When is Apple going to include full Windoze compatibility?

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Chris Standring - 22 Jul 2003 09:37 GMT

When is Apple going to include full Windoze compatibility? For years now
you can read and write PC disks etc. If Apple incorporated an Intel
processor emulator into the OS then you really could have your cake and
eat it too.

A side effect might be that Apples market share increases.

Chris

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Dale Stanbrough - 22 Jul 2003 09:47 GMT

> When is Apple going to include full Windoze compatibility? For years now
> you can read and write PC disks etc. If Apple incorporated an Intel
> processor emulator into the OS then you really could have your cake and
> eat it too.

Um, never? It would cost, and the cost would be added to all
machines. Also if they did that why would developers develop
for the Mac, when they could simply program for windows?

> A side effect might be that Apples market share increases.

Enough to counter people who leave it because of the increased
cost?

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Chris Standring - 23 Jul 2003 11:33 GMT

> Um, never? It would cost, and the cost would be added to all
> machines. Also if they did that why would developers develop
> for the Mac, when they could simply program for windows?

Might be true. Although once apon a time there was a program called
"Access PC" which enabled Super(floppy)Drive-equipped Macs to read, write,
and format PC disks. Nowadays that ability is built in to the MacOS as
standard. How much extra cost that has added to the price I don't know
but it does not appear to be noticeable.

Also, what about the PC-compatible Macs of a few years ago that had PC
cards in them direct from Apple? Sure they have died out now but Apple
must have thought it a good idea at the time.

> > A side effect might be that Apples market share increases.
>
> Enough to counter people who leave it because of the increased
> cost?

I don't know about that. Depends on how much of a cost increase that
would be as a percentage of the already high price! In other words, the
cost increase may not be enough to cause an exodus to PC-land. Besides,
Apple seems to be doing a good job of giving more value for money with
every new model that comes out. I mean, look at the new G5 desktops.
They all have SuperDrives and faster processors, etc. for damn near the
same money as the old G4's. Some extra software that gives some users
more options (and two computers in one case) probably won't pose quite as
much of a problem.

Chris

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Jason - 22 Jul 2003 15:10 GMT

I see a pattern here....

"When is Apple going to wipe Chris Standring's arse for him?" :)

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Chris Standring - 23 Jul 2003 11:14 GMT

> I see a pattern here....
>
> "When is Apple going to wipe Chris Standring's arse for him?" :)

I knew that this would get somebody to bite! Ha ha! I'm winding up those
w.nkers with no sense of humour.

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Jason - 23 Jul 2003 16:47 GMT

> > In article <metalsta-2207032037460001@p251-nas12.akl.ihug.co.nz>, Chris
> Standring <metalsta@ihug.co.nz> wrote:
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> I knew that this would get somebody to bite! Ha ha! I'm winding up those
> w.nkers with no sense of humour.

Congratulations, you're now registered as a troll.

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Jason - 23 Jul 2003 16:47 GMT

BTW, given the verbage you expend arguing about nothing of any consequence, it is
you that has earned the title w.nker.

*PLONK*

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Chris Standring - 28 Jul 2003 06:18 GMT

> > I knew that this would get somebody to bite! Ha ha! I'm winding up those
> > w.nkers with no sense of humour.
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> *PLONK*

Sounds like you have identified yourself as one of the group of people I
was referring to.

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Steve Jay - 23 Jul 2003 01:34 GMT

Chris' problem appears to me to be the same as 99% of the entire
computer industry, the failure to recognise that the file format
should be the standard, not the hardware, OS or application.

I wish IEEE or ISO or some other standards organisation would stop
dicking about and give the most popular file formats ID numbers like
they do for hardware. Portable document format (in a fully editable
form) for DTP files, AIF or WAV (I don't care which) for audio, some
sort of "visual" SYLK model for spreadsheets, SQL for databases, DV25
for domestic video (DV50 for pro) could all have IEEE numbers and no
programmer would dare deviate far from the standard without using
another standard such as XML or HTML, even Macroplop would have to
comply.

Then Apple's market share would rise because computer salesmen
wouldn't be able to lie to the non-technical customer (and get away
with it, anyway) about Macs not being compatible with PCs.

This approach wouldn't have to limit programmers, either. The
standards for hardware are all pretty technical and allow for degrees
of diversity, so the same could be for IEEE-wxyz (Word Processing and
Page Layout File structure) The very fact that the structure is
codified with standards set for deviation would make it possible to
program for a range of different layout architectures.

Yes, I'm a hopeless dreamer. It'll never happen while money is
involved in programming and my arse points to the ground. Doesn't mean
I shouldn't hope the world will change.

Meanwhile Chris, buy a copy of Virtual PC and keep Bill Gates (VPC's
new owner) very happy.

Steve J.
http://www.izzythedog.com/

> When is Apple going to include full Windoze compatibility? For years now
> you can read and write PC disks etc. If Apple incorporated an Intel
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> Chris

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Mac Forum / Country Specific / Australian Mac Group / July 2003

When is Apple going to include full Windoze compatibility?