1 Wonder if they'll find any? If Apple had sense, they'd have released the Mac OS for PCs as soon as the Windows Vista was released. I mean, release the OS that runs on PC platforms (I forget which version it was). Remember, WinXP dual boots without too many problems. Think of the possibilities... a TV ad that says, "Keep what you have now AND get something that works better! Why start over again from scratch, just as you had to when you switched to Windows XP (Xtra Problems?).

Seems to me, Apple should be hitting MacroSoft where they live... -sigh-

People keep forgetting that PCs and autos are reversed, so far as useage is concerned. You buy the car you like, to suit your personal tastes. You know you can buy gas almost anywhere that any car can use. On your computer, the operating system, and the software you choose reflects your character. The PC, regardless of origin, is the "fuel" that the software runs on.

If Apple could put more of its OS into people's homes and businesses, then their PC sales would go up.

Truth is, Apple should have done this long ago. Given the choice, after a test drive, most people would choose a sports car over a Yugo...

2 To my knowledge, the version of OS X (10.4) that runs on Mac's with Intel chips will not run on a Windows box. For that matter Windows will not run on these Macs without additional software to make it happen.

Apple's position is that if you want their OS you have to buy their hardware. They don't want to sell you an OS and have you go to Walmart and buy a Dell.

3 You may be right, Steve, all I know is I once saw one of the Mac OSes running on a PC. I didn't pay much attention to it, as the guy also had a Mac clone running beside it. I knew there had been clones, but had never seen any.

A Mac-on-PC would, I believe, whet the appetite for Mac hardware. Probably too late, though. Just because something is better doesn't mean it will be a success. Shear force of numbers favors the PC. I still feel Apple should jump at any chance to increase the Mac footprint.

4 Tracked down the guy with the Mac-on-PC. He now has it set up with Linux, but you were correct. He had been running an emulator on a PC that required Mac ROM files and then it would run the Mac OS. Looked authentic to me, but Jim said it was too slow for his taste.

He still has the Mac clone. It is a Power Computing PC, company owned by an oriental businessman, but assembled in the US. Jim said it won't run the newest OS, however, and the computer is no longer available.

I still think Apple's only hope to increase market share is to release a Mac OS that will run on a PC. The number of Windows/PC users is steadily increasing. Apple basically sells to existing Mac users.

5 Mike,

People have been saying apple needs to port it's OS to Windows boxes for years. They've been saying that that is the only way they can survive for years.

Apple is focused on bringing people into it's brand using things like iPod and the soon to be released iPhone. That you can now very easily run Windows on Mac isn't going to hurt that effort.