Apple to PC Manufacturers and Windows: It's on!

#16, no, no and no

you guys are really excited about this.. yay. it's still a mac. apple doesn't support boot camp at this time. it's definitely not a selling point to tell a customer "yeah, you can install windows, but we don't support it".. you call microsoft and they'll tell you "it's not our hardware, so you need to contact the manufacture." i'm not a mac hater. i have a mac mini g4. i even plan on getting a intel mac mini instead of upgrading my current mini to it's full potential. this is only a beta.

"CK you show your absolute cluelessness with this post. THIS IS THE END OF MAC ONLY SOFTWARE. Why would Adobe create a Universal Binary of Photoshop, etc., when Mac users can just run the Windows version? What about MS Office???? Why should Microsoft bother? It can just say screw you to Apple --- our Office suite can run on our OS on your software. "

This is in no way, shape, or form the end of Mac software, and least of all "Mac-only software." Mac-Only software, by definition, only runs on OS X. Adobe will still continue to release OS X versions of their applications because there will still be a great many users who either A. won't use Windows at all or B. won't use Windows for Adobe applications. When I upgrade to an Intel-based machine, I might install this to see what games will work, but that's it. Adobe products cost the same on both platforms, I might as well buy the OS X version of CS 3.

Microsoft has promised at least 5 more years of support. This most likely means various contracts and legal agreements were signed, which means if they do just say "Screw you" to Apple then there will be a lawsuit and the DOJ might get involved, as it could be seen as protecting a monopoly on the part of Microsoft. Besides why would Microsoft want to stop selling Office for Mac, which retails for more than Windows?

Wonder how the Vista development team over at M$ is feeling today.

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HAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA... As they always do.. late to the game, as look longingly at their Mac Book Pros... taking notes for Windows 2009

I must be missing something, given that most seem to be excited about this development. So you now have the opportunity to run what most readers of this forum think to be an inferior operating system (Windows) on Mac hardware. Frankly, I don't see the upside for Mac partisans. If it were the other way around, and I could buy a cheap PC machine to run Mac OS X, that would be great. (I mean, I love my sleak, durable Mac hardware, but it's the OS that keeps me as a Mac user. I suspect that the majority of users if they had to choose the fate of Apple--and decide whether it ONLY made hardware or software--would choose the latter.) SO for this to be something for current mac users to get excited about it should either lead to more mac sales, to ensure that they stay in business and keep making the stuff we like, or lead third party vendors to make more OS X compatible hardware and software. It clearly doesn't do the second one, and I have a real hard time believing that the ability to run XP without support from Apple is going to convince alot of people to buy arguably the most expensive hardware out there. Help me understand.....

"Of course, the real key to this would be if Apple would just go ahead and release a version of OS X for PCs. I think with Boot Camp, Apple just threw down the gauntlet and within a year, they'll take the fight to the desktop PC. I cannot wait."

For the BILLIONTH time. Apple is a HARDWARE company. Steve Jobs loves creating and selling HARDWARE. All software that apple creates is there solely so that people have more reason to buy Apple HARDWARE.

So ... selling OS X on Dells, etc., will not help to sell more Apple hardware. So you will not see this happen.

CK you show your absolute cluelessness with this post. THIS IS THE END OF MAC ONLY SOFTWARE. Why would Adobe create a Universal Binary of Photoshop, etc., when Mac users can just run the Windows version? What about MS Office???? Why should Microsoft bother? It can just say screw you to Apple --- our Office suite can run on our OS on your software.

One word CK: OS/2. You should learn about it.

Am I the only one on this site who thinks some developers might decide against producing Mac versions of their software since everyone on a Mac will be able to run the windows version?

I suppose you've never used OS X have you? You would understand why people would switch if you did. Here's a clue for you. Once a Windows user has a machine with both Windows and OS X on it they will start to use OS X more and more and look for (and usually find) the programs they need for OS X. They spend less and less time on Windows because OS X is simply better.

"I guess people wanted it so bad they got their wish....Now I wonder if Apple are putting MacoS in jeopardy of existence ....will people use the macos when they have windows that run everything on it...Why buy a mac now ? it run windows just like a dell...people should just buy a cheap Dell if they want to run windows .....I don't get it how does it help people switch.....HOW?"

"I won't be needing a PC, I can wreck my Mac by running the spyware and virus-riddled OS on it." And that's a good thing?

I don't think we will see OS X for PCs until all of the PPC Macs are off of AppleCare - just like we didn't see Intel processors until OS 9 and Classic were dead and buried. It's a support thing, as others have mentioned.

OS X for PCs will come with certification of other manufacturer's hardware as "OS X ready," and "OS X friendly." After that comes the end of Apple hardware. I'm not looking forward to those changes.