Are you a Mac user? I've got a few questions for you...

I do think the pre-intel macs are pretty widespread. I use a powerbook g4 because it's the only 12 inch model besides the new macbook air. I'm running Mac OS X 10.4.11. I don't have answers for you on the other questions.

To tell you the truth, it's really discouraging the lack of software products out there for internet marketers that use a mac. I find it very surprising since everyone I know personally in the internet marketing world uses a mac. I would love to see more products out there for macs because as of yet I haven't found a product that was so phenomenal that it would get me to switch to pc . Let me know if you get a mac version made, I'd be interested.

Why is there lack of software for Macs, not just in the IM industry? It's simple really...

Macs are widespread in the countries that could be called "rich". In the US, Canada and the Western Europe you will find relatively many Mac users. The penetration is around 3%+ there I believe. 3% may sound like nothing but we are talking about millions of computers still.

Now, where are the developers you normally hire to create the IM (or other) software physically located most of the time? Russia, India, Romania, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, China etc. How many of the developers do you think have ever seen a Mac in there?!

Apple has a very discriminatory policy on their software. You are not allowed to install their OS on anything but Apple's own hardware and it's *very* expensive in some countries. For example in the Czech Rep. the least expensive Mac - the Mac Mini in its basic configuration costs around $900. And there is very limited official support too.

I have many local "IT guys friends", none of them have ever seen a Mac. If I wanted to hire a local developer, I'd first have to buy them the Apple hardware and let them play with it for a few months.

Apple's licensing policy is extremely discriminatory. Let's say it this way. Microsoft gets hundreds of millions dollars fines from the EU committee just because they include Internet Explorer as a part of Windows. The EU committee considers this "discriminatory". Apple does not allow OS X to be installed on anything but their overpriced hardware. No fines from the EU so far... If Apple was Microsoft, they would have to pay billions in fines...

Now, don't take me wrong. I am sure Apple is a great platform. But as much as it may be "heaven" for the user, it's "hell" for the developer having to convert Windows software for it. Apple *intentionally* creates obstacles on the way!

Enough said, it's a great market I am sure so I will find one way or another to make Identity Cloaker work on Macs!

Tomas

Hi Tomas,

I think the pre-Intel market is shrinking, and mostly has people without much money. However, I wonder if someone like Macworld has forums where you could get in touch with people who have recent and relevant statistics, not just personal impressions.

If the app is written in .Net, it could be ported to Mono(mono-project.org), a free open source .Net runtime that runs on the Mac and is a couple generations behind .Net on Windows.
If it's Win32, you're in for a huge headache, unless the UI was well designed in a modular way that isn't totally entangled with the business logic.

That's another good question for a Mac specific site.

They often come up on eBay. Lowendmac.com is the best model guide and price guide for retail stores that sell used Macs.

I think this thread should probably go to the programming forum.

Regards,
Allen

I'd have to say that there are many "recently become" Mac users who are on Intel Macs. But the pre-Intel base is still around very much.

I'll explain.

Many of the experienced Mac users are aware that some very crucial software still not native to the Intel hardware does not run as smoothly as it does on Power Macs. There are many die hard Mac users with perfectly good Power Macs that have too much invested in both hardware AND Power PC-native software to simply make the switch. Many in the graphics, publishing, music, and video fields still have their pre-Intel machines loaded with PowerPC-native software. It simply does not make sense to abandon all that just to recompile their entire arsenal to Intel native mode.

I can also personally attest to the fact that my G4 desktop is still running strong. It's over 5 years old, and shows absolutely no sign of letting up. I have tons of PowerPC native apps that serve me fine. And even though I've considered several times to buy an Intel Mac, I just don't have the heart to part with this one. I mean, it's a powerhouse and runs as well as the day I first got it.

So it may not always be about money either. With veteran Macs users, there is a different mentality, and money is not always a major factor in their buying or upgrade decisions. I know plenty of people with plenty of money to spare for an Intel Mac. But it just doesn't fit the needs right now and would actually be a bigger nuiscance to go through the transition and upgrade all the software to Intel native apps.

Also. Leopard is the dominant OS right now. And don't be fooled by Apple's Safari. Aside from the iPhone, I don't know anyone that actually uses it regularly. Firefox is, by leaps and bounds, the dominant browser being used on Macs.

I'm still waiting for Google to get their sh*t together for a Mac Chrome version.

I was thinking of getting a mac, how much different are they.. I like my pc just cause I have been using it my whole life but I have heard some good things about mac though

If there are many Mac users still using the old PowerPC CPU based Macs, the "porting" will be more complicated than I thought. But business-wise, I simply cannot afford to ignore the Mac market.

The real complication will be finding the coder. I don't want to go to a freelance website and hire a complete stranger. The source code for the application could then "leak" and I am not going to risk that. And the local coders have minimal experience (well, none most of the time) with coding for OS X.

It's a tough nut but I am sure I will find a way to crack it Anyway, thanks for the suggestions!

Tomas

Hi Tomfra;

Its been a long time!

Anyway, most Dell's these days will run Mac OSx straight out of the box and there are many other configurations that will do so as well. Legally? perhaps and perhaps not. There was actually a report of a hidden download page for OSx on Dell's site until it became too well known and was pulled.

Just Google it and you can find more information on running OSx on a PC.

I hope this helps
Phil
PS I wouldn't worry too much about the older pre-intel machines, they are dying off real fast.