3 ms·

How about Apple create a "Custom Hardware" program ala their Developer program and basically charge $99+ a year for a legal install usb image. Then they can sk

How about Apple create a "Custom Hardware" program ala their Developer program and basically charge $99+ a year for a legal install usb image. Then they can skip building a Pro and concentrate on the portables and iMac they like.

imron 10y ago
Because the cost for supporting random hardware will probably run to more than they make from running such a program. Not to mention Apple doesn't seem to care about the developer and/or professional consumer anymore.
- walterbell 10y ago
  There is a middle ground between "random hardware" and one Apple device, clearly evidenced by the Hackintosh community. The difference is that Apple can more effectively support a whitelist of components than the Hackintosh community that is already doing it on a volunteer basis.
- grandalf 10y ago
  Even if once each year Apple picked a "blessed" list of commodity hardware (one motherboard, one graphics card, etc.) that was supported, it would still be a major improvement over the status quo. Apple could pick partly based on the MSRP of the hardware or charge a licensing fee to the winner. It's just such a shame that getting a high performance desktop that runs OSX is such a hassle.
- dawnerd 10y ago
  Just offer no support or set a rate to variety for it.
- protomyth 10y ago
  > Because the cost for supporting random hardware will probably run to more than they make from running such a program. What support? NeXT once had a fax that they sent you with the listed hardware that it worked on. Its even easier now that Intel has shut out all third-party motherboard chipsets. Your paying for legality, not support.
5_minutes 10y ago
That's a great idea, unfortunately, the shape the company is in is that it would be too greedy (and it's too healthy financially, at least) - to be bothered with doing really cool hacker stuff.

3 ms·

How about Apple create a "Custom Hardware" program ala their Developer program and basically charge $99+ a year for a legal install usb image. Then they can sk

by protomyth 10y ago

imron 10y ago
Because the cost for supporting random hardware will probably run to more than they make from running such a program. Not to mention Apple doesn't seem to care about the developer and/or professional consumer anymore.
- walterbell 10y ago
  There is a middle ground between "random hardware" and one Apple device, clearly evidenced by the Hackintosh community. The difference is that Apple can more effectively support a whitelist of components than the Hackintosh community that is already doing it on a volunteer basis.
- grandalf 10y ago
  Even if once each year Apple picked a "blessed" list of commodity hardware (one motherboard, one graphics card, etc.) that was supported, it would still be a major improvement over the status quo. Apple could pick partly based on the MSRP of the hardware or charge a licensing fee to the winner. It's just such a shame that getting a high performance desktop that runs OSX is such a hassle.
- dawnerd 10y ago
  Just offer no support or set a rate to variety for it.
- protomyth 10y ago
  > Because the cost for supporting random hardware will probably run to more than they make from running such a program. What support? NeXT once had a fax that they sent you with the listed hardware that it worked on. Its even easier now that Intel has shut out all third-party motherboard chipsets. Your paying for legality, not support.
5_minutes 10y ago
That's a great idea, unfortunately, the shape the company is in is that it would be too greedy (and it's too healthy financially, at least) - to be bothered with doing really cool hacker stuff.