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Apple will allow Windows to run on machines
 Apple Computer Inc., abandoning its historic practice of running only its own operating system on its personal computers, yesterday rolled out software enabling buyers of Apple's new Intel-based Macintosh computers to install the Windows platform built by rival Microsoft Corp. | But God help you if you try to run OS X on a non-Apple pc. |
The move, which caught much of the technology world by surprise, was seen as a bid to boost Apple's share of the PC market -- estimated at less than 5 percent -- by reaching beyond its base of Mac loyalists to the larger universe of ordinary computer users more familiar with the ubiquitous Windows. ''It's a huge departure," said Ted Schadler, vice president and principal analyst at Forrester Research in Cambridge. ''It's a big deal. But it's tied to their business model: Apple is a hardware company."
Schadler, who posted a blog entry yesterday titled ''Apple Runs Windows, Pigs Fly," projected that Apple could double its market share by appealing to consumers who first learned Windows on office computers and later bought home computers powered by Windows. Many have been drawn to Apple Stores over the past few years to buy iPod music players and have admired Mac designs, but they are intimidated about switching to Mac OS. Down the road, Apple could target the bigger market of businesses and other enterprises by licensing, supporting, and pre-installing Windows on future Macs, Schadler suggested. | OK, explain why I'd want to pay a lot more for a Mac computer to run Windows? |
Happy to answer that, m'boy:
Mac OS X is simply better. You're not waiting for Vista, are you? OS X doesn't crash, doesn't get infected, doesn't spawn gigabytes of crap, etc.
Macs are sleek, clean, uncluttered, and have everything you need. I have an iMac intel (with both systems installed as of last night) at home and a Mac dual G5 at work. They simply are designed better.
Intel-based Macs cost little more than an Intel-based PC (comp specs, of course) -- for that modest upcharge you get 1) both operating systems 2) better industrial design and 3) oh, did I mention it was a Mac? |
Posted by: Steve 2006-04-06 |
