Apple needs to be broken up

[macJOS]

Apple needs to be broken up, probably into hardware, software and services companies.

Notably, I predict more competition around macOS would drive down hardware prices, and charging for macOS, iOS, etc., upgrades and maintenance would slow down hardware churn which would be better for the environment.

 

[I7guy]

And why is that? And is there any legal standing to break up apple? How about other Fortune 500 companies?

 

[jz0309]

Apple needs to be broken up, probably into hardware, software and services companies.

Notably, I predict more competition around macOS would drive down hardware prices, and charging for macOS, iOS, etc., upgrades and maintenance would slow down hardware churn which would be better for the environment.

and why exactly?
Did you forget to put the “/s” at the end of your post?

 

[macJOS]

Because more competition around Apple's operating systems would benefit consumers.

 

[dmr727]

Yep. New account.

 

[triptolemus]

Because more competition around Apple's operating systems would benefit consumers.

Sounds about as well thought out as Elon's plan for Twitter.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Because more competition around Apple's operating systems would benefit consumers.

More competition is achieved by companies producing quality products that motivate people to make the purchase. There is no logical reason to break up Apple especially when the free market is in play.

 

[macJOS]

Apple has a de facto monopoly on hardware allowed to run macOS. This is not in the best interest of consumers because it removed competition from this space.

 

[millerj123]

Apple has a de facto monopoly on hardware allowed to run macOS. This is not in the best interest of consumers because it removed competition from this space.

Uh, well, and?

 

[ftaok]

Apple has a de facto monopoly on hardware allowed to run macOS. This is not in the best interest of consumers because it removed competition from this space.

This point has been argued ad nauseum. Not just in the Mac community, but in the business/financial community as well.

While Apple has total control of both Mac OS hardware and software, it does not constitute a market. There is no actionable market for Mac OS. The market is PC operating systems and Mac OS does not constitute anything close to a controlling share of the market. Therefore, anything that Apple does, doesn't violate an abuse of a monopoly powers.

An analogy (not perfect) would be that you can only get Big Macs at McDonalds restaurants. McDonalds has 100% control over Big Macs sold around world. However, there really isn't a Big Mac market. The market is fast-food hamburgers and there are plenty of alternatives, but none of them are Big Macs. Would there be more competition if Burger King franchisees were allowed to sell Big Macs? Sure. It would drive competition and be beneficial to Big Mac customers if they could go to a Chick Fil A to buy their Big Macs.

Mac OS is a niche OS. Apple can offer or not offer it to other hardware vendors. Apple chooses not to.

Anyway, you have to be careful in defining a narrow market. If a market is defined too narrowly, there could never be any exclusives.

 

[mectojic]

We don’t need to break up Apple, just support EU regulations that break down the closed tech ecosystems. Sideloading is a consumer benefit.

Apple doesn’t need to break up, but honestly they need to actually put effort into hardware again. It’s feeling very recycled these days… sure, don’t change if it’s good, but the hardware team are so lazy with updating old tech- Mac Mini 12 year old design, iPhone SE 8 years, and Mac Studio was just… boring?

 

[uller6]

Apple has a de facto monopoly on hardware allowed to run macOS. This is not in the best interest of consumers because it removed competition from this space.

Microsoft has a de facto monopoly on hardware allowed to run Xbox OS. This is not in the best interest of consumers because it removed competition from this space.

 

[TheDailyApple]

Microsoft has a de facto monopoly on hardware allowed to run Xbox OS. This is not in the best interest of consumers because it removed competition from this space.

Why can’t I run PlayStation’s OS on my custom built gaming computer, there are games I want to play that are only available on PS5. Monopolies, am I right?
/s

 

[ThisBougieLife]

Elon Musk should buy Apple.

 

[Apple fan from Korea]

Apple needs to be broken up, probably into hardware, software and services companies.

Notably, I predict more competition around macOS would drive down hardware prices, and charging for macOS, iOS, etc., upgrades and maintenance would slow down hardware churn which would be better for the environment.

What about Google? Or Microsoft? Or Samsung? Or any other tech company?

 

[Bobbuilds69]

Why can’t I run PlayStation’s OS on my custom built gaming computer, there are games I want to play that are only available on PS5. Monopolies, am I right?
/s

I don’t think OP thought really well about what he posted 🤣

 

[Analog Kid]

Apple needs to be broken up, probably into hardware, software and services companies.

That would cease to be Apple and there would be no remaining player in the market that provides tight integration between hardware, software and services. It's like saying Reeses needs to be broken up into separate chocolate and peanut butter companies.

 

[rgeneral]

You can say the same thing with Microsoft. It should be broken up long time ago

 

[GSWForever8]

Breaking up apple would cause problems for the consumers.Other competitions making good products will drive competition, not “breaking up” apple.

 

[TayIsTay]

Read “the curse of bigness” by Tim Wu. You’ll probably want Apple broken up afterwards.

For one thing, when these companies get big and powerful enough, they start to do stuff like this: https://www.politico.com/amp/news/2021/08/20/apple-takes-on-state-legislatures-georgia-506299

 

[Aggedor]

Yep. New account.

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/can-we-raise-the-post-count-to-start-new-threads.2370023/

 

[Eldaerenth Faexidor]

You're not fooling anyone Zuckerberg. Get off Macrumors and get back to continu to drive Facebook into the ground!

 

[heinzdembowski]

More competition is achieved by companies producing quality products that motivate people to make the purchase. There is no logical reason to break up Apple especially when the free market is in play.

How much VC money would you need to create a company that competes with Apple by designing its own Hardware and writes its own Operating Systems from scratch. Then it also would build a network of retail stores around the world. Next, maybe the Microsoft Office replacement to attract enough people. Then, casually steal the business ideas of Dropbox, Netflix, and Spotify in worse but run the Amazon tactic of using all the (in this case) VC cash you have lying around to lump this stuff together and undercut the price of your competition until it dies, which is when you can finally raise your prices again.

My point is, if a company does this much, in order for there to be competition breaking it up doesn't sound like a bad idea to me.

 

[MayaUser]

Apple needs to be broken up, probably into hardware, software and services companies.

Notably, I predict more competition around macOS would drive down hardware prices, and charging for macOS, iOS, etc., upgrades and maintenance would slow down hardware churn which would be better for the environment.

Good joke, thank you for making us smile

 

[MindYourMind]

Apple needs to be broken up, probably into hardware, software and services companies.

Notably, I predict more competition around macOS would drive down hardware prices, and charging for macOS, iOS, etc., upgrades and maintenance would slow down hardware churn which would be better for the environment.

Whether apple should be broken up into multiple companies I don't know. But would 'more competition' around macOS be the only possible outcome of breaking up Apple? Wouldn't 'more competition' be a choice, just as 'more collaboration' would be a choice? What is our evidence that 'more collaboration' will not be better than 'more competition'?