By now, many could likely recite the Macis 20 year history by heart, especially if youive read any of the many articles on the subject. Itis interesting how the news media has gravitated to the subject, often writing stories so similar that it looks as if thereis a lot of over-the-shoulder peeking going on. Truth is, there isnit much you can say about the history of Apple and the Mac that hasnit been said already. Still, some columnists and news writer find angles that give their story a different edge and make reading them worthwhile.
C|Net has posted such a story. John Borland, takes a look at the Macis 20 year history, but he does it with an eye on Appleis current Ambassador of Cool, the iPod. Mr. Borland believes that the iPod and the iTunes Music Store marks a beginning of a new way of thinking at Apple, one that is more open, as oppose to the closed mindset that was prevalent at Apple when the Mac was first introduced. Hereis excerpt from the C|Net article, iPod may define new era of open strategy:
For most of its two decades, Apple has consistently led the desktop computer industry in introducing new technology, features and designs later adopted in a wider market. But its reluctance to license its operating system to other manufacturers enabled Microsoft to achieve near ubiquity by licensing its rival Windows software to hardware makers across the industry, such as Dell, HP and Sony--reducing the Macis market share to a single digit by the mid-1990s.
By the time Apple tried licensing its own technology to allow other companies to make Mac "clones," it was too late. Former Apple CEO John Sculley, who opposed the concept during his tenure, later said his decision against licensing the Mac was one of his biggest regrets.
The iPod represents one of the most significant exceptions to the Apple-only mantra. Apple first released an iPod that could be used with Windows computers, then released the iTunes jukebox software and song store for Windows, declaring that "hell froze over."
The new approach is illustrated most clearly in the iPod distribution deal with HP. The computing giant is a longtime Microsoft partner that sells PCs loaded with Windows operating systems and Media Center software, a digital command technology that competes directly with Appleis plans for the Macintosh.
Check out the full article at C|Net.