[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > what a cheap trick! :-| I was upset when Apple dropped the whole clone > market to be once again the monopoly of Mac OS computers, there was only a > few (about 4) why would they do that?
Because the clones were supposed to widen the market for Macs, by selling, essentially, to switchers. This was the original intent of licensing the Mac OS, especially at the rates they did. Instead, the cloners sold mainly to existing Mac users, meaning all they did was eat at Apple's bottom line at a time when they certainly couldn't afford it. Had the clones not been killed off, then Apple would have probably folded, and then where would we be? None of the clone makers were putting more than paltry resources into research. My personal feeling is that Sun (or worse, Microsoft) would have purchased the OS division from Apple, cherry picked the best of what they could use and toss the rest into the rubbish heap. Apple would have turned into an interesting footnote in computing history. All the PC clone makers make their money by making generic boxes in the cheapest possible fashion. Microsoft and their component (HDD, Video cards, CDRW's etc) manufacturers do all their innovating for them; they don't have to do anything but put the boxes together and sell 'em. The most innovative they get is designing a new logo for themselves. And they don't even do THAT very well. Look at Gateway's now logo...Ohhh, look Martha, they took the little power switch symbol that's been on computers and stereos for years, turned it sideways and called it a logo! Apple needs to support both OS and hardware R&D, and does so at a much higher percentage of their total income than any other hardware manufacturer. (and it shows...) -- Bruce Johnson University of Arizona College of Pharmacy Information Technology Group Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
