MacUser UK article on Marklar

[bbloke]

MacUser (UK) posted an interesting article yesterday (10th December) about OS X on PC architecture. I'm not wishing to revive any tired debates, but the article was interesting as it seemed to suggest OS X on Intel was not so much a fall back plan but possibly part of a broader strategy.

"Apple could sell OS X as alternative to Windows
[MacUser] 13:21

Marklar, Apple's project to build a version of Mac OS X for Intel processors, may be of more strategic importance to the company than had previously been thought. Far from being a backup project in case the PowerPC chip falls far behind Intel, it may actually be a product that Apple will ship to current Windows users.
US sources close to the project indicated that the company was actively considering selling Marklar as a retail product, effectively allowing users to replace Windows with OS X. Apple is contemplating the move because it sees an opportunity to win market share from Windows when Microsoft introduces Palladium, a version of its operating system that implements digital rights management. Palladium could prevent users from copying any copyright material, such as music or video, without the explicit permission of the rights owner.

Marklar would have no such limitations built in, allowing Apple to appeal to Windows users frustrated by the restrictions on how they use their computers. Apple has taken the stance that users should be free to use their computers how they wish, and that it is up to copyright holders to encourage people to use them responsibly.

A second scenario in which Apple would release Marklar concerns its relationship with Microsoft. Although relations between the two companies are good, it is understood that if it worsens significantly, Marklar would be released in an effort to hit Microsoft's core operating system business. One source suggested that Marklar's release could be triggered by Microsoft cancelling the Mac version of Office.

However, launching Marklar would present some significant dangers to Apple's business. Users would be free to buy generic PC hardware instead of Macs, potentially hitting Apple's highly profitable hardware business. The company would be taking a gamble on many users continuing to prefer its stylish hardware over that of PCs.

Marklar itself is understood to be at an advanced stage of development, with builds matching those of the PowerPC OS X. Apple's bundled applications, including iTunes and iChat, have versions that run on the product.

However, Marklar requires that OS X-native Carbon and Cocoa applications are recompiled to work on Intel processors, and there is no support for pre-OS X Classic applications."

[kommakazi]

Nothing new here...

[kendall]

I think a lot of new things have been introduced in this article concerning Marklar. Namely Apple considering releasing an x86 version of OS X along with their PPC offering. Marklar has become more than a last ditch effort to salvage a dying Apple. It stands a chance of become a refuge for PC users fed up with Palladium.

Also, considering Apple may be leveraging the release of Marklar based on Microsoft pulling support for Office on Mac, it would seem Apple has Microsoft between a rock and a hard place.

I think OS X would sell very well on PC hardware. Also, if PC users find they prefer OS X over Windows, chances are their next computer would be a Mac. That is of course if Apple can get their hardware prices more in line with PCs.

[celeborn]

Apple would also have to make significantly faster hardware for people to even consider buying their stuff. Currently Apple can (and does, to some extent) take advantage of being the only supplier of Macs. Think about it, if OS X worked on all the various cheaper, faster PC hardware out there, would simply having cooler enclosures be enough to stick with Apple hardware?
Apple would have to offer significant benefits of having an Apple-only system.

[goynang]

Same ol' same ol'.....

Whilst such a move would smack of a last throw of the dice on Apple's part I think it's no bad thing to have options. It also gets people talking about Apple which is no bad thing. (All publicity is good publicity etc etc)

I'd be pretty surpised to see it actually happen though!

[doemel]

Does "Marklar" have anything to do with the friendly people from the planet Marklar in South Park episode 311 (Starvin' Marvin in space)?

[hazmat]

Yeah, but with Apple hardware you would get iTools free for life.... oh wait.... :-/