Apple needs to release OSX for PC's

Apple's struggles to gain PC market share continue

By Kasper Jade and Katie Marsal
Published: 11:45 AM EST

The popularity of Apple Computer's iPod digital music players is helping it sell more Macs, but so far it hasn't been enough to spark a rise in the company's share of the personal computer market.

According to research firm Gartner, worldwide PC shipments totaled 57 million units in the first quarter of 2006, representing a 13.1 percent increase over the same period last year. But in that time, Apple's share of the worldwide market slipped from 2.2 percent to a mere 2.0 percent.

Similarly, Apple's share of the personal computer market in the United States also remains relatively flat at 3.6 percent. Although this figure is down from 3.8 percent in the first quarter of 2005, Gartner's data indicates that Apple gained one tenth of a percent in share over the fourth quarter of 2005.

To Apple's credit, this uptick in U.S. PC market share was achieved during a quarter when most prospective Mac buyers were prolonging their computer purchases in favor new Intel-based models that had yet to come to market. This suggests the company could begin to realize some share gains in the latter half of the year, once all of its PC offerings are readily available with Intel processors.

Meanwhile, Apple rival Dell was able to maintain its No. 1 position in worldwide PC shipments during the first quarter with a 16.5 percent share. However, the company's shipment increase of 10 percent year-over-year marked its weakest performance since the third quarter of 2001, according to Gartner.

Taking advantage of Dell's weakness, Hewlett-Packard increased shipments by over 22 percent and significantly narrowed the gap between it and Dell with a 14.9 percent market share. Lenovo, Acer and Fujitsu Siemens rounded out the top five vendors, each with significantly less share than frontrunners Dell and HP.

In the U.S., Dell remained the clear leader in PC shipments with an 11.3 percentage point market share lead over HP. However, shipments were almost flat compared to a year ago and it's the first time that the company has exhibited growth below the U.S. market average, Gartner said.

According to the firm's data, overall PC shipments in the U.S. during the first quarter of 2006 rose 7.4 percent to 16.4 million units.

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If Apple would open up it's OS to run on any hardware I can easily see their market shares and profits increase greatly considering the hatred many consumers have towards M$.

Currently the only way to run OSX on PC's is by using hacks. OSX is an awesome OS that many people would buy "if" Apple would release it.

Currently Apple is doing the same thing that kept them small before. Apple is ignoring the consumers wants and refusing change. Yes Apple is a hardware company and they could still sale Apple Mac's. They should open up their software and allow Mac clones. M$ is what it is today because it's software can be run on just about any hardware. Apple should have learned it's lesson years ago.

I love Mac OSX. I just hate it that as a PC builder my home PC kicks the current Mac's in the face hard. I would love to have OSX running on a A64 Dual core processor, using Nvidia SLI with 2 7900 video cards, X-fi sound card, etc...

Just my rants and thoughts! :applause:

 

Apple is missing the boat

The problem for Apple is their market share. Apple is already doing both hardware and software. So to say that Apple must chose one or the other is not completely correct. Apple's philosophy is backwards. A simply look at M$ proves that Apple is going about growth the wrong way.


The main problem for Apple right now it the “it” factor is gone since Apple is using Intel processors. Outside of the hardware design for the Imac there is nothing separating a Mac from a PC outside of OSX. Apple's hardware is not better than PC hardware. I've had Apple followers tell me this before which is not true. Apple's hardware can not be upgraded easily, their hardware variety is pitiful when compared to the PC market, they are slow to adapt new hardware, and some hardware they totally ignore. Instead of creating boot camp for Mac Apple should have opened up OSX. When you compare current Apple hardware to PC hardware Apple hardware is lacking. Sorry but that is the truth and if I offend any Mac lovers I'm sorry.


The biggest problem for Apple is not Windows but Linux. I don't see Apple doing much better than it's doing now. Ipod sales are not going to carry Apple forever and their Macs are not something that is a must have. If you take a look at Linux it has grown and developed into a very nice OS. It's becoming more friendly towards the home user and that will create problems for M$ and Apple. I can easily see Apple gaining market shares with OSX if they would open it up.


Mac clones would not kill Apple. What's hurting Apple is Apple. They have a cash cow in an OS that they refuse use. They could make more money selling their hardware and selling OSX as a stand alone product. The real problem and reason that Apple does not release OSX is because they do not want to keep up in the hardware market and they want to control everything. They want to spoon feed us what is good enough. In today's world that does not work and Apple's market share proves this point. Mac clones would make Apple money because Apple would get money from it's software sold on these machines. It's a win for Apple not matter how you look at it.


Opening up OSX would lure more software to Apple. It would also encourage driver development( take a look at Linux for example) because hardware vendors want to sale hardware.


The problem is that Apple does not want to compete. For some odd reason they want to stay small. The new Apple TV adds are funny but if a PC maker started attacking Apple on it's pitiful hardware selections, software variety, and the lack of true consumer choice then Apple would be gnashing their teeth. The door swings both ways. For example Apple is having issues with their Mac books whining and heat issues. So to say Apple hardware is better is a false statement.


Having 100% of a 3% market share is not that great when Apple could grealty increase OSX's market share by simply opening up this software. I would not be bragging about market share if I were Apple.



Now that I bashed Apple's lack of wanting to compete with M$ and Linux let me say so good things about Apple.


OSX is IMO the best OS on the market right now. OSX could be huge if it was opened up.


I like the Imac and it is truly a selling point for Apple hardware. My next Mac will be an Imac.


I bought my son Mac Mini. This is perfect for him. Since I want him know how to use many OS's I decided to by him a Mac.


Apple going into the MP3 market was great. The Ipod is a nice product.


Apple has done many things right. I grew up with Apple and I really like Apple. I'm just annoyed at them for allowing themselves to say below 5% of the total market share.


IMO Apple should be using AMD processors or use both AMD and Intel. Apple should allow more choice with their hardware.


Sorry for the rants LOL.

 

*Keep in mind I'm playing the devils advocate. So no harm is intented towards you Dale*



Dale you ignored a lot of my examples.


Mac hardware is not better than PC hardware.


I can build a PC that stomps current Macs and retains the same quality or better. I can download a hacked version of OSX and run it on my built PC and it will dog the Mac running OSX. So to say Mac hardware is better is no longer true today. Maybe in the 90's this was true and maybe comparing them to low end Dells it is true. Hardware quality between Macs and PC's are pretty much the same.


Mac hardware selection is poor. This is a fact and not an opinion.


Mac hardware is lagging behind PC hardware. This is a fact and not opinion.


Apples business model keeps them small and unable to compete. Just because Apple is small does not mean they are better. In all honesty XP is the best OS from M$ and XP is a solid product when compared to other M$ OS's. Linux is a solid product. Linux is open source and Linux has more going for it than Apple's OSX because Linux can be run on just about any hardware.



Can you not see that by opening up OSX it would make Apple more money? How in the world would opening up OSX kill Apple when Apple will make money off OSX? How would Mac clones kill Apple when Apple will make money off every sale of a Mac clone simply because Apple software is on these Mac clones? Explain this to me with facts and charts please. I'm not talking about the 90's when Mac's and PC's cost an arm and a leg. I'm talking about today.


If Apple wants to live in the past and follow a failure of a road map then I can not stop them. It's a shame that so may people in Apple can not see the bigger picture and see that controlling hardware they way they do only serves to help M$ and Linux thus keeping Mac behind the competition. Even a very good OS will not get people to buy Apple hardware because of the price and limited software choices with OSX when compared to Windows and Linux.


Since OSX is Unix it would be no problem to port to generic hardware.


Why would someone who only uses a computer to do word processing and internet browsing choose a Mac when they can get a Dell w/LCD for under $500.00? This is a real world problem that you need to explain to me why someone would chose a more expensive Mac over a PC in the example. Now if Mac offered a Mac with a Celeron or Semperon that came with a LCD monitor for $500.00 I could see how a person would think about wether buying a MAC or PC. Currently this does not exist and by Apple's business models it will not exist therefore Apple will continue to fall behind the PC/Linux markets.


Answer this for me. What percentage does Apple hold in the server market as compare to M$ and Linux? Why is their market share so low since OSX is Unix and Unix can easily talk with Linux? I work with main frames etc... and at work we use Server 2003 Enterprise Edition and Red Hat Linux. We also use HP Unix and Baggy Pants Linux.



As far as virus, trojans, etc... advantage for the Mac Linux offers the same thing as long as the user is not running in "root" all the time. Eevn with Linux I use a virus scanner and I know Mac users who do the same with OSX. If Linux and OSX was a big as M$ OS's then Linux and OSX would have more problems with virus infections etc.... So when taken into perspective this is not a valid point for Apple.



When Apple is facing red ink Apple will open up their OS. That's what I think it will take for Apple to wake up. Having the ability to run XP on a Mac will not save Apple's Macs.



Mac followers need to step outside of the box and ask the question where is Apple going to be 5 years from now since Linux and M$ is getting better. They need to ask themselves soem hard questions and take a long hard look at the future instead of wasting money on glass stores etc... Linux is not going away it it's getting more user freindly for the masses. In years to come Apple is going to have some problems if Apple does not change.

Please address my points and show me where I am wrong. I think I've laid out some good points that as a Apple supporter you might should address.

Remember that I too am a Apple supporter and I buy Apple products. I would like to see Apple grow and become a force in the PC market rather than a gnat.