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What the Apple-Intel Deal Could Mean For PCs

by , 3:45 PM EST, December 26th, 2005

TechNewsWorld columnist Rob Enderle on Monday published his thoughts on the technology business at the end of 2005. Among other things, he speculated on how Apple's new relationship with Intel could alter the overall PC business, given both companies' history of being difficult to work with.

"When it comes to the company they are most frustrated with, the OEMs tend to switch between Microsoft and Intel," Mr. Enderle wrote. Noting that he thinks Intel "clearly has the lead right now in terms of aggravation," the columnist said that the company's biggest problem is its tendency to make decisions without taking into account how they will affect its partners.

Apple, of course, likes to dictate terms to its partners too. With AMD suing Intel for alleged anti-competitive business practices and the OEMs believing that Intel has "cut two sweetheart deals with Apple," Mr. Enderle expects 2006 to be "a really interesting year" in the computer business. If AMD makes headway in its lawsuit and the OEMs dig up proof that Intel is treating Apple differently, the competitive landscape could change dramatically.

Apple's deal with Intel could also lead to a change in terms of computer design. Mr. Enderle explained that the OEMs have always blamed Intel and Microsoft for keeping them from creating innovative designs, an excuse that the columnist thought was more about avoiding risks.

Of course, Apple is well-known for its unique industrial design. If that trend continues after the company switches to Intel processors, "it will go a long way towards moving the industry into more an era of exciting products overall," Mr. Enderle wrote. "This might not be great for Apple but it would be wonderful for those of us that love design and use Windows."

Observer Comments

Show: Subjects Only | Full Comments
Close Name:Guest
Subject: "those of us that love design and use Windows"

Isn't than an oxymoron?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Those of us . .

"Who love to drive in style and buy Chevrolets . . . . "

Close Name:Guest
Subject: ENDERLE IS A MORON

did he say anything useful? this guy justs generates text to get paid....i can't beleive i wasted time reading let alone writing about him. what a dork

Close Name:MBHockey Posts: 4 Joined: 20 Dec 2005
Subject: Zero Credibility

Ever since this guy stated that Microsoft wrote the first MacOS, sans sarcasm, he's got about zero credibility in my book.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: yup, oxyidiot par exellence...

design and windows/MS... yeah right....

people woh pay less get less... and a lot of hoopleheads don't even know what design is... so just let MS be Ms and apple the design and bang for the buck king;-)

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Enderle Article

If Mac OS were available today on intel hardware I would wash my Windows right off of the system. GO APPLE!

Close Name:Rainy Day Posts: 607 Joined: 07 Jun 2005
Subject: Seismic Design

Isn’t he afraid that this will lead to PC’s which might fall and injure people during an earthquake?

Close Name:Bosco Posts: 1002 Joined: 03 Jun 2002
Subject: I think we can all agree...

...that Rob Enderle is a poopie-face.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Is he for real?

Lets drag him kicking and screaming into the futue of real computing...

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Multi OS PC

why not have a laptop with Intel processor with all three OS, Windows, MacOS and Linux in it? It will be fun isn't it?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: future PCs

I want to see desktops with all operating systems loaded into it. All OS (windows, MacOS and Linux in one) will be fun to work with .

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Re: Those of us who love design and use Windows... LOL!

Quote
Guest wrote:
Isn't than an oxymoron?


Pretty much.

I guess Enderle is referring to all two of the people in the world who love design and use Windows. Or is it just one guy, and his mom is just going along to be supportive?

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Enderle needs to die

...just tired of flakes masquerading as anything worth listening to. Enderle is the flakiest

Close Name:Guest
Subject: He's not for real, He's a bot...

generated by some buggy software. Forget a bout oxymoron... not even in his dictionnary.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: design and windows

Well, if you use Autocad, you use windows. Whether you hate it or not.

It's pretty safe to say that at least 50% of Autocad users have at least some love of design, yes?

Or is the smart part of this crowd confusing design with things that shine?

(aaah, sarcasm, it's an art!)

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Re: design and windows

One may use Autocad, but that does not mean one's design is any good.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Very funny

It is funny how you are talking about dragging into the future. Don't you find it interesting that Apple is having to give in and go with an X86 architecture. Perhaps alittle worm has made it's way into the Apple.

Close Name:Guest
Subject: Re: Very funny

Quote
Guest wrote:
It is funny how you are talking about dragging into the future. Don't you find it interesting that Apple is having to give in and go with an X86 architecture. Perhaps alittle worm has made it's way into the Apple.

Nah. Apple just wants to sell Apple hardware to PC users.

They would prefer if the PC users were full-fledged OS X users, and some will be, but Apple doesn't mind if PC users just buy the nicely designed Apple x86 systems to run Windows on. Either way, they're happy to take PC user money... lot's of it. Cha-ching!

Close Name:JulesLt Posts: 136 Joined: 06 Jul 2005
Subject: Cost?

Let's say you get your iBook with Tiger installed. Dual-booting existing Macs with Linux is already possible, although I would have though a more sensible solution is booting in MacOS and having a Linux machine running under VMWare.

So that leaves you with shelling out for Windows.

Now unless Apple cuts an OEM deal with Microsoft (and it's possible they will) you're looking at shelling out for a boxed copy of Windows. Last time I looked this was > 50% of the cheapest available PC. That's enough to put me off, for the extremely few Windows programs I might want to use.

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