Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Dell Says He'd Sell Apple's Mac OS

it's so uncool to be cool

let's not forget that Apple is and should always remain a 'cool' computer company. it's cool to own a Mac. is there one person reading this site that doesn't look at their mod iMac, stark G5 or sleek Powerbook and get a feeling of superiority when you see that snoozer of a Thinkpad or some chinsy plasticy Dell w/ a floppy drive crammed in the front of a boring box??

but go too far & you're no longer cool. cool/uncool is a fine line. there are tons of examples of this, i'm sure, but Skechers comes to mind. i remember when i bought my first pair in San Fran back when i was working for Apple. they were big & chunky and everyone thought they were so cool & interesting. 6 or 7 years later, you can go to Sears or someplace & pick up a pair. sure, now they have a much larger distribution channel, but they've lost the cool appeal. i wouldn't buy a pair now for that exact reason (call me a fashion snob, w/e). ;)

i see the same thing happen to restaurants & clubs. when they're small & exclusive, they're cool and the hip crowd flocks to them. once they've gone mainstream, the cool clique moves elsewhere. does this same phenomenon happen w/ computers?? i don't know, but i have a feeling the answer is "yes". so i don't WANT a 40% marketshare for Apple. i don't WANT to see the Dell kid hocking OSX. Dell=boring & mainstream. steve has to know this.

anyone else have a take on this?
 
…Enter stage left… SONY.

Didn't Steve Jobs say, Apple and SONY worked together in some areas, and maybe who knows, in computers and music someday. i think this day has just drawn nearer.

SONY has been courting OS X for a while now. I think they've been looking for a way to leave Windows behind. Microsoft are a major rival to SONY, not only with PS vs. Xbox, but also with themselves being number one in consumer electronics and MS number one in the computer industry. The difference between them two areas are blurring fast. They need something to compete with MS n this area and Apple are looking to win the digital living room/home so they are a natural fit. SONY are attractive to Apple because they are also a premium brand that will not dilute the Mac image, and are an innovative company who could offer expertise and tech to Apple, as well as media content. I don't think it's too far fetched to expect Vaio's to be the first none apple computers to offer OS X as the standard primary OS. Their walkmen and connect service becoming iPod and iTMS compatible further down the line wouldn't surprise me either. Having the two most stylish brands of computer maker producing Macs would corner the premium market (even though vaio's materials kinda look cheapy in person).

Of course the big problem for Apple would be that SONY are in a similar market to them (except SONY bring their fan boys to the platform), and for SONY they could be jumping from the frying pan into the fire, going from MS to Apple, unless they gain fairplay compatibility.

I don't really see Dell as a good potential market. I think they'll lower the brand image, while not offering too much to apple. I see them target partners that have a good image and can offer the Mac brand something in return. Good partners could be HP, as an existing partner and it's increasing focus on digital lifestyle, IBM for it's innovation and business market, and possibly Sun for the server market (but they already have Solaris so unlikely), and SGI. SGI running OS X would be a natural progression from IRIX, they have expertise in the Unix space, and they'd bring a lot of professional design customers and apps into the fold. IBM i'd like to see but they've sold off their pc division (and the IBM brand name will be gone on Lenove computers by the time MacTel's come out) and they might not be so happy with Apple after the very public dumping of them. Selling OS X would be another good option for their servers (both power and xeon) and possibly a way to do something with all that PPC 9** research and development. As apps will be Universal Binary then selling OS X still on PPC could still be viable solution (especially in the server space where it is performance king), and could be good news for current ppc mac users that want to keep using ppc, and ensure that developers still produce UB's allowing our present Mac's to stay useful longer. It seems producing UB's well into the future would be a no brainer, but it's not as easy as it is made out. Not all apps will work just by clicking the tick boxes, and will need separate code base for both platforms (such as performance sensitive apps and ones that use Altivec/SSE2 or whatever it's called)

With carefully chosen partners, where Apple are still in control of what components will be supported, either by them specifying to partners or via a comity they head (much like how sun control Java), they could really push forward the future of OS X, while keeping the quality and profitability. Much like how Nokia are now helping with the recently open sourced WebKit, to improve it for mobile applications and increase it's portability, having the likes of IBM, Sun, SGI and HP helping on the OpenDarwin project could really help it's performance and functionality. I don't think Dell could help in any of these areas, except being able to produce many cheap boxes at cheap prices, undercutting Apple and all other partners. It's not like Dell would pass on their expertise of how to make boxes as cheaply as possible to apple anyway. The only way I can see Apple wanting Dell to sell mactels if it is their premium range, but SONY are bigger in that market.
 
It's a computer. I use it do work and listen to music, not to "be cool". I find that OS X does a better job of this than Windows, so I use a Mac. I do like the fact that the mac community is helpful in troubleshooting problems, but if windows were to advance to the point where it was better to use than a Mac system, I'd be using that. However, I don't see this happening soon.

mp
 
sinisterdesign said:
let's not forget that Apple is and should always remain a 'cool' computer company. it's cool to own a Mac. is there one person reading this site that doesn't look at their mod iMac, stark G5 or sleek Powerbook and get a feeling of superiority when you see that snoozer of a Thinkpad or some chinsy plasticy Dell w/ a floppy drive crammed in the front of a boring box??

but go too far & you're no longer cool. cool/uncool is a fine line. there are tons of examples of this, i'm sure, but Skechers comes to mind. i remember when i bought my first pair in San Fran back when i was working for Apple. they were big & chunky and everyone thought they were so cool & interesting. 6 or 7 years later, you can go to Sears or someplace & pick up a pair. sure, now they have a much larger distribution channel, but they've lost the cool appeal. i wouldn't buy a pair now for that exact reason (call me a fashion snob, w/e). ;)

i see the same thing happen to restaurants & clubs. when they're small & exclusive, they're cool and the hip crowd flocks to them. once they've gone mainstream, the cool clique moves elsewhere. does this same phenomenon happen w/ computers?? i don't know, but i have a feeling the answer is "yes". so i don't WANT a 40% marketshare for Apple. i don't WANT to see the Dell kid hocking OSX. Dell=boring & mainstream. steve has to know this.

anyone else have a take on this?
Click to expand...
You have a good point, but cool, trendy, counter-culture items never last. Whether they are computers, clothing, music, tv show, whatever... they either remain obscure and eventually die out and go away or they make it big and become mainstream and loose the cool factor.

I was using Google a long time before it become popular. Everyone was using Yahoo, Excite, etc and Google just blew them all away. It felt cool to use Google, you'd show your friends and they'd be amazed. "It's so clean looking and easy to use and provides better results.", they'd say. You know what? it doesn't feel as cool to use Google now days because everyone does - Google is practically a verb now. It's still a damn good search engine though.

If Apple eventually licenses OS X and gains market share Macs might not be as cool. Still, they'll continue to make great hardware designs and OS X will remain a great OS. Besides, although I think this is a definite possibility for Apple's future, I couldn't see it happening for a few years.
 
Egad! I hope this doesn't happen in my lifetime. I'm enjoying the ride on Apple's innovation rollercoaster. We need innovative companies to help drag the fat, bloatted ones off their a**** and make products that are user-centric.

Rather have a mac Mini on my desk than a 30 lb black bland box.
 
I think what many people are failing to realize is that switching to an Intel chip is a completely different issue than making OSX available to generic PCs. The only relevancy is possibility.

Hope and dream if you want to, but it's pretty much business as usual at Apple, regardless of the processor inside. Why should they change? They're doing extremely well and have a future that doesn't rely completely on units sold.

These types of dreams will neither die nor happen...
 
Josh said:
I honestly do think there will be a day when Apple will take over the computer industry, and Mac OS will be on the majority of user-computers, in the work-places etc. Mac OS is the future of computers. All in good time :D
Click to expand...


Actually, that could spell the downfall of the Mac OS. When the OS starts getting put on any run-of-the-mill machine, you start having hardware compatibility issues. Apple has to start loading the OS with drivers, which bog it down and are a constant site of errors. On top of that, if Mac rises to the popularity and spread of windows, you could be saying hello to viruses and malware.

If Mac OS became the majority, I think we'd start seeing people hop over to Linux until the same thing happened with that.
 
For the three month period that ended April 29, 2005 Dell sold almost $10 Billion in Desktop PC's, Mobility and Servers. I wonder how many of those would have OS X if it was an option - and how much money that would mean for Apple...
 
By the end of 2007, Apple will have a complete line of computers that can run Mac OS X, Windows, and Linux at full speed...no emulation....all native. Not ONE other computer company can say that.

Like I said before, this will be in stages. And it will definitely pay off for our beloved company.

I firmly believe this is their plan. I guess it would sound sad for some long time devotees of Apple. But we shouldn't keep this OS to ourselves...the world needs it :p
 
I am surprised by the number of mad and idiotic people here with comments like :

. "Throw up" at the idea of OS x on a dell
. " Steve has betrayed us"
. " Never happen - never! I will never buy a mac again"

The reason I "Switched" back in 2001 was because of the software (which was OS 9 back then) and not the hardware (of course, that did count..but not enough to justify spending $3000 on a powerbook) Since I am into music production, I needed software that would be rock solid and stable..and OS 9 did the job. OS X of course, is much better.

My brother-in-law has a Dell..with Win XP. His interest in the Macintosh platform is pretty strong, however he simply will not spend $2500+ on a powerbook when all he does is email and chat! Isn't the mac experience all about software? The look counts, I know.. but how do you expect people to "switch" when you don't want to offer them Mac OS X on the computer of THEIR choice?

Finally, Apple is a company and yes, they do need to make a profit. When they released the ipod and it was an instant success, its profitability was multiplied when they released itunes for windows.. right? Their financial statements are amazing, their cash flow has never been better..so they have learnt their lesson. If they keep catering to the 'elite mac fan zealots' they will ALWAYS occupy 3% of the computer market share. Its time for them to 'think different'.

I am all for OS X on PCs and Macs..those who have the money to buy a sleek powerbook ..will buy it, those who don't..will buy a Dell with OS X on it..the more the OS X users, the better. In fact, like the CEO of Adobe said to Steve at the keynote "What took you so long?"
 
You guys setting yourself up for heartbreak

MBHockey said:
This will never happen under Jobs. Whoever becomes CEO after him, well, that's another story.
Click to expand...

I have a philossophy that says never bet your life on what someone else will do. Steve Jobs is running apple the best way he sees fit, regardless of what the mac faithfull thinks. Why, only a couple of weeks ago, there were people claiming they'd rather die than see intel inside.. heck, some people even thought that news.com were idiots for even saying apple would move to intel cause if they went X86, it would be AMD. I realize this is a rumor board and part of the fun is predicting what apple would do next but did you see the guy on the board that said he'd shoot himself if apple licensed OSX to dell?. If anyone knows that guy, please get him help. Steve Jobs could give a rats ass how much you hate dell. If Apple never license their operating system, it wouldn't be becuase they thought Dells were inferior. It would be because they decided it was not a business decision for them to make. It amuses me how people think Jobs would only license (if ever) the operating system to some company who made beautifull cases. News flash folks, jobs is running a company. Just like every CEO, he likes bigger jets, more money, etc. If it made sense, he'd license to Dell and he wouldn't care a bit what you all think. He probably doesn't even know or care to ask.
 
min_t said:
Egad! I hope this doesn't happen in my lifetime. I'm enjoying the ride on Apple's innovation rollercoaster. We need innovative companies to help drag the fat, bloatted ones off their a**** and make products that are user-centric.

Rather have a mac Mini on my desk than a 30 lb black bland box.
Click to expand...


And who is telling you to buy a 30 lb black bland box?? You would buy a mac mini with OS X.. someone else would buy a 30 lb black bland box with OS X.. geez!
 
vtprinz said:
If Mac OS became the majority, I think we'd start seeing people hop over to Linux until the same thing happened with that.
Click to expand...

Apple has big names behind them, and an industry/user-base much different than that of linux.

You're not going to see Adobe adopting linux and making CS3 for it, or any other thing like that.

What Mac OS is for, and who its intended users are, is not going to change no matter what hardware is running it.
 
paulypants said:
Guess again. Their margins are much higher than that.
Click to expand...

Not involved in original discussion but hmm, how would you know this?.
a profit margin greater than $400 on a machine?. no wonder apple market share is small!!!.. wow, how much higher, $600, $800, $1000?. Personally, i can't wait for macOSX for intel. I want to be first to crack it and be able to load on any machine. I don't care how nicely designed apple machines is but a profit margin of over $400 (according to you) is obscene. Why should i pay apple substantially more than $400 profit margin (again, according to you) for a commodity product like a Personal Computer?. Actually, why would i continue to do that?.
 
Hey, if it means the prices come down out of the stratosphere for Apple computers, I'm all for it. It's just way too expensive. I just hope they don't look like Dell's hideous computers. And no way I'd want to have to put up with Dell's horrible support which is outsourced to India. I just had a nightmare after ordering a camera from them. They are totally incompetent.
 
Cooknn said:
I think you underestimate the potential for OS X in the corporate world :cool:
Click to expand...
There is certainly potential, but Apple is a LONG way from being able to execute in the business world. The way software is managed in the home or even a small office of ~20 computers is very different than how software is managed in the corporate world. Apple doesn't have any of the IT infrastructure technologies necessary to support medium to large-sized businesses. These technologies would take years to develop if Apple ever does decide to go that route. I don't see it happening - it doesn't fit at all with how Apple have positioned themsleves over the years and currently.
 
Music_Producer said:
My brother-in-law has a Dell..with Win XP. His interest in the Macintosh platform is pretty strong, however he simply will not spend $2500+ on a powerbook when all he does is email and chat! Isn't the mac experience all about software?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry, but if that's all he's interested in doing, WHY THE F is he looking at a powerbook for 2500$??!! Get a mac mini for 499$ or an iBook for under a grand, some of these "overpriced problems" can be simply solved with a little knowledge and common sense.
 
Music_Producer said:
My brother-in-law has a Dell..with Win XP. His interest in the Macintosh platform is pretty strong, however he simply will not spend $2500+ on a powerbook when all he does is email and chat!
Click to expand...

No one says he has to buy a $2500+ PowerBook if he is just emailing and chatting. Apple offers plenty of other cheaper options for those duties.

Music_Producer said:
Isn't the mac experience all about software?
Click to expand...

For many the Mac experience is about the combination of hardware and software and how they are designed, built and integrated to provide the whole experience. Similar to the iPod/iTunes experience.

Music_Producer said:
...but how do you expect people to "switch" when you don't want to offer them Mac OS X on the computer of THEIR choice?
Click to expand...

Many hardware manufacturers don't allow the consumer to choose the OS either. Try buying a $300 Dell with Linux on it.
 
lenovo

sinisterdesign said:
let's not forget that Apple is and should always remain a 'cool' computer company. it's cool to own a Mac. is there one person reading this site that doesn't look at their mod iMac, stark G5 or sleek Powerbook and get a feeling of superiority when you see that snoozer of a Thinkpad or some chinsy plasticy Dell w/ a floppy drive crammed in the front of a boring box??

but go too far & you're no longer cool. cool/uncool is a fine line. there are tons of examples of this, i'm sure, but Skechers comes to mind. i remember when i bought my first pair in San Fran back when i was working for Apple. they were big & chunky and everyone thought they were so cool & interesting. 6 or 7 years later, you can go to Sears or someplace & pick up a pair. sure, now they have a much larger distribution channel, but they've lost the cool appeal. i wouldn't buy a pair now for that exact reason (call me a fashion snob, w/e). ;)

i see the same thing happen to restaurants & clubs. when they're small & exclusive, they're cool and the hip crowd flocks to them. once they've gone mainstream, the cool clique moves elsewhere. does this same phenomenon happen w/ computers?? i don't know, but i have a feeling the answer is "yes". so i don't WANT a 40% marketshare for Apple. i don't WANT to see the Dell kid hocking OSX. Dell=boring & mainstream. steve has to know this.

anyone else have a take on this?
Click to expand...

Hey, no dissin Lenovo
 
wnurse said:
Not involved in original discussion but hmm, how would you know this?.
a profit margin greater than $400 on a machine?. no wonder apple market share is small!!!.. wow, how much higher, $600, $800, $1000?. Personally, i can't wait for macOSX for intel. I want to be first to crack it and be able to load on any machine. I don't care how nicely designed apple machines is but a profit margin of over $400 (according to you) is obscene. Why should i pay apple substantially more than $400 profit margin (again, according to you) for a commodity product like a Personal Computer?. Actually, why would i continue to do that?.
Click to expand...

Profit margins on lower end machines is roughly 19 percent, while margins on higher priced macs is 25 percent or higher.

You wanna be the first to crack it? Good luck, my money's on a big "NO" for you succeeding in that. :p
 
Why is this a bad thing? I've read numerous posts about apple hardware being superior. In what way? Apple doesn't make one thing in there computer. Get this, all the components are made by other companies. Apple hardware is a rip off. Look how much they charge for freaking ram. Are you kidding

Some of you need to get your head out of your ass. Apple is charging you more for video cards, ram, and hard drives that they don't make. Dells can have the same if not better hardware for cheaper.

OS X on a dell is the right way to go. You should have a choice of what hardware you want to run with what operating system you want
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back