platform for the PowerPC microprocessor jointly developed by the three companies. The pundits have been pontificating for years: "Apple can't survive with its market share;" "Apple has to make Windows machines;" "Apple has to license the MacOS"…
Well, contrary to the musings and rumours, 1994 was not the death knell for Apple Computer. In fact, the company rings in the new year as the world’s single largest shipper of personal computers and has posted record earnings, too. Apple was not bought out by AT&T nor was it taken over by IBM. The company remains independent and strong and has merely done the sensible thing and agreed with IBM and Motorola that computers that use the same processor should be able to run all operating systems designed for that chip.
In the final throws of last months announcements, the pundits again mixed up the story. IBM has no immediate plans to license the Macintosh Operating System. However, Big Blue is not averse to co-marketing the software. By 1996, computers based on the PowerPC Reference Platform will be able to run the Mac OS, IBM’s OS/2, and AIX – the IBM version of Unix. Consumers should be able to buy IBM and Motorola PCs and a shrink wrapped Mac OS package and run it on their new computer. Likewise, Apple owners should be able to install OS/2 and AIX on their machines if they wish. In addition, computers with the new PReP chip from IBM, Motorola and Apple should be able to run Windows NT. At this point, however, it appears that Windows 3.1 and Windows 95 will have to be run in emulation.
The details of the new reference platform will be released in Spring of ’95. PCI buses will replace NuBus as the standard card expansion architecture on all the machines. Open Firmware, an independent startup architecture, will continue the Macintosh’s 10 year old tradition of Plug & Play. The platform will also provide for Macintosh type system ROM and IBM type ROM BIOS. The new platform will be usable for all desktop and portable computers.
The future does indeed look good for Apple and for the Macintosh. What are the latest pontifications from the prophets of doom you ask? "Apple isn't moving fast enough to license the MacOS". Will Apple ever get it right, in the eyes of the computer press and Wall Street pundits? Not very likely…and Apple’s continued success in the face of such persistant nay-saying will long continue to be the company’s best revenge.
