Souring Apple
Yesterday Apple unveiled the long-anticipated Bootcamp product, that allows new Intel-based Macs to run Windows XP in a dual-boot configuration (hence the name). Currently it's an either-or-operating system situation--either it's a Mac or a Windows box. Presumably there will be a future download (it's free, by the way), that will context-switch in run-time.
So many people are asking "why?" The Mac purists don't understand why anyone would want to run Windows at all. The Windows people don't know why someone would pay a premium for a Mac, then run Windows on it.
I think that the right perspective in which to view this is as a transitional strategy for Apple. Obviously they think that they can expand the Mac user base by removing an objection to buy--namely that they do not run Windows programs. But I question the wisdom of doing so. I realize that there are some programs that are have-to-haves for corporate America. They tend to be proprietary enterprise systems, VPNs, sales tools and the like or deeply vertical applications that run on Windows and support an entire industry, like real estate sales, for instance.
However, the appeal of Macs are not just the cachet, but the fact that they work and work well at what they set out to do. They are not workhouse machines, they are creative boxes for people who don't want to think about the computers as much as they what they're doing with them.
Those people, the long-time Apple user base, will be poorly served by this corporate direction. Soon, small design compromises will be made to accomodate the dual boot configuration. Each one will lead the Mac down the road of frustration and exasperation that is the daily commute of Window's users. And let's not even talk about security implications of a hybrid operating system.
There's no bigger marketing evil than allowing greed to booger up your brand. Jobs did something very similar at NeXT computer. It didn't work then either.
Better to be the darling of the computer industry and have a small market share, then begin to wallow in mediocrity. Or as Milton said: "It's better to reign in Hell, then serve in Heaven. "
Posted on April 06, 2006
