mdboyd's Journal: My problem with apple

Okay I'll admit it, the Apple commercials are starting to get to me. They're extremely misleading. That's not to say that there aren't good things to say about Apple and OS X. However, the recent stock option investigation at Apple has reminded me that they are just another American corporation and their tactics aren't always as friendly as they seem.

Here's food for thought, if OS X is such a great operating system, then why doesn't Apple allow PCs built by other manufacturers to install it? That really bothers me.

I think that a lot of Mac users don't realize that their Mac is actually just another PC. It has similar hardware (Intel Macs at least) and can run most Operating Systems natively (well, almost). The only difference is that it comes preloaded with OS X instead of another Operating System. Unfortunately, you can only get this OS if you own a Mac.

My point is this: I think OS X has great qualities, but being limited to only using Apple hardware is a HUGE setback IMO. Until OS X can run on non-Apple hardware, I will never truly consider it comparable to other Operating Systems. I don't want to be locked in to one computer manufacturer based on the operating system that I use.

If Windows can run on Apple PCs, why shouldn't OS X run on a Dell, Acer, Custom-built, etc ? Is it driver issues? If it is, then why do other operating systems have better driver support and why can't OS X?

As sick as this may sound, I don't want an Apple PC. I want to run OS X on my Dell or any other spare PC that I have just like I do with Linux and Windows. That's my biggest turnoff towards Apple.

Now I ask fellow Slashdotters, what do you think about this? Is it right, wrong, or FUD?

Don't understimate the importance of a Driver.

[Tragek]

While I agree partially with your sentiment (I would love to run OS X on my HP I have at home, as well as a couple of other computers I use regularly), I think discounting the driver issue is not only erroneous, but down right patronizing. I think many times computer uses, including me, forget how complicated machines they are. Drivers are the worst part of that, as they are the interaction between the hardware, bugs and all, and the software, which expects perfection. People rave about OS X not only becau

Re:

[mdboyd]

I completely agree with what you wrote. It wasn't my intention to discount the drivers issue and it could be a big deal for stability. I still don't necessarily agree with Apple's tactics. To try and put things into perspective, imagine that today, Microsoft announced that Windows would only run on computers manufactured by them (Not that MS really sells systems that I know of, but just make believe). Several things would probably happen:
-First, users would be outraged. Lawsuits would fly out the wazoo.

Re:

[Tragek]

You're very welcome.

Well, first off, Microsoft would implode. They cannot really make hardware as they are a software company, and any attempt to try to cut out the independent hardware vendors (HP, etc) would lead to a mass exodus by those vendors that would cause the company to implode. Anyhow.

I agree that the users would be outraged, and the lawsuits would fly, and perhaps even Chaos would ensue. What I disagree with would be the idea of higher prices. Yes, Microsoft could try to charge more, but I'm of