Motherboards of Invention.
Referring to the MacOS Rumors post about AAPL making PPC 750/740 motherboards for models as old as the LC 475 (!):
1) Dataquest projects Apple owners to be entering an upgrade cycle three years from introduction of the first PowerPC 601s in 1994 -- the 6100/7100/8100. As these machines run OS8 (and most currently shipping apps) just fine, and sell second-hand for significantly less than $1,000, they represent real competition to new CPUs; Apple, clones, etc.
2) There has been much debate in and outside of Apple about whether Rhapsody would be backwards compatible to these machines. (If the "Unity" release is built on the Mach 3 kernel, then it is projected those machines would be able run Rhapsody. )
However, if Apple provides this compatibility, these users will be disinclined to buy new hardware as they would (presumably) get enhanced CPU performance from the new OS.
On the other hand, if there is no Rhapsody compatibility then a significant portion of legacy users would be unable to upgrade to the latest OS --as well as Rhapsody-compliant apps. This would inhibit software developers seeking to market to the greatest numbers of potential customers. In this case we are talking about the price sensitive, consumer market; games, education, etc.
3) The "motherboard strategy" *seems* a win-win idea -- addressing the concerns of all involved;
* AAPL makes good money on the upgrade cycle by selling hardware to its intensely loyal customer base. The margin on replacement parts is at least as high as CPUs.
* If AAPL bundles AppleCare service agreements (free installation) plus (below market price) ram and hard drive upgrades, then component manufacturers and Apple-authorized vendors get lucrative pieces of the action (and APPL gets their support -- memo to Computer Reseller editorial board.)
* Apple users get to maintain their existing investment and are offered below-market (hopefully) prices for a state-of-the-art CPU. (I *like* the looks of my pizza-box shaped 6100 and 14" Apple Color Display. How about a PPC 740 enhanced Color Classic!?)
* The technical tradeoff of providing legacy support to older CPUs and degrading OS performance becomes a non-issue.
* The older machines are kept off the market.
* AAPL appeases the FTC by making good on its aborted PPC 601 upgrade efforts -- thus making a virtue of opportunity.
* Rhapsody developers can market to a larger installed base of Rhapsody capable CPUs.
* Critically important, cloners are shut out of this game, forcing them to pursue new markets/users - which is what APPL had in mind when they started licensing.
4) One more thought, If APPL is going into the PPC motherboard business, can they make one to stick in a Pentium box?
Comments?
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