Mac Switches to Intel PCs Shock - Good News ?

Steve Jobs has done it again. He shocked all Mac Developers and the whole world with One More Thing^®. Apple wants to sell Int_el Macs.
So far that was an Oxymoron. But again not so far fetched again. Apple has switched from Mac OS 9 to Mac OS X (like UNIX). Mac OS X was planned to ship on Mac AND PCs. Later that was revised but never given up entirely. They have secretely worked on Intel PC versions of Darwin and every other Apple Application like iTunes, iMovie, GarageBand. iTunes was even released for Windows. Now it seems they made the decision to extend the product line to Intel based computers. For Mac Developers that will be a relatively easy transition. Apple has used standard Technology like Firewire, USB, Bluetooth etc. They have a good Library of Standards like WebCore that can simply be recompiled and it's working. Portability is no problem. They even have a PowerPC emulator for Intel PCs called Rosetta. That has to be the Yellow Box from NextStep 1996. So for the enduser the transistion is going to be transparent.
But is it a good move for Apple ?
If the can survive as a pure software seller like Microsoft maybe. There will be enough people who will port the Mac OS X for Intel to the regular PC s in the supermarket.
But Apple's situation is totally different to the dependancy 5 years ago. Apple has the biggest income from the iPod, iTunes and Apples Music Store. 1 Year ago I thought the advertisment for the new iMac "From the makers of iPod" was a joke. But I am not so sure anymore. It's good that Apple does not depend from 1 market. I wish Apple a market share of 30 % and more.

Even if some people will make a Mac OS X simulator on PCs, that could rise the attractivity of the real Macs. More Big Companies will buy then the real Macs with support and service.

So I have 2 different feeling. On the one hand I wanted this to happen long ago. On the other hand the other party has strong arguments either.

Google News reports 1060/3000 Articles o that topic. I suggest this one.


Technorati Tags: Apple, Mac, OS_X, Intel, PC, Steve, Jobs, Switch, WWDC, 2005