I would personally continue to own and buy Mac hardware, if they opened up the platform. I don't see any specific value as a mac, being closed hardware. I do see how an integrated vertical market suits the predominantly ipad and iPhone based profit centre, but people like me who want a mac, would want it even if the tpm-like trust state had to be reset to install a third party OS.
But Apple don't see it that way. I am glad ports to older Mac hardware exist, but the walled garden learns better defences each cycle.
Mac OSX is a fine system, enshittification not withstanding. I'm not massively impeded in my desires to run what I want, given homebrew and other software suites. I'd just like the choice to run FreeBSD or Linux or whatever else people port.
I truly do not see any downside risk to apple in doing this. A small documentation cost, at worst.
7777777phil•3w ago
Apple views opening up as a support liability (and a threat to their services revenue)..
ggm•3w ago
It seems to me there's lots of evidence they fear this and little evidence it's justified.
I think modern systems are viewed as constrained platforms and the fear at a structural level is people doing interesting unconstrained things with then. For apple that's an opportunity loss: if ableton on Linux is better they can't monetise ableton on OSX as successfully, is about as bad as it gets.
Nobody sues dell or lenovo because a PC runs Linux and the bits rot.
ozempicgandalf•3w ago
This makes me feel old. I have a ton of windows laptops and really enjoy them. Mac just does almost everything (not gaming) better. Ecosystem (I can text!), battery life (!!!), creative applications and it is genuinely the nicest laptop on the market physically. I hate fan noise, and Apple really edged everyone out in almost every aspect… especially when you look at the total package.
ggm•3w ago
But Apple don't see it that way. I am glad ports to older Mac hardware exist, but the walled garden learns better defences each cycle.
Mac OSX is a fine system, enshittification not withstanding. I'm not massively impeded in my desires to run what I want, given homebrew and other software suites. I'd just like the choice to run FreeBSD or Linux or whatever else people port.
I truly do not see any downside risk to apple in doing this. A small documentation cost, at worst.
7777777phil•3w ago
ggm•3w ago
I think modern systems are viewed as constrained platforms and the fear at a structural level is people doing interesting unconstrained things with then. For apple that's an opportunity loss: if ableton on Linux is better they can't monetise ableton on OSX as successfully, is about as bad as it gets.
Nobody sues dell or lenovo because a PC runs Linux and the bits rot.