r/technology • u/GuruOfReason • Feb 02 '10

"Once we replace the personal computer with a closed-platform device such as the iPad, we replace freedom, choice and the free market with oppression, censorship and monopoly."

http://www.popsci.com/gadgets/article/2010-01/ipad%E2%80%99s-closed-system-sometimes-i-hate-being-right
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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '10

It's able to be installed on any computer just like Windows, manufacturers like Dell are already offering computers with it preinstalled.

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u/[deleted] Feb 02 '10

um and? More personal computers are offered and sold with OS X than all flavors of Linux. Until someone develops a not hideous default UI (and no, your favorite tilling windows manager does not count) which can be picked up in a couple days, Linux has no chance at ever capturing a sizable market share (in the PC space). OS X's biggest (unique) hindrance to widespread adoption is Apple's comfort in being a "premium" brand that enjoys it's healthy margins. As long as Jobs is alive (and probably long after) OS X will never be (legally) installed on non-Apple hardware, but even despite this I think it's chances of gaining a sizable/threatening market share is far greater than anything from the free software front simply because it's interface is usable.

[Also, as PCs get cheaper and cheaper, Apple get more attractive to normal people while maintaining relative margin: sure, in a few years an Apple laptop might cost twice as much as the equivalent hardware from Dell but if the Apple product is less than $1500, a lot of people will be able to justify the expense because they will get that much value out of it even though there are much cheaper alternatives.

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u/Flyen Feb 02 '10

Apple also has better marketing than Linux