Re: Possibility of open-sourcing GS/OS

[Gregory Weston <uce@splook.com>]

In article <MdWdnb6IVsNykuzenZ2dnUVZ_s-dnZ2d@comcast.com>,
 "Michael J. Mahon" <mjmahon@aol.com> wrote:

> If they simply made it available as an alternative OS for installation
> on new PCs (and as an "upgrade" for the aftermarket), they might go a
> long way toward getting their foot in the door.

Yes, but the lost control over the machine would likely do significant 
harm to the quality off the user experience. That would be 
counterproductive.

> A winning campaign in the market could be made on the basis that it
> is the "final solution" to spyware, viruses, etc.  Of course, this
> claim would ultimately become specious, since as soon as their share
> rose to a level of any significance, they would be a target, too.

Not likely unless/until they dominate the market. The ubiquity of 
Windows is certainly part of why Windows is targeted, but it's also 
low-hanging fruit. It's got a far greater number of extant infection 
vectors than the other potential targets.

> The thing that could make this transition more palatable would be the
> continued growth of the iPod market, so that their computer hardware
> business was a smaller slice of the Apple pie (!).

It would have to be huge growth. iPod's got volume, but the hardware is 
still the real cash cow.

That said, and keeping the cow metaphor in mind, Jobs said straight out 
several years ago that in his opinion what Apple should be doing is 
milking the Mac for all it's worth while working on "the next big 
thing." That was right around when he came back to Apple, but I really 
can't recall whether it was before or after.

G

-- 
Goal 2005: Convincing James Hetfield to cover the Strawberry Shortcake
"Are You Berry Berry Happy?" song.