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Why does Apple make it so difficult/borderline impossible to run MacOS on non-apple computers? Would it cut into their computer sales that significantly? I woul

Why does Apple make it so difficult/borderline impossible to run MacOS on non-apple computers? Would it cut into their computer sales that significantly? I would imagine most people who want (and can afford) a Mac would still buy one.

voakbasda 5y ago
No, they wouldn’t. My last “Mac” was a PowerComputing clone, because other manufactures were doing hardware better than Apple. Jobs killed the clones, and I became a Linux user that never looked back. Apple maintains their walled garden because they know that their users would quickly realize the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.
- macintux 5y ago
  > Apple maintains their walled garden because they know that their users would quickly realize the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I've been on both sides of the fence, worked for a Linux company for a few years, and I'm very happy in the walled garden.
neodymiumphish 5y ago
> Would it cut into their computer sales that significantly? Is this a real question? Many of the edge cases, both high cost and low, would disappear for Apple. Additionally, all the tech support will fall on them. Lastly, any bad user experience (cheap device with crap battery, low quality hardware that doesn't match the software experience, etc) would have a negative effect on them as a brand.
ravenstine 5y ago
What do they stand to gain in making macOS easy/possible to run on other vendor hardware? That opens them up to headaches that don't bring in revenue. They are in the hardware business, not the OS business. Their OS development is just a necessary evil. Apple wants people to buy their hardware. If the customer wants macOS, they'd be best off buying the one hardware that's designed specifically for macOS. This is unlikely to ever change because it's been Apple's business model from the very beginning, and it's served them well overall. I'm not saying anyone has to like it, but there's an inherent advantage in not having to support other hardware of varying degrees of quality. Honestly, I'll take that form of vendor lock-in over frequent pointless changes, having advertising shoved in my face, and being forced to have an online account. Perhaps my opinion will change if Apple follows suit (they won't), but for now it was pretty easy to set up my M1 Macbook Air without signing in with an Apple ID.
TheRealDunkirk 5y ago
Holy moly! If there was ever a self-answering question on this site! Look at how much traffic is being generated by Windows 11's lack of support for older hardware, and how confusing it is -- even for technical users -- to figure out of their machines are TPM-capable at all, or if it just needs turned on in the BIOS -- in order to install it. After 19 years of Linux on the desktop, and always dual-booting Windows for gaming, I'm delighted to spend the extra money on Apple hardware (and game on a PS) to avoid all of that sort of nonsense now. You may not like them, but Apple makes the answers to these kinds of questions pretty clear. I'm glad Apple doesn't waste their time and energy with supporting every piece of kit under the sun.
nine_k 5y ago
In short, Apple is a hardware company. It sells you electronic devices with some software and firmware required for these devices to function. The software component in a Mac or an iPhone is larger than in a microwave oven. There is still equally zero incentive to port it to third-party devices, because it's the devices that bring in the revenue; software is a cost center.
elliekelly 5y ago
It’s super disappointing to receive such hostile responses to a genuine question but I appreciate the two people who replied kindly.
michaelmrose 5y ago
If you can sell a computer for 500-1000 more than your competition why sell an OS for 100-200.

voakbasda 5y ago

No, they wouldn’t. My last “Mac” was a PowerComputing clone, because other manufactures were doing hardware better than Apple. Jobs killed the clones, and I became a Linux user that never looked back. Apple maintains their walled garden because they know that their users would quickly realize the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.

macintux 5y ago
> Apple maintains their walled garden because they know that their users would quickly realize the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. I've been on both sides of the fence, worked for a Linux company for a few years, and I'm very happy in the walled garden.

neodymiumphish 5y ago

> Would it cut into their computer sales that significantly? Is this a real question? Many of the edge cases, both high cost and low, would disappear for Apple. Additionally, all the tech support will fall on them. Lastly, any bad user experience (cheap device with crap battery, low quality hardware that doesn't match the software experience, etc) would have a negative effect on them as a brand.

ravenstine 5y ago

What do they stand to gain in making macOS easy/possible to run on other vendor hardware? That opens them up to headaches that don't bring in revenue. They are in the hardware business, not the OS business. Their OS development is just a necessary evil. Apple wants people to buy their hardware. If the customer wants macOS, they'd be best off buying the one hardware that's designed specifically for macOS. This is unlikely to ever change because it's been Apple's business model from the very beginning, and it's served them well overall. I'm not saying anyone has to like it, but there's an inherent advantage in not having to support other hardware of varying degrees of quality. Honestly, I'll take that form of vendor lock-in over frequent pointless changes, having advertising shoved in my face, and being forced to have an online account. Perhaps my opinion will change if Apple follows suit (they won't), but for now it was pretty easy to set up my M1 Macbook Air without signing in with an Apple ID.

TheRealDunkirk 5y ago

Holy moly! If there was ever a self-answering question on this site! Look at how much traffic is being generated by Windows 11's lack of support for older hardware, and how confusing it is -- even for technical users -- to figure out of their machines are TPM-capable at all, or if it just needs turned on in the BIOS -- in order to install it. After 19 years of Linux on the desktop, and always dual-booting Windows for gaming, I'm delighted to spend the extra money on Apple hardware (and game on a PS) to avoid all of that sort of nonsense now. You may not like them, but Apple makes the answers to these kinds of questions pretty clear. I'm glad Apple doesn't waste their time and energy with supporting every piece of kit under the sun.

nine_k 5y ago

In short, Apple is a hardware company. It sells you electronic devices with some software and firmware required for these devices to function. The software component in a Mac or an iPhone is larger than in a microwave oven. There is still equally zero incentive to port it to third-party devices, because it's the devices that bring in the revenue; software is a cost center.

elliekelly 5y ago

It’s super disappointing to receive such hostile responses to a genuine question but I appreciate the two people who replied kindly.

michaelmrose 5y ago

If you can sell a computer for 500-1000 more than your competition why sell an OS for 100-200.