About 2 years ago I bought a PowerBook. One week later - I returned it (
and paid the 10% fee ). I loved the laptop, the operating system was
amazing - but I just couldn't make the switch from linux to mac. With
Fink and X11, I had most of the linux software I use. But I also have
few commercial packages ( windows mostly ), and I couldn't find
equivalents or justify paying again for all this software. With linux -
I can run all the windows application I need , either in Crossover or in
vmware. With mac - softpc seemed expensive and slow. So I got a Vaio
instead, and had to deal with all the problems linux has on desktop for
2 more years. The Vaio has a 1GHz celeron - it's one of those very small
computers, TR1A - and it has a lot of problems. I got software suspend
to work few months ago, sound doesn't work most of the time, I have to
type all kind of commands to do things mac does automatically, setting
up X on dual display is too painful and requires restarting the X.

I'm sure there are a lot of Windows users who spent money on software -
probably more money than a Mac computer costs. And on top of money, they
spent time learning how to use the software and getting used with it's
behavior. And that's nothing compared with enterprises - while a lot of
people (who could) would love to expense an apple, it is very hard to
do this while most software won't work.

That's why I was so happy with Apple finally making the switch. The
reason used is probably wrong - the processor speed is not an issue for
most people, anything about 1Ghz is good for the vast majority of users.
I eventually got a cheap iBook ( G3/800Mhz ) on ebay ( around 500 ), and
it is fast enough for all my needs, even better than the 1Ghz vaio. I
obviously have a 3GHz desktop - but I don't think I started it in the
last year. Idea and eclipse, java and gcc are fast enough for me on
both, plus the regular browsing and video and photos. Yes, I have to
leave the laptop for the night when I transcode a movie - but I sleep
while the computer is working. I'm sure faster processors or better
'roadmap' are important for marketing and for a small segment of high
end users - but if Apple wants to be bigger than Dell and Microsoft -
and they do have better products - it's not the processor speed that
will matter. And not even the cost - which is already very competitive,
the iBook and MacMini are probably in the cheap side of their range (
compared with Sony or similar brands, even with Dell ).

With or without apple - their x86 Mac will run most native windows and
linux applications. Crossover and Vmware would be stupid to not port
their software. and ibcs, the unix binary compat, is supported on
solaris, bsd and many others, it's hard to believe it won't work on mac.
Likewise, I think pretty soon many Mac applications will work on Linux -
either via Wine-like efforts ( GnuStep should probably expect a major
surge in interest ), or by hacking mac binaries to get Cocoa and Quartz
running on top of the frame buffer or X. The ideal would be of course
for Apple to cooperate and participate - and if they want to go after
the big money ( Dell or msft ) - they have all interest to make Cocoa
the platform for as many developers as possible. Gnome doesn't stand a
chance on quality of the API or apps, only on political and licensing
grounds. KDE is still going to be hurt by the GPL in QT. So there is an
opportunity for them to go after linux desktop developers.

What if people figure how to run MacOS on non apple hardware ? The
copyright law won't allow any company to sell cheap clones with mac, so
it'll really be only a small group of people ( probably some of the
desktop-linux users ). Apple will still get to sell a copy of OSX and
possibly other apps. And hardware support will never work as well as it
does on apple hardware - that's why many linux users are switching to
apple today, and that's why many of the people who'll run some OSX on
non-apple might end up buying an apple hardware next time.
Linux has run for a long time on apple hardware - and quite well. So it
may be possible to run Linux and then Cocoa and OSX UI. Apple makes
money both on software and hardware - and they won't be bothered with
the support, so all good :-). What if people install windows on apple
hardware ? The hardware money still go to apple. So many new way for
Apple to make money, from people that would have been lost in the
current configuration - they'll be able to sell hardware not only to
people who switch to OSX, but also to windows and linux users, and
they'll be able to sell software to linux users - and maybe to windows
users as well, if they want to ( I hope not :-).

There are few concerns bloggers seem to have. Yes, writing a software
for windows only will make some sense - it will work on both linux and
mac, so costs to develop only the win version will be lower. But it'll
have a hard time competing with a native software - I use crossover or
vmware only if I have no other choice, I doubt many mac users will put
up with the interface, if there is a choice. If there is no choice -
it'll still be software that can run on mac, so money goes to apple not
dell and msft. The new mac may hurt desktop linux - but hopefully it'll
hurt enough to force it to do something - either live or die.
Server-side or embedded linux won't care.

IMO the real important implication is the enterprise - now apple has a
very high chance of getting on corporate desktops. When the new x86 mac
will run (decently) Windows and Linux apps - the real battle for the big
money can begin, and I think a lot of the people who make the choices
will be open to this, same reasons that would apply today for desktop
linux, but with a very strong corporation backing it ( well, novel and
ibm are big too - but they don't seem to sell any desktop linux
seriously ), and more importantly a cool hardware that will be adopted
with little resistance.

The next year will probably be hard for Apple - I'm sure the sales will
fall - and I hope they'll be forced to do deep discounts on the current
inventory, I would be happy to upgrade my ibook if their price falls
20-25%. And the stock will probably fall as well - I hope it'll fall a
lot, as I really want to buy more. Because after this switch - there
will be nothing stopping apple from really competing with microsoft and
dell, and getting into the enterprise and mass market.