- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
The day I agree that H2V should also be developed for Mac is the day Apple gets smart and changes their business strategy.
They need to realize that the bulk of their profitability, currently, is from portable devices (iPod). Their computer division is still a niche market because they continue to hold on to their antiquated model of being the vendor for both their hardware and software. This model worked fine back when it was proprietary goods (like PowerPC processors), but now, a modern "Mac" is Intel x32 and x64 with nVidia and ATi graphics chipsets - closer to a PC than Macs have ever been.
Two things, in my opinion, Apple should do at this point which would drive down the cost of Mac computers overall, allow for better market saturation, and put them in a position where they're no longer "niche" and an actual threat to the Microsoft behemoth.
First, license out their "hardware" and allow vendors to make and sell "Mac" desktop computers. Remember, the hardware of an actual Mac now is almost identical to the hardware of a PC. The last remaining vestiges of proprietary design in a Mac are the mainboard chipsets, and now that they use all Intel CPUs and both nVidia and ATi GPUs, even their proprietary mainboard chipsets are on their last legs.
Second, make a bona fide Mac OS X for ALL x86 32- and 64-bit systems. Again, this goes to the fact that their modern systems are almost identical to PCs. So much so that there are lots of excellent tutorials on how to get Mac OS X to run on standard PCs (OSX86 project).
Apple could still retain control of their laptop and portable devices divisions. That would be fine. But their computer division needs an overhaul if it really wants to be taken as a serious contender. I don't mean that as a bash, but as the truth. Wouldn't it be great to be able to decide whether you want to install Windows Vista or OSX Leopard? Personally, I'd love to be able to dual boot Vista and OSX or even build a solid, standalone, OSX rig.
When that day comes, I'll wholeheartedly support that game manufacturers SHOULD make games for both Windows and Mac OSX. Right now, however, it's not profitable for them to do so - and that's Apple's fault.
Posted by: Agamemnon582bc
It's all just part of Microsoft's plan. It's amazing how they still haven't been sued for being a monopoly.
Well, that's because they've complied with the Final Judgments as laid down by the US Department of Justice back in 1999. Only their OS division was considered a monopoly subject to anti-trust involvement, and, so far, Microsoft has done everything required of them after that ruling.
However, I think Microsoft is rapidly becoming the same pre-1999 organization. Decisions like restricting DX10 to Vista are the exact same actions which got them in trouble in the first place and if they keep making decisions such as those to try to force leverage based on their market saturation, they might just find themselves back in US Court again, especially if the Democrats take the White House in 2008. It was, after all, the Clinton administration's DOJ who spearheaded the 90's Anti-Trust trial; Amazing, isn't it, how we didn't hear a single thing about Microsoft's monopoly status after pro-big business Republicans took control of the White House while still having majority control in Congress?
[Edited on 06.06.2007 8:32 AM PDT]