on my PC. If there are benefits to both, why wouldn't I take the best-priced option that lets me do both? Hmm… in that case I wonder if running Mac OSX on a PC is something that will eventually be accomplished with software. Similar to the way you can use VMWare Fusion or Parallels to run Windows on an Intel mac. I wonder how much control Apple would have over that. In other words, if I buy the Mac OS separately, can Apple really prevent me from running it on a PC? Aren’t they making money on their OS? So what’s the problem? Just like I would never have switched to Mac hardware without being able to do PC stuff, I doubt I will switch back until I can do Mac stuff on my PC. If there are benefits to both, why wouldn’t I take the best-priced option that lets me do both?

]]> By: Bob Caswell http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-2513 Bob Caswell Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:57:55 +0000 http://tomcaswell.com/?p=283#comment-2513 <a href="#comment-2512" rel="nofollow">@Tom</a> Not sure on latest pricing, just know that when I got my HP laptop a year ago (it's with a 17" screen), it came with most everything you describe (except weighs more obviously) and was around $1,100. And that was a year ago. As for hackintoshs... You would have to wait for Apple to do it. Acer could be excited about putting together hardware to run OSX, but until Apple signs off on the whole idea (which would be MAJOR), no licensing will happen. It's not for a lack of interest that it's not happening (I'm guessing), more that's not happening due to Apple strategic positioning. The Apple/OSX brand would erode once it's available everywhere (because it would face all the same issues Windows has faced by being available all over the place). @Tom
Not sure on latest pricing, just know that when I got my HP laptop a year ago (it’s with a 17″ screen), it came with most everything you describe (except weighs more obviously) and was around $1,100. And that was a year ago.

As for hackintoshs… You would have to wait for Apple to do it. Acer could be excited about putting together hardware to run OSX, but until Apple signs off on the whole idea (which would be MAJOR), no licensing will happen. It’s not for a lack of interest that it’s not happening (I’m guessing), more that’s not happening due to Apple strategic positioning. The Apple/OSX brand would erode once it’s available everywhere (because it would face all the same issues Windows has faced by being available all over the place).

]]> By: Tom http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-2512 Tom Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:34:07 +0000 http://tomcaswell.com/?p=283#comment-2512 Maybe I've been away from pcs too long and need a reality check. What would a comparable pc laptop cost with those specs? (Here they are again: 15" screen, 2.5 GHz, 512 MB video RAM, 250 GB HD, 5 lbs. 3+ hr batt.) I recently tried to find a dell laptop deal for a friend, who ended up paying well over $1000 for much less than that. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place, but I thought Dell laptops combined w/ techbargains.com coupons was a pretty good bet. As for the "hackintosh" thing, I'm not waiting for Apple to do it. I would love to see Acer or someone else make hardware that could run Mac OSX. Does Apple have to have a corner on the mac market? Why does it have to be this way? I want mac hardware choices! Maybe I’ve been away from pcs too long and need a reality check. What would a comparable pc laptop cost with those specs? (Here they are again: 15″ screen, 2.5 GHz, 512 MB video RAM, 250 GB HD, 5 lbs. 3+ hr batt.) I recently tried to find a dell laptop deal for a friend, who ended up paying well over $1000 for much less than that. Maybe I’m looking in the wrong place, but I thought Dell laptops combined w/ techbargains.com coupons was a pretty good bet.

As for the “hackintosh” thing, I’m not waiting for Apple to do it. I would love to see Acer or someone else make hardware that could run Mac OSX. Does Apple have to have a corner on the mac market? Why does it have to be this way? I want mac hardware choices!

]]> By: Bob Caswell http://tomcaswell.com/2009/04/05/response-to-new-microsoft-ad-macs-are-%e2%80%9cso-sexy%e2%80%9d-but%e2%80%a6/comment-page-1/#comment-2511 Bob Caswell Sun, 05 Apr 2009 17:21:02 +0000 http://tomcaswell.com/?p=283#comment-2511 Nice perspective, Tom. While your $1,500 Mac deal sure beats the retail price, it's interesting to me that it's still quite a bit more expensive than the hardware equivalent on the PC/laptop side of things. But I realize hardware specs aren't everything, of course. I'm curious about the "hackintosh" idea. Is it really feasible beyond the hobby of tinkerers and IT pros? Maybe I'm being too business-like here, but I'm guessing it's a pretty limited market that Apple will likely never make official due to the costs involved. Nice perspective, Tom. While your $1,500 Mac deal sure beats the retail price, it’s interesting to me that it’s still quite a bit more expensive than the hardware equivalent on the PC/laptop side of things. But I realize hardware specs aren’t everything, of course.

I’m curious about the “hackintosh” idea. Is it really feasible beyond the hobby of tinkerers and IT pros? Maybe I’m being too business-like here, but I’m guessing it’s a pretty limited market that Apple will likely never make official due to the costs involved.

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