RasterWeb: Rambles: gambler

I can't help but see Jobs as a gambler. Ok, he was largely resposible for creating the Mac. That's a win. A big win. After that it was the NeXT cube. Which didn't seem to take off. So NeXT created an OS that ran on other people's hardware (OPH) and that seemed to work. Why not? A hardware independant OS. Unix runs on all sorts of hardware. So does Linux and the BeOS. So did that work? Did OpenStep succeed? Many users will say 'Yes.' Now, we find ourselves with Jobs back at Apple. He knows how the Mac started, as a closed system. From what I understand he didn't think anything would need to be connected to a Mac, he thought a sealed box would be good (gee, kinda like an NC) I thought I read somewhere that he didn't like the design of the Apple II, with all of the slots and ports. (a tinkerer's dream!)

So has Jobs learned from NeXT that the hardware the OS runs on isn't important? And if so, why did Apple buy out Power? If the Mac OS is the crown jewels of Apple, why is the hardware end so important. Will people still pay a premium to use the Mac OS? Some people will, because it'll still be cheaper that switching platforms. Some people will because they won't give up on Apple and/or the Mac OS no matter what. And what happens when Rhapsody appears? A supposedly hardware agnostic OS. What does Apple have planned for the hardware side when it's OS runs on OPH. Lots and lots of OPH.

I wonder...

Note: These are just my opinions and views. If I'm mistaken in any statement about Mr. Jobs I apologize.

  Last Modified: 04.02.2001 by rasterboy