Apr 07, 2006, 10:36 PM // 22:36
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#22
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Ascalonian Squire
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZennZero
Apple is first and foremost a hardware OEM. OSX is great, but it is just a means to move hardware. iTunes is wonderful, but it is just a way to sell iPods. That is their current business model. Could they do better moving primarily to software-driven sales? Putting OSX and its apps on non-apple hardware would essentially kill their high margin hardware sales and they would be going toe-to-toe against MS and *nix.
It would be a risky move, at best. I am not saying it won't happen, but I don't think it will happen until Steve Jobs leaves.
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Apple already tried this--Mac OS on non-Apple hardware--and it was a dismal failure. The clone makers cut into Apple's high-margin hardware sales, just like you said, and the somewhat lower-priced and more plentiful choices of the clone makers did virtually nothing to increase Apple's market share.
I think there are enough people willing to pay a small premium to try OS X and/or have the sexiest hardware on the block that this reverse approach (Windows on a Mac) will have an interesting impact.
As for Mac vs. other PC brands, would you rather have an iPod or a, uh, Dell DJ or whatever they're called? Macs have incredible design and quality compared to most PCs. Some people are willing to pay for that.
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