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The Future of Apple


Swad

There’s been a lot of talk recently about the new partnership between Apple and Intel. Although this story is pretty old, today's announcement of the next generation of Intel chips has many Mac fans wondering what's ahead. These new chips from Intel almost certainly represent the pool from which Apple will draw their first production MacIntels.

 

The Apple-Intel partnership is symbiotic relationship in its fullest sense - Apple gets the low-wattage chips it (supposedly) desires and Intel locks in another major IT player. But it seems to me that there is more than just watts and cents behind this deal. There is an incredibly unpredictable variable in this equation - the mind of Steve Jobs.

 

Kick in your Reality Distortion Field jamming devices.

 

Here's the future of Apple.

 

Dvorak had it partially right. Apple will eventually open up their OS and make it seem like it was forced to do so by the mobs of geeks installing pirated versions on the PCs. But is this the sole reason for the switch from IBM?

 

Apple is evolving. The success of the iPod + iTunes has shown that the magic of Apple engineering extends farther than the PC. But I think Jobs is steering the company in a new direction, one in which creates a hybrid of a Sony/Microsoft business model.

 

While the Microsoft might be a little more obvious, perhaps you’re wondering where Sony enters the equation. As a tech company, Sony known for it’s high-end computers and personal electronics. If they were both using the same OS, I think Apple and Sony would be considered direct competitors. But they’re not. Yet.

 

That’s where the Microsoft model comes in. By licensing its operating system and software, Apple stands to make substantial inroads into domains it has previously not known. Witness the rise of iTunes. Add video support (to run on, you guessed it, Intel hardware) and iMedia becomes the content leader for years to come. The same values that have made iTunes so popular – simplicity, ease of use, advanced features – will also serve Apple when they release OS X for x86 PCs. But it won’t stop there. I think the time is coming when Apple will begin to sell more of its software, such as the iLife suite, and in doing so become a legitimate rival to software powerhouses such as Microsoft.

 

Its hardware business, which has been lauded so often as the sole lifeline of Cupertino, will take a page out of the Sony book – if you want great hardware (even if some of it is proprietary), come to us. Apple then says, hey, if your grandmother can’t afford one of our machines, buy her a Dell with our licensed operating system and software. While you're at it, buy one of our CE devices as well. Apple makes money both ways, and the revenue from the millions of people (like me) who will now use OS X but were previously too poor to buy a Mac will easily compensate for any possible lost hardware revenue. If there would be any loss at all.

 

So Apple becomes like Sony for hardware and Microsoft for software and OS. In my opinion, it will work. It hasn’t been done before, but that’s ok. Maybe it’s time to truly “Think Different.”


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So you suggest giving someone new to computers a computer that they really can't understand from the start, that they can't really ask any friends for help with

 

nah, he's right. a Mac is the right system for a newbie. I know that as a matter of fact, cuz my first computer was a Performa 6200 and I was ten, and I quickly found out how to deal with extensions and control panels, and get my software from Mac-dedicated magazines, etc. And from my personnal experience, having a PC is alot more trouble, the kind of trouble that you never get with a Mac.

 

I definitly agree, the Mac is the perfect newbie thing, its even better if you can then run windows natively on it :D

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yeah mac first.. whatever after that. Never had to help a new mac user do much because everything works easily, and I am interested in my friends not calling for help.

 

Out of the box Apple gives the home user lots of software. I know that iTunes is there as well as other stuff, but they provide software from other vendors with the package. I do not want to start listing everything but it is a fact. go to the online Apple store and see what is included. some is trial versions but it gets your feet wet.

 

a noobie is exactly that, new, no knowledge, oblivious to what is happening in the background.

 

so pc or mac makes no difference. the reason I encourage the Mac is pure ease of use. (and piece of mind about virus problems)

 

I do tell anyone who asks me what they should get this simple piece of advice.

 

"Buy yourself something that you can afford and that has all the things you think you might want to use the computer for. Understand that you will not keep this computer forever and you will learn what it is you will be using the computer for. When you are ready to buy the next computer you will know what it is you want to have and shop for the best deal."

 

I have an AMD running XP sitting beside my Mac, I have put the same hardware in the PC as I have in the Mac, it is a bit slower but can do the same things. I also run commonn programs, firefox, explorer, msn messenger, office, itunes, media player, quake, doom, Myst.. etc.

I have the multi player online games playing against each other on the lan, I have a print server and wireless devices on the lan.

 

I have home movie editing on both and use both, I update the OS's on a regular basis and I can tell you with full knowledge that the Mac has nowhere near the maintenance requirments the the XP computers do. In fact I usually dl updates, etc into the mac and then do the virus scans.

 

One other thing, I run windows on my mac just to say I can.

 

So with a Mac I can also run windows, geez what next???

 

Is it a "Better" computer? hell I don't know. But I did say earlier that Steve gives us the things we think we want. He might not want us to have windows but he has done nothing to stop it. So if you are a mac user and think you want windows, fill you boots.

 

So for a company to have the insight to provide a common operating system on 2 different style CPU's, provide a developer with the tools to convert and at the same time stay leading edge with hardware and software, I would say they "Think Different"

 

One last thing before I give up. I am not trying to change anyones opinion, distort their experience, or say that Apple is the greatest Company ever. I am just pointing out that Steve Jobs is still leading the way to a different approach on computing. What ever he does next will become the new trend. Just look at your system and ask yourself what features are there that didn't come with a mac first.

 

later

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Just look at your system and ask yourself what features are there that didn't come with a mac first.

 

My Intel Processor.

 

<_<

 

I get what you're saying, I just hope you get what I'm saying. I'm not bashing Apple, just pointing out some things that have caused them to remain in the under-5% market for all these years.

 

The concept of "The computer for the rest of us" is nice but it guarantees a tiny marketshare from the gitgo.

 

Maybe that will change, maybe it won't. I will always be of the mind that Apple simply cannot afford to release a standalone version of OSX or whatever they choose to call it designed to be installed on any x86 platform computer, that's all.

 

If they do it, then I am wrong, simple. More power to 'em.

 

bb

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I agree with the thought that Apple will not release a stand alone version of the OS.

They are a hardware company, the software just makes the hardware usable.

 

Apple never really aimed the mac at the home market until the performa series computers.

The concept of the first mac was to be in a small to medium size business. One that could not afford to have an IT dept, or hire a computer geek. The simple point and click made it easy for non computer type managers to be productive. The Apple II was a computer that was cloned by computer hobby nuts so Apple started using special components. (off freq monitors, odd scans, etc.)

 

The downfall to this is that the machines were priced just out of reach for the regular family. So it was not easy to bring your work home. The were no other suppliers.

 

the other side of the coin is the low end computers that everyone could afford but no one took seriously. Where are all the commodore computers now? in fact where is the company?

The C 64 is one of the most versitile machines around, everyone was writing software to do lots of things. I remember in the mid eighties being at a friends house and watching him send colour pictures on his ham radio using one. ganted he had to take several shots of the object (3 different filters) and then have them load in memory and change between each picture to create the colour image on the screen. crude but effective.

 

then there is IBM, build a box and write a whole bunch of programs and put them in a store all at the same time.(there where 120 titles released at the same time as the computer) no hunting for programs, no writting needed, just take it home or to work and you are part of BIG BLUE the biggest best known computer company around (so it must be good). Using PC DOS. Not really affordable to the regular family but the parts are easy to find and everyone started to make copies and Big Blue did not stop anyone. Where is Big Blue in the pc market now?

 

 

We all know that PC Dos was just MS Dos with a different name.

 

so the only 2 companies that are still around in the home market from the time the Mac and IBM PC came to market are Apple and Microsoft.

 

Gone are the low end "toys", Gone is IBM.

IBM was displaced by the likes of Dell and Gateway and the local guy at the end of the block who will build a custom machine. (yes I know that IBM is being made under license in China for the next few years)

 

Apple is still Apple. Jobs left and came back, Woz is off having fun, but the company is still there.

No wonder Forrest Gump bought Apple shares.. he didn't know any better.

 

5% of a market that has so many companies coming and going is not so bad over the long haul.

Bill is the only big winner. 90% of all home computer sales but money in his pocket.

Even the toys put money in his pocket. I have several computers with versions of microsft basic.

 

Later

 

p.s. When did a CPU become a feature??? LOL

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Hey, people - dont forget you have been using Windows ever since 95. It changed little since then... You use hotkeys, registry and all the stuff. You know, where to seek for drivers, and you know, which antivirus is better... Just lots of expirience. I bought an ibook a year ago. I got used to it... Then tiger released i were absolutely happy. Then i went to my grandfather. He's 85 years old. He said - i want a computer. We bought him a new PC. He was hassling with it for couple of weeks. He couldnt even create a doc with MS word... He couldnt find his files etc...(actualy he didnt understand at first - what is this "file"...) I dont think its possible to call these struggles - "using PC" Then he saw my ibook. He asked me to show how it works. At the end of a day he was surfing the net, fetching the music, pictures etc. I was SHOCKED. It took me half a year to get really used to mac... He was REALLY using it in a week. He never saw computer before.. Now i'm at 3800+AMD64 box with GF6800, 2 gigs ram, etc. I bought it because i had 19' Sony monitor and i have to deal with scientific programs, which were difficult to run with osx (its quite easy now - theres a MacOS release now). And I miss my 1Ghz ibook (grandfathers actually :D) . So i think the only way to success for apple is spreading the OS - thats their best for now. I dont think they really can sell it just like MS does. They'd have to face support problem then... And windows is cheaper... But they could split OS and support - for example - sell Macs with OS and support. sell OsX to OEMs and general PC public without support. And sell AppleCare for the OS separately. Most OEM manufacters have their own support services - not many people would buy that AppleCare plan... They would ask for support there they bought computer... I would buy such a PC %) With apple logo along with stupid IntelInside or Ugly AMDs logos $) But thats just because i cant afford a Mac now $)

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Yep, I'm agree with you, I also suggest to macintoch to do what sun is doing with their OS, you can download and install it for free but if you want support you have to pay something like 80 bucks so Mac can continue selling macs with all their support and the best hardware for running macs but if you are a geek like us or you are cheap you can buy an dell powered with MAC OS with their support and that will start to create a bigger OS X user which will benefit all us with better and more software, even more games.

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Also, I wouldn't exactly say Apple brought USB and Firewire into the marketplace. Neither technology was created by Apple so they just started adding it like all the other computer manufacturers.

 

Actually, Apple did invent Firewire, and gets a couple of dimes' royalties from every Firewire device sold.

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Darn, this is one of the most boring flamewars ive ever read, and its under news when it should be under opinions (or possibly junk :lol:) arguing over a future that nobody knows (unless you have a time machine) then going back and arguing over the past, and present, then back to the future, and all with really lame arguments that repeat themselvs. I there should be a seperate forum for flamewars, we can have 2 threads, one for "Apple is going to release osx for normal pcs" and another for "OSX Sucks", which pretty much covers all the posts in this thread. Why not make it a poll too, so we can see how many people are biased in what ways? Im sick of trying to read a tread on pretty much any subject, and getting the same old flamewar trash. and news that isnt really news, just someones opinion, that i dont even think is right.

 

niXcamiC

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It's not a flamewar; flamewars are where people yell at each other. There is no such thing as a boring flamewar :lol:. This is an intelligent discussion, and these things are very rare when people talk Mac/PC. :D

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It's not a flamewar; flamewars are where people yell at each other. There is no such thing as a boring flamewar ;). This is an intelligent discussion, and these things are very rare when people talk Mac/PC. :)

 

Would you please point out the intelegence? I'm too lazy to look for it myself.

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