OS X Server and x86

[pgwalsh]

I may get flamed for this, but I think Apple should produce OS X Server for x86. They may be able to grab more of the small and personal server market. They may get people to give it a test drive who wouldn't spend the cash on Apple hardware. This may perk peoples interest in future Apple products. Where am I going wrong with my thinking?

I'd also like to see Apple make an Act esque program that could import Act databases. Act is a very popular program for small offices and sales people. Making the application compatible with other platforms may spur converts in the small business area. Add this into the realm of iCal and the address book and you've got a good solutions for small businesses. However, they still need a solution for QuickBooks and Quicken which many people are used to and wouldn't want to give-up.

 

[strider42]

Re: OS X Server and x86

Originally posted by pgwalsh
I may get flamed for this, but I think Apple should produce OS X Server for x86. They may be able to grab more of the small and personal server market. They may get people to give it a test drive who wouldn't spend the cash on Apple hardware. This may perk peoples interest in future Apple products. Where am I going wrong with my thinking?

I'd also like to see Apple make an Act esque program that could import Act databases. Act is a very popular program for small offices and sales people. Making the application compatible with other platforms may spur converts in the small business area. Add this into the realm of iCal and the address book and you've got a good solutions for small businesses. However, they still need a solution for QuickBooks and Quicken which many people are used to and wouldn't want to give-up.

the problem with such a scheme as I understand it is that OS X, while it could be ported to x86, would still require a lot of work to run effectively on it.

some of OS X's low level stuff is dependent on hardware, which may not be present in x86 machines.

If they did manage to port it over, many programs won't run, they'd need to be recompiled, debugged, etc. Thats a large undertaking and then requires two versions of the same program to run on one OS.

Also, apple doesn't want people to test drive their software if it means they can avoid buying the hardware. Apple doesn't make a dime on software. All of their money comes from hardware.

thats my understanding of the difficulties involved.

 

[pgwalsh]

Re: Re: OS X Server and x86

Originally posted by strider42
Apple doesn't make a dime on software. All of their money comes from hardware.

Well they may not make much on software, but I believe they would make more than a dime if they open it up to more platforms. At the price of OS X Server I can't imagine them not making any money. If Suse Linux can develop for both Mac and PC at the same time and still sell their product for under $100, Apple can do the same and sell for what it costs now. Drivers may be an issue, but that's what's great about opensource.

 

[strider42]

Re: Re: Re: OS X Server and x86

Originally posted by pgwalsh

Well they may not make much on software, but I believe they would make more than a dime if they open it up to more platforms. At the price of OS X Server I can't imagine them not making any money. If Suse Linux can develop for both Mac and PC at the same time and still sell their product for under $100, Apple can do the same and sell for what it costs now. Drivers may be an issue, but that's what's great about opensource.

They might be able to turn a profit on the software if they wanted, but what would the profit margin be. on their machines, they make about 25-30%. On a G4 or Xserve, thats a lot of cash per machine. They'd have to take into account how many hardware sales they would lose, and try to build that lost revenue into how many software sales they can gain. That might make it rather expensive and all of a sudden, not that competitive. And like I said, there are other issues preventing this from happening that are purely technical, nevermind apple's philosphy on integrating the softawre and hardware ot make it work seamlessly.

 

[nuckinfutz]

Won't happen

Microsoft has the Server X86 market sown up. Small to Mid size companies would be fine with something like an Xserve.

OSX is CHEAP compared to most servers. L

Linux is only cheap until you factor in Support costs.

Apple is better of designing their own motherboards more control is always preferrable to less.