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

Lack of 'Mac' Branding Raises Questions

Big Gulp said:
Apple either needs to introduce an upgradeable headless Mac, or open up the damned OS already.
Click to expand...

With respect, no they don't.

What they need to keep doing is what they're already doing, which is making rapid gains in marketshare in both desktops and laptops and developing what looks like it could be the most innovative mobile platform around.

Set in that context, I don't think they really care about the few enthusiasts who would like a headless minitower. After all, how many average users upgrade their machine during its lifespan, apart from maybe some RAM and a bigger (external, usually) HD? Virtually none, I'd wager, apart from hobbyists (who aren't really the bulk of the computer market these days). Most people just buy a machine, use it for a few years, then buy another.
 
I think...

...everyone should just take a nice long breath and relax.

there are more important things in life you know?!
 
alFR said:
What they need to keep doing is what they're already doing, which is making rapid gains in marketshare in both desktops and laptops and developing what looks like it could be the most innovative mobile platform around.
Click to expand...
If anything, the mobile platform would be tremendously strengthened by opening the OS. As for gaining marketshare I can think of no better way to turn that trickle into a flood than by releasing the OS.

It's already been said, but if you think the margin on hardware is hefty you clearly don't understand what the margin on software is like. Microsoft may be looking like a wounded dinosaur right now, but less than a decade ago they were the all-consuming borg, and they did it on the back of insanely profitable software margins.
 
alFR said:
With respect, no they don't.

What they need to keep doing is what they're already doing, which is making rapid gains in marketshare in both desktops and laptops and developing what looks like it could be the most innovative mobile platform around.

Set in that context, I don't think they really care about the few enthusiasts who would like a headless minitower. After all, how many average users upgrade their machine during its lifespan, apart from maybe some RAM and a bigger (external, usually) HD? Virtually none, I'd wager, apart from hobbyists (who aren't really the bulk of the computer market these days). Most people just buy a machine, use it for a few years, then buy another.
Click to expand...

How many average users are willing to pay $1500 or more on a computer?
 
PC's would be great 4 me

I would buy the family pack immediately. I am running too many PC's to switch everything.
There are so many PC users that have grown weary of Microsoft's control, and taken a second look at Apple after buying an iPhone, that Apple would probably make a killing on software sales to PC owners alone.
 
timothyjay2004 said:
But I just realized something, and if this has been posted before, I'm sorry, I don't have time to read everything right now: 10.6 to be Intel only, well, that would exclude a lot of AMD chipped machines now wouldn't it??? So, they can't be making it for PC's. The Intel code won't work for AMD. AMD's is different.
Click to expand...

Nope. Consumer Intel and AMD chips are both either x86 or x86_64. Same platform, same code. That's why hackintosh osx86 will run on AMDs as well, as long as it supports the right extensions. (the issue with AMDs is drivers, there is a smaller subset of compatible chipsets because Apple doesn't use AMD hardware.)
 
It'd be a total shame if it did happen. It'd be Apple's end, or the beginning of a new Microsoft. Apple would never do this. In one of their commercials they were bragging that the software and hardware in Macs came from the same people.

Edit:
A lot of my friends call say, "OS 10" instead of saying, "Mac OS 10"
 
Here's another checkmark for the "No Way" Column: Apple's marketshare has been steadily growing over the past few quarters. There's not really a strong financial need to release their software to generic PCs.

Even if Apple were to take advantage of the overall dissatisfaction with Vista, releasing OS X to non-Apple computers would not have any significant impact on the Windows world for one pretty strong reason: The enterprise.

For whatever reason, Apple has primarily branded themselves as a home/consumer/prosumer/professional computer, and not as an enterprise solution. I hate to say it, but as bloated as Microsoft Office is on Windows, it does have some nifty features and integration which Apple just doesn't offer for the large offices.

And this is from someone who has to do graphic design on an XP box at work. And hates it. And is attempting to find a way to shoehorn a Mac into the 1000+ Windows boxes floating around his office...which is a software company...headed up by a former Microsoft CEO. </rant>
 
I believe OS X could very well take over Windows if it was available to PC's. If it is indeed PC-compatible, I'll be buying a copy the first day I see it. I cannot afford a Macbook, so I use OSx86 as an alternative until I reach enough money for one. I do have a retail Leopard DVD though which is how I use OSx86. At least I'm not pirating the OS. If OS X was opened out to PC's, I believe Apple will also lose a significant amount of money.
 
bobertoq said:
In one of their commercials they were bragging that the software and hardware in Macs came from the same people.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the deceptive world of advertising. Apple's hardware comes from the same place Dell's, HP's, and Gateway's does: processors from Intel, GPUs from nVidia or ATI/AMD, and hard drives from Western Digital.

Frankly, the pretty case is the only uniquely "Apple" piece of hardware you're getting. Unless you're a sucker for the form factor, Apple's only distinguishing feature is the OS.
 
This makes very little sense to me. Because of how it would alienate some of the faithful, it would result in an exchange of customers to some extent. Additionally, what makes this computer so great that I'm typing on right now is the fact that the hardware and software work so well together in comparison to the many different platforms with Windows. It isn't just the fact that Windows is on so many platforms, it is the fact that Microsoft cannot keep track of them all and that creates problems.

The opposite argument is, this will go a long way toward getting past one obstacle many people have when it comes to Macs: price. The other hurdle is familiarity and that will probably never favor anyone except Microsoft; ask Novell. It isn't so much that they make a better OS, people just use it everywhere and have become so comfortable with it.
 
h4cky0u said:
I believe OS X could very well take over Windows if it was available to PC's. If it is indeed PC-compatible, I'll be buying a copy the first day I see it.
Click to expand...

Yep, I think there are a lot of people with me on this. Its either my PC and windows, or my PC and OSX.

Cant justify spending for a Mac and OSX.
 
this isnt going to happen, Apple is a lot smarter than to sell their OS on different computer. As successful as the iPhone is, I really wish they were focused on the Mac, the OS, and the apps for it.
 
Big Gulp said:
Welcome to the deceptive world of advertising. Apple's hardware comes from the same place Dell's, HP's, and Gateway's does: processors from Intel, GPUs from nVidia or ATI/AMD, and hard drives from Western Digital.

Frankly, the pretty case is the only uniquely "Apple" piece of hardware you're getting. Unless you're a sucker for the form factor, Apple's only distinguishing feature is the OS.
Click to expand...

What you are saying is obvious, but I think was it meant is the fact that Apple knows what hardware is in their systems whereas Microsoft does not.
 
tomegun said:
What you are saying is obvious, but I think was it meant is the fact that Apple knows what hardware is in their systems whereas Microsoft does not.
Click to expand...

Oh, I understand, but I'm still seeing people in this thread talk about the "superior Mac hardware". Trust me folks, Intel isn't saving the "good" processors just for Apple.

Steve's using the same components everyone else is, trust me. :D
 
tomegun said:
What you are saying is obvious, but I think was it meant is the fact that Apple knows what hardware is in their systems whereas Microsoft does not.
Click to expand...

And again the point should be reiterated: Microsoft and Apple are not really in competition with each other and never have been because Microsoft doesn't make computers. If Apple ever does put out a standalone version of whatever OS they put out, then one could say they're in competition and be completely honest about it.

Until then, it's just useless prattle.
 
A Few Observations

1. MAC Computers are high in Price.
2. Microsoft OS's are high in Price.
3. PC's are lower in Price (Compared to MACs)
4. MAC OS X is lower in price (compared to Vista)

Do the math. Don't you think a lot of people would chose the lower cost of both worlds?

How many PC's are out there compared to MACs?

How many manufactures of PC's would go for a lower cost OS?

I belong to the Microsoft Developers Network. This is the lowest priced way to run their Operating Systems on up to 10 Computers. And that costs $499 per year.

I could run OS X on up to 5 for only $199.

Again, do the math.

Linux based OS's, or the like, will run on many PC's.

Mac just has a great UI, and great prices, as far as an OS.
Yes, it is PC Hardware in a MAC case.

I own a Harley and those riders don't like to hear that some of the Harley parts are just as foreign, as the foreign named bikes.

So, not to make anyone angry, but who is holding their nose in the air? I'm not talking about foreign parts, but what MAC users think about PC users, and placing their precious OS on a PC along with believing that a MAC is made by Apple without anyone else's parts.
 
This is crazy. It will never happen.
Can someone make a page ten to put this story on?

Scooterman1 said:
So, not to make anyone angry, but who is holding their nose in the air?
Click to expand...
what in the world are you talking about? Are you saying the hardware is foreign? Of course it is. You aren't paying for a US product. No one thinks all the parts are hand crafted by the finest computer scientists on the planet. You are paying for a well designed well tested product, made specifically to work in tune with the OS. The are pretty (there's a premium to pay for there) and efficient.
 
Anuba said:
A move like this would certainly shed some new light on the agenda behind the relentless Vista slander in the "PC guy" commercials... and the script for the "PC guy gets OS X upgrade" spot practically writes itself.
Click to expand...

Alright, I'll give it a shot...

PC (On the top ledge of his corporate building): "Good bye cruel world! This is all Vista's fault..." (Sob, Sob)
Mac (Runs up concerned): "PC! Wait, what are you doing?"
PC: "I've had enough, Mac! I'm just fed up, I can't compete."
Mac: "Wait PC, how can we get you off that ledge?"
PC: "It's my OS, its all screwed up..."
Mac: "Well, I can't help your hardware problems, PC, but what I give you a modified version of my OS?"
PC (Stops Sobbing): "You'd do that for me, Mac?"
Mac (Helping PC off ledge): "Sure PC, I'll give you a hand... But,...."
Black screen with :apple: Logo "OS X Snow Leopard"

yada, yada, yada...:rolleyes:

That being said, I don't really believe Apple will try this (yet?) and I think the Snow Leopard moniker will be applied the the OS X mobile platform. I was just playin' around.

Cheers
:)
 
MacRumors said:
- Changing .Mac to Me.com (platform neutral)
- OS X Leopard (not Mac OS X Leopard)
- 10.6 to be Intel only (dropping PowerPC would be necessary)
- "No new features" in 10.6 could be due to resources devoted to just making 10.6 "PC compatible"
Click to expand...

I think dropping Mac from Mac OS X is just a way for them to emphasize that the same operating system is running on very different platforms. In either case, the consumer is buying into their great OS X.

Just as Apple dropped Computer from their name to notify the consumer they do not make just computers, they are dropping Mac from the OS X reference because OS X now runs on other devices that are not Mac computers.

This all leads to changing .Mac to Me.com. All of these non-Mac devices will be able to take advantage of the new Me.com, not just Macs.

I think what we are seeing is a realignment for marketing purposes. Apple needs to keep the message easy for the consumer to understand.

I don't see any reason why it would be necessary to drop PPC to allow for sales on third party hardware. That statement makes no sense by it self. You could argue that dropping PPC allows them to better focus their resources on the Intel platform. That I'd buy into.

Oh. I do expect new features or big improvements will come in 10.6.
 
Anuba said:
In 2003, some people were trumpeting the possibility that Apple might be switching to Intel. Many people thought it was a ludicrous idea and the phrase "snowball's chance in hell" was tossed around a lot. Many felt filthy, even violated just considering the notion that "Wintel crap" might one day contaminate their precious Macs...

Here's an example of what naysayers sounded like back in those days.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the article link, that was interesting and amusing. :)
 
I had almost the same picture

TwinCities Dan said:
Alright, I'll give it a shot...

PC (On the top ledge of his corporate building): "Good bye cruel world! This is all Vista's fault..." (Sob, Sob)
Mac (Runs up concerned): "PC! Wait, what are you doing?"
PC: "I've had enough, Mac! I'm just fed up, I can't compete."

:)
Click to expand...

Funny, I had a picture of the Advertisement that was very similar.
 
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