Scobleizer: Microsoft Geek Blogger: "What does this all mean for Microsoft? Not sure yet. It sure will be interesting to watch this play out."(Via .)

I already commented, but it was getting long;

As I've said for years, and this answers Robert's Pre-1 Question: "What does this mean for Microsoft?"

Assuming that this is true, which I still do not really believe. This mean Microsoft will be destroying Apple. By moving to Windows-compatible chips, Apple would be tantamount to making a direct attack on Microsoft's turf. Microsoft's reaction to that kind of thing in the past has been, shall we say, "direct". If it's a pre-announcement, they will even have extra time to prep their usual back-stabbing and FUD ala Linux. It doesn't matter whether the hardware in question will run Windows or not, if the chips they use COULD run Windows, Microsoft will use everything at their disposal to wipe Apple out. Because they will see it as a future threat that it isn't now, running on separate chips.

If true, it'll be fun to see Robert's illusions of the "kinder, gentler" Microsoft get wiped away. This would be a brutal gangland style killing if true. Having said that, I'd LOVE to be proven wrong. I'd love to see Microsoft compete fairly, if only for the novelty. After all, all the advantages are theirs in this situation. But honestly, I seriously doubt that they would.

Having said all this, I do not believe that this is true, some of it makes sense, but there are a lot of reasons it wouldn't. Personally I think it's something a lot more "left field". But I guess we'll know Tomorrow afternoon (For me, anyways. :))

Would it benefit Apple? Only if they make a version that can run on stock-standard existing OS's. I've said for years that they should release a Intel-copmpatible version of Mac OS X and have it a free DL off their site. THAT would be hell to compete against. But from a business standpoint....

Faster Chips? Mmmmaybe. Apple's unhappiness with the PowerPC is NOT that they are lagging that badly, it's that they aren't "blowing the doors off" the Intel chips. But while Apple will be a "design win" for Intel, in numbers/revenue they will not be a big client. Apple would have to have on hell of a contract with Intel.

Cheaper Systems? I'm sorry, is $499 too much or something? How much cheaper does anyone think these systems are going to get?

Market Share? Only if they make Mac OS X run on existing hardware. In which case it's A) one hell of a threat to Microsoft and B) One hell of a killer for Apple's existing market. Basically, Apple would have to be gambling that they could recoup potential losses by selling 10.4 (or whatever) to people with existing hardware. This makes even less sense if it's going to be Apple-proprietary Intel-based hardware.

Final Answer: I still dunno. In fact, I'm still not sure what I'm even hoping for.

I take that back; I know what I'm hoping for:

Something smart. Years ago (pre-Amelio/Jobs) this would have been been a forlorn hope. The Apple of the past few years has been making some really good moves. So I'm hoping it'll be cool.
11:46:06 AM     Discuss: []