I'm real new to this so I'm probably not following Forum rules, So here it goes:
If the rumors of the IBM 970 chip are true, then this is actually bigger than OS X. Why? Because every Mac has had the Motorola chip in it since 1984. So this really, really big. Most of you young folks probably didn't know that.
Now the paradigm shift is that it will be in IBM's interest that Apples sells as many Macs as it can. Every mac sold has one of their chips in it right? So IBM will want to pushing for Apple to increase sales as it means revenue To them too.
Here is the clever part: IBM is kind of out of the desktop market, They still have them but are pushing their Laptops (I guess everyone is actually) As IBM is kind of defaulting to Linux. The relationship between Linux and Unix is pretty close from what I understand, so there are alot of things that Apple and IBM could do for each other with respect to Enterprise systems as IBM does really have the mainframe computer stuff down..
This kind of is the direction Apple needs to go to stay in the computer business: IBM does the big stuff, but every Terminal is a stand alone Mac (with an IBM chip in it of course) This puts Apple units out there, and apple market share goes up as hospitals, factories, banks, insurance companies etc. all start putting macs on their desk because the mainframe vendor (IBM) sells them that way.......So thats the enterprise stuff.
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Now to simply grab market share, What about a $499 laptop, say the Ibook with that Motorola 'Gobi G3 running a1.5 meg? That and a good graphics card, 30 gig hard drive, a sensible amount of ram (512K expandible to 1 meg) is all that about 95% of most computer users need anyway. For surfing the web, downloading music, editing the kid's soccergame on Imovie, or whatever, online banking a couple of games, who needs big power?
I can see the deal now - I-pod and laptop - $899. At your Apple store now..... Blister pack it and premium it out with Apple care, an extra battery and it could be a $1200 deal.. I bet even target and Best Buy would want to endcap that one... would want to sell a deal like that. Now thats a way to increase marketshare..... Me? As I am an old geezer, I would simply go for the $499 Ibook.
If this is way off, tell me why. I'm not basing this on anything I know from anybody at Apple or anything. jeez I only have a 350 non firewire IMac...... So not really in the 'know' on anything. I haven't even gone to System X yet..
Well it will be interesting to see the response. I hope I'm ok with respect to forum rules as this is my first post ever.... Not even sure how to check if anyone responds........
