Apple Computer Inc is changing its traditional way of doing business as it tries to fight off the increasing threat posed by Microsoft Corp’s Windows operating system. For a start, it is getting religious about a CPU architecture, now encouraging other vendors to adopt PowerPC. This month, Apple’s AppleSoft division will start developing and distributing its own applications. These will bear the Apple name rather than that of its Claris Corp software subsidiary, and will be targeted at areas where the company feels its system software is not being fully exploited. Applications will follow for QuickTime, OpenDoc, QuickDraw GX and PlainTalk. Apple was apparently driven to this decision because of the wealth of developers writing applications for Windows. Apple, meanwhile, has had a hard job persuading developers to create software for application programming interfaces found only in the Macintosh operating system. Now, in an attempt to encourage takeup of PowerPC, Apple is said to be offering other manufacturers a chance to license both its hardware and its operating system. In recent weeks, it has been trying to sell Apple-designed PowerPC-based systems to several companies that currently market Intel Corp-based personal computers. Apple is believed to have contacted more than a dozen personal computer vendors, including Austin, Texas-based Dell Computer Corp. Apple is keen for Dell to distribute the low-end, 50MHz PowerPC model it plans to introduce next March. But Dell is said to be more interested in higher-end PowerPC Macs that it could market as servers – it reckons even those customers committed to using Intel-based machines on the desktop are willing to consider servers with other processors, if they deliver superior performance. Dell has not committed itself to Apple yet, although it has apparently agreed to further talks. Dell is also thought to be talking PowerPC server direct with Motorola Inc. Any computers based on Apple designs will initially run System 7.1 – later they will support IBM Corp’s PowerOpen implementation. Apple is expected to make its PowerPC designs compatible with the PowerOpen group’s hardware reference system, also being developed by IBM. This will comprise a series of basic features that enable any compliant hardware design to run any PowerPC operating system.
Licensees for System 7.1 PowerPC
When it comes into play, clone companies will be able to provide customers with Apple hardware running a choice of operating sytems, including System 7, PowerOpen, SunSoft Solaris, IBM’s emerging Workplace OS, and a version of Windows NT that Motorola is developing under licence from Microsoft. Furthermore, although Apple has been seeking licensees for the PowerPC version of System 7.1 for several months, it is now said to be offering potential partners various additional options. These include licences for the application-specific integrated circuits it has designed for its new Macs, as well as logic boards or complete systems. Motorola may add Apple’s application-specific integrated circuits to the line of PowerPC support chips it is already planning. Apple is also thinking about authorising third-party vendors, such as Radius Inc and MicroNet Technology Inc that currently supply peripherals and boards for the Macintosh, to build high-end Macintosh-compatible systems for specialised vertical markets. It is debating asking either a new company or an existing supplier of personal computer components, such as Acer America Corp, to offer Apple-designed parts on the OEM market.
