Hal, The points that I made were: netbooks are not in competition with any of the Apple products. Apple Macbooks are way beyond what an Atom CPU can deliver. Second, I suggested that the HW makers support Mac OS on their machines, not Apple. Some support to the manufacturers should still be available from Apple which, after all, would be making money out of the licensing deal and could use some of it for support. After all, Microsoft does not support every conceivable Windows box. In fact, it doesn't support any of them. You buy a Dell and you have problems, you call Dell, not Microsoft. As a business model, there is no arguing that it has been successful. I don't see any reason why it shouldn't work for Apple in a smaller market.

E. Debs, But Apple does NOT have a netbook nor intends to produce one. There is no competition with Apple products. Am I missing something?

I wonder if anyone has read the EULA. YOU ARE BUYING A LICENSE, NOT A PRODUCT. Unless and until this is challenged in court, the terms of the license are what they are. I have a Dell Mini running 10.5.8 with a retail copy of 10.5.4. I have stuck a large Apple rainbow ( I really don't like the white Apple stick on) right on the top cover, thus satisfying the EULA requirement for an "Apple-labeled" product. I bet that Dell wouldn't be too happy about it, but there is nothing by them about what I can stick anywhere on the Mini!

Wait a minute, listen to what you say: they have a business model etc. Sure they do and we all know what it is. The point though is that they have NO presence in the netbook market and their business model is then non-existent. They can make money by licensing the OS to the netbook manufacturers, rake in the license money and let the HW manufacturers support their product. This isn't the 1990s license scheme, where Apple competed (and lost) for the same market as the licensees. Unless Apple is coming out with a netbook: unlikely, according to Steve Job, who, BTW, never understood HW. It is a stupid move on Apple's side, sign that even Apple has cretins as VPs. Here is a vibrant, active market for their product, market that didn't cost them a penny and they decide ton choke it? And this is a smart decision? If it is, idiots of the world, unite! We found your leaders!