Apple Computer Inc is said to be enhancing its operating system to enable Windows software to run better on Macs. Currently users must buy emulation software from Insignia Solutions Plc or use a DOS card from Apple. Pieter Hartsook of the Apple-watching Hartsook Newsletter says both solutions still have basic problems, for example, native Windows documents are not represented as neat files and folders on the Mac, but in one giant file. Apple has been talking about rewriting its file system, Hartsook said, so improving the Windows aspect at the same time would make sense. The move to make Macs friendlier to Windows software may be the focus of Apple CEO Gil Amelio’s speech at MacWorld tomorrow Wednesday. Two US reports say Apple plans to write software for the Windows market. Apple already offers Windows software through its Claris division and the majority of software programs are available for Windows already, so it’s unclear what additional benefit Apple would bring to the market. On the other hand, analysts have been predicting for a couple years that Apple would be better off evolving into a software-only company and getting out of the low-margin hardware market.
