How to avoid the Apple tax?

[Brad Johnson]

On Mon, 2007-08-27 at 12:09 -0300, Derek Broughton wrote:
> The hardware, in the first place, doesn't lock you into the software.  If
> Apple sold a computer for which you could only get an OS for an extra
> charge, they'd be vilified - but because they sell fully functional
> hardware, you vilify them anyway.  Nice logic.

The OS cost is built into the cost of the computer (just like Dell,
hense the "Apple Tax" reference). They are not just including a hardware
driver, they are pre-loading software (OS & bundled applications) that
you can't avoid. Software that costs you money, obviously. Your point
may have been valid if ONLY Apple software ran on Apple hardware but
this isn't the case.

> Ludicrous.  Apple is not in the OS market.  They provide an OS for their
> hardware.

Apple is *very much* in the OS market. Their Mac vs PC commercials, are
not touting the advantages of their unique hardware. You often don't
even see the hardware. They are advertising the advantages of the OS &
its bundled applications (iPhoto, iMovie, iMaDumby). The OS has always
defined the Apple user-experience.

> -- 
> derek

Look, Apple can do what they wish with their products. We as consumers
can choose you purchase them or not. They don't owe us anything. The
point of this thread, where the discussion of restrictiveness began, was
just applying the same logic to Apple/OSX that has been applied over and
over again to Microsoft/Windows. And in doing so, realizing their
restrictive nature. A nature which isn't generally appreciated in the
Open Source world ... even if that restriction comes in a very cool
looking box.

Brad