Re: Why Apple should let HP build its workstations

[Dennis Radeke] "Like Ron and Tim, I have long thought very well of HP and agree that the Z800 is easily a better Mac in case design and overall execution than the current Mac Pro is. I have also thought that licensing OS X to a single vendor would make sense and HP would be on my short list. I also agree that it would be a win-win. "

Licensing OS X might be great for Adobe and HP and pro users, but it is all bad for Apple. There is no upside for them. If Apple doesn't want to play in the workstation market, they will just leave it. What does Apple gain by partnering with HP on workstations? They don't save dev work on OS X, if anything they add significant hassle. They have the best industrial designers in the world, so it isn't like they are short on talent. I just can't see what advantage there is for Apple to hand over the keys to the OS X castle to a competitor, even if it is only for a class of computer Apple isn't interested in selling anymore.

Apple is in a position where they can be in any market they want to be in. They could decide they want to make original content for iTunes and outspend NBCU's entire 2010 production spending with 5% of their cash hoard. If Apple wants OS X on a workstation, they'll make one. If they don't, they won't.

Best,
Andy