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A Dell with OS X?

June 17, 2005 | 9:15 a.m. CDT

Could we start seeing Dell computers with Mac OS X pre-installed? In a resent article from Fortune, Dell CEO Michael Dell has gone on the record to say that he would be interested in selling his computers with OS X installed.

If Apple decides to open the Mac OS to others, we would be happy to offer it to our customers…

Is Michael Dell really serious or is this some sort of cat and mice game between the big dogs. Henri Richard from AMD seems to think so.

"Intel always wants to be the top dog," he said. "If there was any motivation in this deal from the Intel perspective it was just to keep Dell on its toes." He continued: "It's a cat and mouse game between these guys. This is a subtle way for Intel to remind Dell that there are alternatives that could be pushed."

Another interesting insight that was talked about in the article was that Apple could license OS X to Dell only if their system met certain high end specifications. According to one persons idea this would be good for both Apple and Dell in that Apple would make money from the OS X licenses and Dell would make money from selling higher end systems.

I'm not sure which theory I believe or think will happen. I guess I tend to lean to this all being one giant cat and mouse game if I had to pick one. I'm not going to try and predict what will happen but I do think it is fun to speculate. The one thing I would hope for and I think is better for everyone is if Apple develops a larger user base so give Microsoft more competition.

Related tags: Apple, Mac, OSX

Comments

Jeff Croft
1.   At 9:38 a.m. CDT on June 17, 2005, Jeff Croft wrote:

Nothing would kill Mac OS X faster than having it available on Dell. Dell machines are cheaper and faster than Apple's, which means that no one would buy Apple hardware. Since Apple makes most of it's money off computer sales, it would die a slow, painful death, taking Mac OS X with it.

If Apple were to decide that it is now a software and consumer electronics company, and go through the couple-year transition period needed to change their business model to make money that way, then it is a possibility. But as it stands, this would be the death of Apple and the Mac platform.

For evidence, see the Mac clones in the mid-ninties, which were cheaper and faster than Apple's hardware and nearly put Apple out of business.

Ben Perry
2.   At 9:41 a.m. CDT on June 17, 2005, Ben Perry wrote:

If you're really antsy to run OS X on your Dell (or any other PC), check out PearPC (visit this really good tutorial).

Or, you can be a real Mac freak and virtually turn your PC into a Mac.

-Ben

Jeff Croft
3.   At 9:46 a.m. CDT on June 17, 2005, Jeff Croft wrote:

I'll also say this...

...if Apple ever did this (and I don't think they will), the Dell machines would definitely be Macs, and not PCs. That is to say, they'd have the boot ROM or whatever other technology ensures they are licensed Apple-compatible machines, and not run-of-the-mill PCs. I don't believe we'll ever see Mac OS X on standard PCs, and if we do, it won't be in the next five years.

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