If possible, would you consider buying OS X for a non Mac computer?

[tlarkin]

Hi everyone,

I am trying to poll some data from various sites and I think that this would be a good demographic to have for an article I want to write up about OSes on my website.

If Apple opened up OS X to be installed on a non Mac computer, would you consider dropping $99 to $129 for a copy of the OS to load on your PC?

This all started when I was having a discussion with a Mac user. While, I myself, am also a large Mac user, I am not an elitist and I also use Linux and Windows as well. All of them on a pretty much regular basis, with Linux being probably a bit less than the other two.

I was thinking that a lot of people would pay for OS X, but they would not want to spend money on a Mac, or none of the current Mac computerst fit what they want for their price range.

This is of course hypothetical, because Apple does not allow this via their EULA, but hypothetically if you could purchase a license for it, would you?

Thanks for participating.

Tom

[oz]

Welcome to the forums!

No, I don't think I'd be willing to pay more than around $25 (US) or so for any OS in the future.

I've never owned or even used Vista on any computer because of the prohibitive pricing. If at all possible, I plan to restrict myself from ever using Windows 7 as well. However, I would like to test Vista and/or Windows 7 if Microsoft will drop the price down to about $25 as stated above.

My home computer runs Linux only and it's never had any version of Windows on it. So far, there appears to be no reason whatsoever to load Windows. At work, I'm forced to run Windows, but hopefully the "Windows only" days will come to an end soon enough.

I've only run a Mac once in my entire life, and it was for a very short time. The hardware was fine, but I see no reason to pay $100 or more for an OS for it, either. If I had Mac hardware, I'd probably be trying my best to successfully load a free version of Linux.

Of course, I'm only one person, but best of luck with your article.

[jayd512]

Not a chance! Ever since learning about Open Source software, I've not wanted anything else. I plan on either purchasing or, preferably, building a new rig at some time in the near future, though. If I buy one, Windows won't be on it for long. And if I build, then Microsoft will never touch it!
And I don't see any reason to ever purchase a Mac OS when I can get Linux, which runs perfectly fine for me, for free.

[rokytnji]

Wife owned a Mac a few years back that I bought from one of my shady biker buddies. Fell off a truck he says. Back then it was like 650.00 for the 2500.00 laptop. All she did was bi@@@ and moan about propriertary this and that. So I hooked her up with Windows and she is a happy camper. I never had the chance or inclination to try out a Mac product. Linux I know better now than Windows. So I had to vote No, because I'd see no point to it. I won't run it. And the Wife has her opinion set on what a good operating system is.

Funniest thing though. When I first showed her my first Linux install which was Simply Mepis 6. Her comment was, "Looks like a MAC O/S to me"

[MikeTbob]

Hiya, First of all good luck with your poll. I'm gonna roll with Jay, ozar and roky on this one, after using Linux only for several years.......I'd not pay $50. USD for any OS which restricts my usage in any way. BTW, I've never used a MAC, I'd have to try it (Windows or MAC) before I bought it.

[smolloy]

I voted for "perhaps". This is just because it depends on the implementation.

My major complaint with OSX has always been that there was no way to "try before you buy". Windows is a little different, since anyone that uses computers in work has probably used it -- so they know what they're getting if they choose to buy Windows.

At the moment there is no way to try OSX before you pay for it. If it was implemented in a way that I could try it extensively (i.e. for >1 week) before I paid, or it was sold cheaply (<$50) then I would definitely consider it.

[tlarkin]

Thanks for your replies guys it's appreciated.

I own a Mac Desktop, a Macbook Pro and 2 PCs. I became a mac guy by default when our mac IT guy quit at an old job. Boss said he was tired of everyone being either Windows or Mac and that everyone is going to learn both. So we did. Ever since then I have been supporting both.

I know there is a lot of elitism and bias when it comes to platform arguments and people are stuck in their ways. I am just trying to explore the reasons why people like one platform over the other.

Also, Macs have come a long way and aren't really proprietary much any more, they have tons of open source software, and do run a full blown version of Unix under the hood while keeping the GUI streamlined.

Having used Linux (debian, Ubuntu, SuSe and fedora), OS X, and Windows for years now I feel that really when it comes down to what its worth to you is how productive you are on your machine. Over the years I just find myself more productive on my Mac. I like Linux a lot but everything I use it, I feel just a bit slightly off. Like a weird default font, or multiple desktop don't have the configuration I am quite looking for, or I don't want to pop open terminal every 5 seconds to edit something.

OS X has its faults for sure and it is not perfect. I am not an elitist either, and I don't hold it over Windows or Linux. In fact I am posting this from my Windows desktop at this very moment.

Oh and I forgot the third license option Apple offers. They do offer a 5 install license for $199, they call it the family pack. So if you buy it you can load it on 5 total computers. Their OS also has no DRM or registration so technically you could just buy one copy and load it on everything. I am sure that may change if Apple went that route.

[bigtomrodney]

I'd like to see Mac OS X for sale on other OEM PCs and available in the shop, but I wouldn't buy it myself. To be honest aside from the gloss (which I will concede is very well done and quite attractive) I find I have a much richer experience with other open operating systems. I'm at the point now where if I went to OS X at first it would be familiar but it would very quickly feel constrictive.

I should add that yes I did run a hackintosh for a few weeks, purely for educational purposes. I did like the look and feel, especially the uniformity but ultimately it left me with less choice and ability to hack at the system. But for the general public? I'd like to see a big competitor to Windows and I think Apple are the ones to do it....it doesn't hurt that it would open more people's eyes to the *nix world.

[techieMoe]

If Apple opened up OS X to be installed on a non Mac computer, would you consider dropping $99 to $129 for a copy of the OS to load on your PC?

No. Running OS X on anything other than an Apple computer defeats the purpose of running OS X. It's not going to be as stable nor is it officially supported. The Apple experience is good in part because Apple knows precisely what hardware they need to program for.

...

This is of course hypothetical, because Apple does not allow this via their EULA, but hypothetically if you could purchase a license for it, would you?

And that's the other reason. Even if OS X performed beautifully on a stock PC, it's illegal and therefore not worth my time or money.

[aluminumspleen]

I'm going to go with Moe on this one. OSX runs wonderfully on Mac hardware because it was built to do so. I think that although there would be benefits to releasing the software seperate from Mac hardware, it would ultimately defeat the purpose of a Mac.

I think this is one big thing Windows has going for it: It can run on so many different types of machines with so many different configurations. Then again, so can Linux...