Should Apple license out Clones again for markets Apples does not serve?

[PracticalMac]

Should Apple license clones for markets Apple will never or is very unlikely ever enter.

Example:
ToughBooks
http://www.panasonic.com/business/toughbook/toughbook-products.asp

Tablets
http://www.axiotron.com/index.php?id=modbookpro

Industrial computers that require specially certified enclosures (there are a LOT of companies who would happily used anything other then Windows, but have no choice)
http://www.advantech.com/products/PPC-175T/mod_1-2K0JMB.aspx

(others?)

 

[gilkisson]

Do not send in the clones.

Apple isn't interested in owning the entire field. They are interested in being the premium in whichever category they enter/define/create.

Personally, I wish they would make a ToughBook-like version of the MBP. But that's just a wish, saying "it'd be cool if...". No idea if there is a market there for Apple to be interested in.

If Apple wants to enter a market, they will do so directly, and not with a clone. Not while Steve is around.

 

[Compile 'em all]

Will never happen. Apple computers will always come from Apple.

Edit: it is also called niche not nitch.

 

[Hellhammer]

If Apple wanted to do that, they would've done that already. Apple is "premium" and known of their tight products line (not many options) so I doubt they'll actually expand their services. Apple doesn't care about its market share or amount of sold products. Only thing they care about is the profit and they want to make more of it.

Apple's best selling thing is that everything comes from the same company while in PCs hardware comes from one company (e.g. Acer), operating system from another one and most software from several companies.

 

[andiwm2003]

apple tried that and usually they compete with apple and apple shuts them down quickly.

also there is the risk that their hardware does not exactly adhere apples specs and that leads to bugs and a poor user experience. this is negative for apples brand and apple is not going to take that risk.

hackintosh is the only option that i can see.

 

[alent1234]

no clones

apple and microsoft are playing nice with each other and apple allowing clones will sever the relationship. MS will probably pull MS Exchange support for iphones and it will mean a huge loss in sales for iphones