Actually, the latest stats show that Apple's Mac marketshare has actually increased by roughly 2 points in the last year -- double the growth rate of even the best-performing Windows PC manufacturer!
Fwiw, the increase was attributed largely to "switching", for one or both of two reasons:
1 - PC users are getting fed up with Windows security updates, and word is spreading that the Mac is more secure.
2 - the "halo" effect of the iPod: they're buying iPods, loving them, and wind up trusting Apple and buying a Mac because they want a "PC" that just works like their iPod.
Doubtful. Apple reportedly built hooks into OSX for Intel that check for the presence of Apple-specific hardware, whereas Windows is built for "industry standard" PC hardware. I believe the methodolgy they used are even patented.
Not to pick nits, but the Mac clones were initiated under Sculley's successor, Michael Spindler and continued under _his_ successor, Gil Amelio... until Gil did the only smart thing he did during his turn at Apple's helm and bought NeXT. Then after the board booted Gil and installed Steve as the iCEO, Steve killed the clones.
Sculley's downfall was the Newton -- an amazing device that was way ahead of its time... and suitable technology on which to base it. (But its handwriting recognition lives on in OS X's InkWell: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/inkwell/ ) A more consumer-friendly pricetag probably would've helped, too.
Also... one of the reasons Mac retain value is because they're still _useful_ years later, which is because Apple does such a great job on overall compatibility. I still have a pokey little 17-year-old(!) Mac SE (16mhz 68000 processor) that I still use for writing projects. But I'll be the first to admit it's not worth anything.
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Actually, the latest stats show that Apple's Mac marketshare has actually increased by roughly 2 points in the last year -- double the growth rate of even the best-performing Windows PC manufacturer! Fwiw, the increase was attributed largely to "switching", for one or both of two reasons: 1 - PC users are getting fed up with Windows security updates, and word is spreading that the Mac is more secure. 2 - the "halo" effect of the iPod: they're buying iPods, loving them, and wind up trusting Apple and buying a Mac because they want a "PC" that just works like their iPod.
Doubtful. Apple reportedly built hooks into OSX for Intel that check for the presence of Apple-specific hardware, whereas Windows is built for "industry standard" PC hardware. I believe the methodolgy they used are even patented.
Not to pick nits, but the Mac clones were initiated under Sculley's successor, Michael Spindler and continued under _his_ successor, Gil Amelio ... until Gil did the only smart thing he did during his turn at Apple's helm and bought NeXT. Then after the board booted Gil and installed Steve as the iCEO, Steve killed the clones.
Sculley's downfall was the Newton -- an amazing device that was way ahead of its time ... and suitable technology on which to base it. (But its handwriting recognition lives on in OS X's InkWell: http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/inkwell/ ) A more consumer-friendly pricetag probably would've helped, too.
Also ... one of the reasons Mac retain value is because they're still _useful_ years later, which is because Apple does such a great job on overall compatibility. I still have a pokey little 17-year-old(!) Mac SE (16mhz 68000 processor) that I still use for writing projects. But I'll be the first to admit it's not worth anything.