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Originally Posted by punky
Apples would be a hell of a lot cheaper if Jobs would stop being a mega-lo-maniac ****hole and release Apple for x86 processors. Legend has it he has compiled it onto x86 (not that difficult, its based on freebsd anyway) and refused to let it out. If he did, everyone could have Apples for 90 quid and an old donor PC.
He wants to bleed people dry selling over-priced piece of aryllics.
Don't anyone say anything bad against my Alu powerbook though, that is actually sweet and very well designed.
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Back in the day when Apple had problems there was a secret internal build of Mac OS for x86 processors. Apple were worried that there processor partner (motorola) would back out and that Apple computers would cease to exist so the OS was made. I believe it was called Markler or something. The build was almost finished when intel and apple made the G5. The project was canned.
You can, if you look hard enough, find some versions of it on the net. The project hasn't been heard of since but no one believes it is totally canned. It is rumored (and highly likely) that it is in top secret development still. Wether this is a x86 release candidate or simply a back up strategy 'just in case' we dont know.
However one of the things that make the mac a mac is the combination of mac os and apple computers. They are built for each other. It means excellent compatibility and speed. It also means apple can try out new technologies easier. Firewire comes as standard on all macs and is excellent. Apple hardware is all signing and all dancing. Bluetooth in most models as standard, they were the first to drop floppy disks. Apple do usually go first with the innovative and best technology and usually keep them as standard.
Releasing the software would put pressure on their hardware business and apple may stop making hardware all together. This would not be good
. I also use a powerbook and i love it. Cheapening the OS by having it on all computers reduces the effectiveness of both the OS and the hardware. Although Steve Jobs is about hardware and is likely never to release the software as he loves the hardware aspect. When Steve jobs owned NeXT he company was failing, he had a chance the license the software and make his money and save the company. He chose to keep making hardware. The company disappeared.
Apple make excellent hardware and software. They work better together. A mac is a mac and the whole experience is the combination not individual elements