Apple’s recent collaboration with Intel to use its microprocessors surged a great deal of interest throughout the industry. Though there are several arguments spanning the market currently, one thing is certain – Apple has stated it will not let users install Mac OS X on non-proprietary hardware, even though the CPU will fully comply with x86 architecture. The only apparent way for Apple to achieve that is by using some form of protection technology, however, that may ultimately turn out to be a fatal strategy.

When Apple moves its product line to Intel microprocessors, coders throughout the world would be trying their best to break the "code". It will only be a matter of time before someone somewhere breaks the "impervious stealth shield" that once appeared as infallible in Apple’s mind. Logically and architecturally, there doesn’t appear to be a clear-cut way that Apple can block non-Mac users from using its operating system.  However, there a few possible scenarios that may assist Apple in doing so. First and foremost is the possibility of a hardware "dongle" arrangement in the form of a special chip, built into the motherboard that the OS must detect before loading. This would allow the use of any Intel x86 chipset that Apple chooses and would significantly lower the cost. Another solution might be a proprietary (of course) motherboard chipset that does a similar function. This would be more costly and possibly cause Macs to soon lag in performance, as this chipset would be more costly to update on a regular basis, considering the lower volume that will be produced. The chipset seems to make more sense for security purposes, as it would be nearly impossible to duplicate. In addition to possibly precarious hardware security, it seems Apple’s only other choice would be to block workable drivers for anything but Apple hardware. Given the success that the Linux community has had with coding drivers from scratch, this might just be seen as a challenge and little more. Though any attempt to block OS X from running on standard PC hardware would be a disappointment for the average PC user wanting to experiment. However, Apple may still end up in a troubling situation, no matter what security measures they employ.

Can you imagine a flood of pirated Mac OS X copies, re-compilers or cracks on P2P networks waiting for curiosity seekers to download and install, with the possibility of multi-booting Windows XP, Linux and Mac OS X on their PC? What would Apple do then except to limit driver support? It’s only a matter of time before Apple’s OS becomes just one of many software titles listed on pirating networks for everyone to distribute at will.

The solution is apparent; Apple must make its OS X compatible with non-proprietary PC hardware and market it as such. With this, Apple would still have to overcome to two main problems. First and foremost, Apple would enter the same territory and market as Microsoft, and we all know Microsoft does not appreciate competition. Second and perhaps most critical, is that Apple would lose revenue from its Mac hardware. Not many consumers would pay for a shiny new Mac just to run Mac OS X when a regular PC costing a fraction of the price would do the trick. Therefore, if Apple were to make the decision to become a software company and market its OS independently, it may very well prove to be devastating. Abandoning their "niche" of 10 percent Mac hardware market and having to compete directly with Microsoft’s OS would not be an easy strategy to pull off. On the flip side, if Apple remains loyal to its hardware business, it will never know the potential revenue to be had from "OS X for PC" sales. Add to this the fact that software pirates and hackers will likely "break the code" for OS X no matter which course Apple takes; the future appears less than rosy.

Since Apple is pretty well painted into a corner, it’s reasonable to assume that they will never offer or allow driver support, or willingly let Mac OS run on standard PC setups. Even though this arrives as discouraging news for end-users, there doesn’t appear to be an obvious solution that would benefit both Apple and the community. Then again you never know what Apple’s future might bring. They are certainly experts at keeping secrets and pulling the occasional rabbit (ie: iPod) out of a hat.