This would be interesting.
T
What's going to happen eventually is that Apple will see the increasing
problems with spyware and viruses on PCs. With millions of dollars being
invested in antispyware software it would be easy for Apple to sell a
shrink-wrapped OS X86 to PC users. I'd guess that most PC users would give
OS X86 a shot and the company could get $100 a box and sell at least 10
million copies. But initially Apple doesn't want the hassle of making its
new OS work universally. Here's the scenario to expect:
1. Apple releases OS X86 as a proprietary system for its boxes. It's
immediately pirated and goes into the wild.
2. Apple squawks about the piracy to draw attention to it, thus increasing
the piracy, creating a virtual or shadow beta test. The complaining is
necessary to assure Microsoft that Apple does not intend to compete with
Windows. This keeps Microsoft selling MS Office for the Mac.
3. There are driver issues that get resolved by the hobbyists, and OS X86
now remains in shadow beta, being tested in a process that is apparently
outside of Apple's control, but is in fact carefully monitored by the company.
4. Once the system stabilizes in the wild, Apple announces that it cannot
do anything about the piracy situation and that it's apparent that everyone
wants this OS rather than Windows. It's "the will of the public." Apple
then makes the stupendous announcement that it will sell a generic boxed
OS, "for the rest of you!" One claim is that it is a solution to spyware.
5. Microsoft freaks out and stops development of Office for the Mac. But in
the interim, while not selling OS X86 "for the rest of you," Apple has been
developing a complete Office suite, which it announces at the same time.
6. Spyware and viruses emerge on the Mac.
It is easy to predict what will happen after that. To many Mac aficionados
the uniqueness of the platform will be lost forever, and who knows what
they'll do for fun. But one thing is for sure: The big problem that Mac
users will have to face is the emergence of virus code and spyware aimed at
them. It's possible that the Mac users going into this new world will be
like the American Indians when confronted by smallpox-contaminated
blankets. Most Mac users are ignorant about this plague and ill prepared to
deal with it.
It will be interesting to see how Apple's OS handles a concentrated attack.
If it cannot stand up, then it's possible that Linux may finally emerge as
the safe alternative to all else.
At last, an interesting scenario!
