Comments on: Open Sourcing OS X http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/ Nerds are for Dorks Fri, 10 Feb 2012 21:04:07 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Tom http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18594 Tom Mon, 28 Jun 2004 06:07:42 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18594 Damage done to Microsoft isn't to Apple's advantage, since they wouldn't be profiting from the converted customers. Linux can fight that war, and can win it, because Linux is a project driven by common good, developer recognition, and the value of expertise. Also, I don't really see the good in porting OSX to everything else. OSX is a finely tuned desktop operating system, and one that loves to play just with Apple (and Apple-approved) equipment. If you want something for servers, or something to run on a wristwatch, use Linux and drop the interface fluff. Also, to claim that Apple could still sell applications for additional revenue would destroy the one thing that's really going for Apple - integration. They would need to remove the proprietary bits from the OS or release them to the public, allowing incompatibility and other troubles. Of course, I admire you guys for posting the topic. It's definitely something to think about. I personally don't see why Apple hasn't made the installation of Linux applications a lot easier on OSX... considering that <a href="http://fink.sourceforge.net/" rel="nofollow">some independent projects</a> have done such a great job. That would certainly give users a little more flexibility. Damage done to Microsoft isn’t to Apple’s advantage, since they wouldn’t be profiting from the converted customers. Linux can fight that war, and can win it, because Linux is a project driven by common good, developer recognition, and the value of expertise. Also, I don’t really see the good in porting OSX to everything else. OSX is a finely tuned desktop operating system, and one that loves to play just with Apple (and Apple-approved) equipment. If you want something for servers, or something to run on a wristwatch, use Linux and drop the interface fluff. Also, to claim that Apple could still sell applications for additional revenue would destroy the one thing that’s really going for Apple – integration. They would need to remove the proprietary bits from the OS or release them to the public, allowing incompatibility and other troubles.

Of course, I admire you guys for posting the topic. It’s definitely something to think about. I personally don’t see why Apple hasn’t made the installation of Linux applications a lot easier on OSX… considering that some independent projects have done such a great job. That would certainly give users a little more flexibility.

]]> By: Jeremy's Little Corner Of The Web... http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18596 Jeremy's Little Corner Of The Web... Tue, 22 Jun 2004 06:54:10 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18596 <strong>"Open Sourcing OS X"</strong> I just came across an article at ForeverGeek that detailed why the author (scrivs) thinks Apple should open the source to the entire MacOS X operating system. I think this is a load of bollocks... WARNING!: Very long post ahead. The author's fir... “Open Sourcing OS X”

I just came across an article at ForeverGeek that detailed why the author (scrivs) thinks Apple should open the source to the entire MacOS X operating system. I think this is a load of bollocks…

WARNING!: Very long post ahead.

The author’s fir…

]]> By: Stan http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18593 Stan Tue, 22 Jun 2004 05:44:13 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18593 The great paradox of proposals like this is: If the open source model is so efficient and talented that they could make open-source OS X a great success, then what the heck do they need Apple for? If they are going to be sooo good then why do they need OS X as a starting point at all? Just apply that alleged brilliance to make something better than OS X, and give it away for free. Oh wait, that's what open source keeps claiming to be working on, Unix on the desktop, yet, after all these years, it still isn't making a dent, while Apple suddenly races to the top of the charts in terms of Unix consumer desktops (not servers) installed, totally blowing by all of those desktop-Unix efforts. Part of this is because open source hardly has any sense of what consumers want, only what their creators want, and their creators are programmers and wannabees. That's not a recipe for mass market success. Mass market success means grandma, Main Street University, Joe Small Businessman, and people like that. Open source continues to fail at reaching them. Apple knows how to craft an OS to reach them. The great paradox of proposals like this is:

If the open source model is so efficient and talented that they could make open-source OS X a great success, then what the heck do they need Apple for? If they are going to be sooo good then why do they need OS X as a starting point at all? Just apply that alleged brilliance to make something better than OS X, and give it away for free.

Oh wait, that’s what open source keeps claiming to be working on, Unix on the desktop, yet, after all these years, it still isn’t making a dent, while Apple suddenly races to the top of the charts in terms of Unix consumer desktops (not servers) installed, totally blowing by all of those desktop-Unix efforts.

Part of this is because open source hardly has any sense of what consumers want, only what their creators want, and their creators are programmers and wannabees. That’s not a recipe for mass market success. Mass market success means grandma, Main Street University, Joe Small Businessman, and people like that. Open source continues to fail at reaching them. Apple knows how to craft an OS to reach them.

]]> By: Stephen http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18592 Stephen Tue, 22 Jun 2004 05:22:06 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18592 "I wonder what could happen if Apple were to release all of this out to the Open Source world. I think great things can happen and in the long term benefit Apple immensely." There's no arguing that the open source community has a bunch of talented programmers, but UI designers they are not. While they might help improve the underlying portions of the OS if the code were released to them, I'm afraid we'd end up with some ghoulish looking facsimile of the Windows UI as a result. No thanks! “I wonder what could happen if Apple were to release all of this out to the Open Source world. I think great things can happen and in the long term benefit Apple immensely.”

There’s no arguing that the open source community has a bunch of talented programmers, but UI designers they are not. While they might help improve the underlying portions of the OS if the code were released to them, I’m afraid we’d end up with some ghoulish looking facsimile of the Windows UI as a result. No thanks!

]]> By: Arthur http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18591 Arthur Mon, 21 Jun 2004 18:08:50 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18591 This is certainly not a "How to save Apple" article, I give you that. This is a "How to destroy Apple" article. Really. Most people who want Apple to open source OS X or port it to x86 are people who wants to buy cheap $399 hardware and yet reap all the benefit and ease of use that OS X offers. What incentives do people have to buy computers from Apple? Also, having OS X open sourced, Apple is no longer the sole distributor for a packaged OS. Anyone can take OS X, add a few features and sell the OS. Not only does Apple have to compete with Windows et al., now Apple has to compete with its own creation. Great idea. Now, you say, Apple can compete in the high end market. But, open sourcing OS X also force Apple to open source the boot sequence. Then, anyone can enter the Mac market and produce cheaper clone that totally works with OS X without paying royalties to Apple. It's getting better, isn't it?... for anybody but Apple. But, but, Apple can create digital life softwares. Okay, how much money can Apple make? We know that iLife is to drive the sales of OS X (in a way, it's subsidized by OS X). Without OS X, Apple has to sell them at higher price. Suddenly, it's not as attractive anymore when people can find cheaper solution. Great, now Apple is out of OS market, hardware market and software market. But hey, Apple still has iPod!! This is certainly not a “How to save Apple” article, I give you that. This is a “How to destroy Apple” article. Really.

Most people who want Apple to open source OS X or port it to x86 are people who wants to buy cheap $399 hardware and yet reap all the benefit and ease of use that OS X offers. What incentives do people have to buy computers from Apple? Also, having OS X open sourced, Apple is no longer the sole distributor for a packaged OS. Anyone can take OS X, add a few features and sell the OS. Not only does Apple have to compete with Windows et al., now Apple has to compete with its own creation. Great idea.

Now, you say, Apple can compete in the high end market. But, open sourcing OS X also force Apple to open source the boot sequence. Then, anyone can enter the Mac market and produce cheaper clone that totally works with OS X without paying royalties to Apple. It’s getting better, isn’t it?… for anybody but Apple.

But, but, Apple can create digital life softwares. Okay, how much money can Apple make? We know that iLife is to drive the sales of OS X (in a way, it’s subsidized by OS X). Without OS X, Apple has to sell them at higher price. Suddenly, it’s not as attractive anymore when people can find cheaper solution. Great, now Apple is out of OS market, hardware market and software market. But hey, Apple still has iPod!!

]]> By: Joe http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18590 Joe Mon, 21 Jun 2004 16:39:48 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18590 Everybody that usually writes a 'OS X Open Source Completely' article, usually concentrates on the benefits that everybody will reap from such a move and ignores the only loser in such a situation. Talks about damage to microsoft and gains of the open source community and completely ignores that apple is a company that must make profits. If everybody can use their system without having to pay them anything or having to buy anything from them, then how on earth are they going to make money. Yeah, everybody says 'Apple should figure out a different way to make money or find something different to sell'. But when asked the next logical question 'Why should they?' the answer is usually 'Well, it's better for everybody.' Well, not for Apple, so it won't happen any time soon. Everybody that usually writes a ‘OS X Open Source Completely’ article, usually concentrates on the benefits that everybody will reap from such a move and ignores the only loser in such a situation. Talks about damage to microsoft and gains of the open source community and completely ignores that apple is a company that must make profits. If everybody can use their system without having to pay them anything or having to buy anything from them, then how on earth are they going to make money.

Yeah, everybody says ‘Apple should figure out a different way to make money or find something different to sell’. But when asked the next logical question ‘Why should they?’ the answer is usually ‘Well, it’s better for everybody.’

Well, not for Apple, so it won’t happen any time soon.

]]> By: Kai Cherry http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18589 Kai Cherry Mon, 21 Jun 2004 15:12:50 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18589 The only people that would benefit from this are people who *aren't* Apple customers. This would in turn, be to the detriment of those who are. As a software developer, I'd *love* to have more seats in the total customer base, but I think the best way to do that is for apple to figure out how to make a (different) $500 computer. Note this, however. In the past, every time Apple has produced something on the low end, they get stuck with it...only the eMac of late seems to have bucked that trend. Perhaps Apple has noticed this :) The only people that would benefit from this are people who *aren’t* Apple customers. This would in turn, be to the detriment of those who are.

As a software developer, I’d *love* to have more seats in the total customer base, but I think the best way to do that is for apple to figure out how to make a (different) $500 computer.

Note this, however. In the past, every time Apple has produced something on the low end, they get stuck with it…only the eMac of late seems to have bucked that trend.

Perhaps Apple has noticed this :)

]]> By: linklog http://www.forevergeek.com/2004/06/open_sourcing_os_x/#comment-18595 linklog Mon, 21 Jun 2004 13:38:19 +0000 http://forevergeek.com/?p=455#comment-18595 <strong>OS X open soure</strong> Open Sourcing OS X... OS X open soure

Open Sourcing OS X…

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