Comments on: Is it time for Apple to consider Mac Clones again? http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/ Publishing since 1995 Thu, 17 May 2012 03:59:37 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Guy Serle http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/comment-page-1/#comment-31969 Guy Serle Mon, 26 Sep 2011 18:55:55 +0000 http://www.mymac.com/?p=12864#comment-31969 In many ways, yes it is to a company that's very different today than they were ten years ago. Back then the Mac was everything, now it's practically a sideshow for their mobile devices and services. The Mac Pros haven't been updated (even a speed boost) in almost a year. Yes most Macs get updates only once a year, but in some cases the design itself is so good there's barely any need except to make it a bit faster. The Mac Pro is such a computer. Apple has already killed the XServe. They've done little to make the Mac Minis more affordable. They've killed the basic MacBook, looking to make the MacBook Air the entry level portable, but a lack of affordable SSD drives with anything resembling decent storage capacities make that a no go for many families looking for a good laptop. As far as other computer makers go, not everything they make is crap. Certainly the low-end stuff is less than appealing, but the more upscale models can be every bit as good in both looks (not talking about their all-in-ones) and performance. All they need to be better is a better OS. If Apple has the final say, quality CAN be maintained. Do I honestly think this will happen anytime soon? No, not really, but Apple is changing in ways we once thought impossible not that long ago. Who would have guessed that they'd switch to Intel processors or go with more commodity hardware as they've done? Heck, Jobs even demoed Intel OS X on a plain vanilla PC. Apple IS change, They do what they think is best for the company and the company's bottom line. This is why they've made the changes they have over the years. From 68xxx to PPC to Intel. From OS 9 to OS X. From their own factories to asian ones that also crank out other PC maker's equipment. In many ways, yes it is to a company that’s very different today than they were ten years ago. Back then the Mac was everything, now it’s practically a sideshow for their mobile devices and services. The Mac Pros haven’t been updated (even a speed boost) in almost a year. Yes most Macs get updates only once a year, but in some cases the design itself is so good there’s barely any need except to make it a bit faster. The Mac Pro is such a computer.

Apple has already killed the XServe. They’ve done little to make the Mac Minis more affordable. They’ve killed the basic MacBook, looking to make the MacBook Air the entry level portable, but a lack of affordable SSD drives with anything resembling decent storage capacities make that a no go for many families looking for a good laptop.

As far as other computer makers go, not everything they make is crap. Certainly the low-end stuff is less than appealing, but the more upscale models can be every bit as good in both looks (not talking about their all-in-ones) and performance. All they need to be better is a better OS. If Apple has the final say, quality CAN be maintained.

Do I honestly think this will happen anytime soon? No, not really, but Apple is changing in ways we once thought impossible not that long ago. Who would have guessed that they’d switch to Intel processors or go with more commodity hardware as they’ve done? Heck, Jobs even demoed Intel OS X on a plain vanilla PC.

Apple IS change, They do what they think is best for the company and the company’s bottom line. This is why they’ve made the changes they have over the years. From 68xxx to PPC to Intel. From OS 9 to OS X. From their own factories to asian ones that also crank out other PC maker’s equipment.

]]> By: Tim Robertson http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/comment-page-1/#comment-31959 Tim Robertson Mon, 26 Sep 2011 10:39:16 +0000 http://www.mymac.com/?p=12864#comment-31959 Yeah, I'm sure Apple won't mind loosing $1.53 Billion Dollars. Chump change. I'm also sure that the PC makers out there are more than capable of making desktop and laptop computers that equal Apple's quality and design. Oh, wait... Yeah, I’m sure Apple won’t mind loosing $1.53 Billion Dollars. Chump change. I’m also sure that the PC makers out there are more than capable of making desktop and laptop computers that equal Apple’s quality and design.

Oh, wait…

]]> By: Tom Schmidt http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/comment-page-1/#comment-31954 Tom Schmidt Mon, 26 Sep 2011 01:28:15 +0000 http://www.mymac.com/?p=12864#comment-31954 To quote Mr. T: "You crazy, fool!" To quote Mr. T: “You crazy, fool!”

]]> By: Guy Serle http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/comment-page-1/#comment-31953 Guy Serle Mon, 26 Sep 2011 00:02:06 +0000 http://www.mymac.com/?p=12864#comment-31953 One of the problems with the last time Apple allowed others to make Macs was that they believed the clone makers would stick to the low-end and leave the juicy high-end to Apple. A bizarre belief that turned out to be completely untrue. The better clone makers (in the US that was mostly PowerComputing and Umax) jumped right into the high end with faster machines than Apple's at lower prices. Apple won't make the same mistake twice. They'll either stick it out and only sell Macs themselves (what will most likely happen) and get out of it all together other than quality control One of the problems with the last time Apple allowed others to make Macs was that they believed the clone makers would stick to the low-end and leave the juicy high-end to Apple. A bizarre belief that turned out to be completely untrue. The better clone makers (in the US that was mostly PowerComputing and Umax) jumped right into the high end with faster machines than Apple’s at lower prices. Apple won’t make the same mistake twice. They’ll either stick it out and only sell Macs themselves (what will most likely happen) and get out of it all together other than quality control

]]> By: dwaggoner http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/comment-page-1/#comment-31952 dwaggoner Sun, 25 Sep 2011 23:53:41 +0000 http://www.mymac.com/?p=12864#comment-31952 Interesting. However, I don't think Apple needs to stop making and selling Macs. But, I think it would be a good idea to allow other hardware makers to sell computers with Mac OS X installed on them. The important thing for Apple would be to not have to support those other users, the other manufacturers would need to be responsible for having compatible hardware and drivers and updating those drivers when OS updates occur. One of the benefits of Apple's closed architecture is that they don't have to worry about backward compatability issues with third party hardware. I don't think Mac sales would drop as much as overall market share for OS X would increase. Most people buy Apple products for the overall experience, not just because they happen to like OS X better than Windows. Interesting. However, I don’t think Apple needs to stop making and selling Macs. But, I think it would be a good idea to allow other hardware makers to sell computers with Mac OS X installed on them. The important thing for Apple would be to not have to support those other users, the other manufacturers would need to be responsible for having compatible hardware and drivers and updating those drivers when OS updates occur. One of the benefits of Apple’s closed architecture is that they don’t have to worry about backward compatability issues with third party hardware. I don’t think Mac sales would drop as much as overall market share for OS X would increase. Most people buy Apple products for the overall experience, not just because they happen to like OS X better than Windows.

]]> By: Scott Willsey http://www.mymac.com/2011/09/is-it-time-for-apple-to-consider-mac-clones-again/comment-page-1/#comment-31951 Scott Willsey Sun, 25 Sep 2011 20:59:51 +0000 http://www.mymac.com/?p=12864#comment-31951 Hmm. I don't see it happening. The PC makers ruin everything. I think it was Harry McCracken on the last Macworld podcast talking about a Lenovo he'd upgraded to Windows 7 VS. on that shipped with Windows 7. The one that shipped with it had nagware and other junk that slowed it down and made it generally more annoying. It was all added by Lenovo. I don't see any of these companies toting the line for Apple just to make a few sales to a very small percentage of the computer market. Apple already has to develop OS X anyway, even if they outsource the hardware. The OS is probably far more resource and time intensive to develop than the hardware, especially if Apple just start making conservative changes to the hardware. I don't think it saves them a lot. I think they'll just quit making Macs entirely before letting them be made by design losers (sorry) like Dell and Lenovo. Hmm. I don’t see it happening. The PC makers ruin everything. I think it was Harry McCracken on the last Macworld podcast talking about a Lenovo he’d upgraded to Windows 7 VS. on that shipped with Windows 7. The one that shipped with it had nagware and other junk that slowed it down and made it generally more annoying. It was all added by Lenovo. I don’t see any of these companies toting the line for Apple just to make a few sales to a very small percentage of the computer market.

Apple already has to develop OS X anyway, even if they outsource the hardware. The OS is probably far more resource and time intensive to develop than the hardware, especially if Apple just start making conservative changes to the hardware.

I don’t think it saves them a lot. I think they’ll just quit making Macs entirely before letting them be made by design losers (sorry) like Dell and Lenovo.

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