Machine for switchers...
Apple's current campaign is designed to get people from using Microsoft os's to using the MacOS. The target customer base have no prior mac software in their possesion. What they would have is only Windows software.
Assuming Apple decides to concentrate only on the Windows user base, they could easily release a machine that is based on any Intel/AMD processor that runs OSX (assuming Marklar is true)
The switchers could run an OSX based machine and always dual boot into Windows if they have any critical software that is to be used. This is again based on the assumption that the Marklar version would have all the Iapps running and atleast an Appleworks version for Marklar. This should take care of the average Windows user who would need an office type of package + internet apps + all the Iapps.
Apple would then have a "competitive machine" in processor speed etc. to be able to sell.
The existing PPC user base would have to wait for the 970 processor or whatever the G5 is.
I have no idea about the complexities of recompiling for the different processor sets and whether this is practical. Perhaps Moki can comment.
If this is possible, Apple would have another "Option" to sell to the PC user base.
Assuming Apple decides to concentrate only on the Windows user base, they could easily release a machine that is based on any Intel/AMD processor that runs OSX (assuming Marklar is true)
The switchers could run an OSX based machine and always dual boot into Windows if they have any critical software that is to be used. This is again based on the assumption that the Marklar version would have all the Iapps running and atleast an Appleworks version for Marklar. This should take care of the average Windows user who would need an office type of package + internet apps + all the Iapps.
Apple would then have a "competitive machine" in processor speed etc. to be able to sell.
The existing PPC user base would have to wait for the 970 processor or whatever the G5 is.
I have no idea about the complexities of recompiling for the different processor sets and whether this is practical. Perhaps Moki can comment.
If this is possible, Apple would have another "Option" to sell to the PC user base.
Comments
Remember "Be" ?
Why do you want people to dual boot to os X ? They have everything under XP. XP *IS* nice, and os X is *promising*. We only need better hardware (and less $$$), and no-beta-slow software (stupid live-window resizing, mail, iphoto, ical, ... ???)
I'll finish by adding that apple market share in europe is slowly going down to zero month after month.
<strong>I'll finish by adding that apple market share in europe is slowly going down to zero month after month.
yah, macs are expensive here. too bad.
If you want customers to switch, offering them dual boot is a bad idea. It is a novelty that is seldom the best solution. I think a lot of people have bitched about the 2 worlds they have to live in when they boot between OS9 and X, let alone if they had completely different worlds like XP and X. Bottom line, this idea is BAD BAD BAD.
I am one of them
And I am glad I switch
<strong>I think many switchers out there are attracted by the beautiful hardware and not OS X
I am one of them
And I am glad I switch
My experience is the opposite. All the PC switchers I know did it for the OS. Afterall, you can built an elegant case yourself but you can't run OSX on x86.
<strong>
My experience is the opposite. All the PC switchers I know did it for the OS. Afterall, you can built an elegant case yourself but you can't run OSX on x86.</strong><hr></blockquote>
I'd be surprised if any significant majority switched for the same reason, but it's probably safe to say that the more power-hungry desktop crowd would have switched for the OS, while others switched for the simplicity of the iMac, or for one of the notebooks.
In fact, I'd say the notebooks are the killer switcher machines. For one thing, unlike klinux's friends, you'll have no luck building your own TiBook.
Is this going to happen? Probably not.
<strong>I won't insert my comments about the x86 version being a bad move for apple and will focus on the issue that hasn't been beaten to death.
If you want customers to switch, offering them dual boot is a bad idea. It is a novelty that is seldom the best solution. I think a lot of people have bitched about the 2 worlds they have to live in when they boot between OS9 and X, let alone if they had completely different worlds like XP and X. Bottom line, this idea is BAD BAD BAD.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Muah, you nailed it. Dual boot is completely idiotic.
And for hardware, the only thing Mac has up over PC is the design. Techies would either 1) not care about design oe 2) create his or own design (use different case, stealthing, etc).
Lastly, comparison with TiBook is not fair since 1) it is only one product in Apple's line and 2) there are many PC laptops to choose from e.g. ultra-thin Portege 2000.
First they need to get StarOffice (or OpenOffice, whatever is available) and get it near 100% compatible. Then offer it for $100 with any machine. Then offer $200 off a machine with "AppleOffice" for anyone that trades in a Windows Office license.