Will Windows Support in Leopard Kill OS X?
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SvenOnTech has posted about the details of Windows support in the next version of OS X, code named Leopard, and now with the release of Boot Camp, many are fearing this could be the end of OS X as we know it. The thought is if Apple builds in support for its rivals operating system, OS X will be killed off like IBM’s OS/2 did. This fear is ungrounded and the reason for OS/2’s demise afore mentioned is not necessarily true.
IBM killed OS/2, not the inclusion of Windows apps. Figures showed the majority of OS/2 users used native applications and had little Windows 3.x based programs installed. Due to OS/2 applications being more robust and stable, like OS X programs, users preferred running them over sloppy 16-bit Windows code. I see the same thing happening with Leopard. People will only run the Windows application if an OS X alternative does not exist. As a former OS/2 user myself, I can attest to this.
Now, you can make a case for developers not having an incentive to write OS X native code if they already have a Windows version built. However, with the increase of Mac sales and minor bumps-in-the-road for ports to Intel-based OS X, I wouldn’t be surprised to see more native Mac apps as time progresses. I’m sure this is what Steve Jobs is betting on and hence the reason Leopard is going to run Windows applications. Outside of Lisa, Jobs hasn’t made too many tremendous mistakes while at the helm of Apple and I can’t see this being considered such either. In fact, I figure this will be a thorn in Microsoft’s side as it could easily see reduced sales of its upcoming delayed release, Vista. With no change in how programs are ran on Vista, new Windows-based applications will still run on Leopard. (Remember, Microsoft changed how programs ran in Windows 3.10 to thwart OS/2 from running them.) There will be no reason to worry about future programs not running on OS X.
Granted, Microsoft could change things up like it did to IBM in 1993 but chances are, by the time that happens, Apple may well make a good case for customers to purchase a Mac instead of a PC box. Just a double in the install base would encourage developers to code for Leopard and thus the OS/2 doom comparison would be just like OS/2 itself. A forgotten memory.
