There seems to be alot of buzz about Apple\'s recent announcement of making a version of MacOSX available for intel platforms. While I think this fits into the \"kinda cool\" category, there are others who seem to think its gonna be the Linux Killer and a serious threat to Microsoft Windows.

I think those folks need to crawl back into their Y2K bomb-shelter and do some serious thinking. I cannot argue that Mac OSX is the cat\'s ass when it comes to a user interface, but to predict the death of linux distros and imply that it will be a \"SERIOUS\" threat to Windows Longhorn is just plain ridiculous and here are my completely biased, uninformed and unresearched reasons for making that statement:

• As much as I *hate* to admit it, Microsoft still rules the desktop market. Not by a little, not by just alot, but by a VAST EXPANSE. Overtaking that margin is going to take a massive shift in end-user education. Mac OS X will face the the same challenges that linux has from day one, lack of market share, lack of familiarity.
• Apple is good at what it does. In my mind, what makes them so damn good is the fact that they control everything with their systems. Apple hardware of course will work best with Apple software, etc. I am curious to see what sort of changes, if any, we\'ll see in an intel offering.
• While I agree that OS X is pretty cool, I must say that the user interface, for someone used to the linux/windows paradigm, was not as easy as I\'d heard/hoped. Still, I\'ve gotten the hang of most of it. However, again we face the same issue that linux has faced. Who wants to sit grandma down and teach her a new OS??
• Cost...plain and simple. The only real argument is whether or not companies will offer OS X on intel and a pre-installed option. Linux has been pretty much unable to get itself inserted into this arena. Otherwise, linux is still free, there are more drivers available for linux platforms on intel that Mac since Mac is new to the platform, it will need significant \"ramp up\" time to get that sort of support.

• Make the ever so cool Mac more affordable to the masses
• Force people to think twice in their selection of OSes.

It\'s been pointed out that linux developers need to pick a GUI and stick with it and stop arguing over KDE vs. Gnome. I would agree, but I don\'t see that happening as both desktops have a rather large following. Focusing on one GUI will give linux the same disease that Windows AND Apple have...lack of choice. The beauty of linux is that I can tweak, modify, and change every aspect of my desktop. If I really wanted to, I could change my mind everday and choose from quite a large list of options as far as desktops. I see this as an advantage, not a hinderance.

Saying that Mac will kill linux is quite a stretch especially so early in the game. It\'s entirely possible that this decision could ruin the Mac for Apple. Think about it. You\'ve exposed Mac to the windows users. These users are USED to windows and its interface. Most end users aren\'t going to make the effort to learn a new OS and many may wind up getting frustrated with OS X and never return. The same can be said for linux. So saying linux will become just another niche OS could wind up being true, I don\'t think it will be any more niche than OS X in intel.

In closing it all comes down to this: linux and Mac face the same challenges. Maybe *together* they\'ll threaten Microsoft, but neither one should be considered a threat to other...I just don\'t see it.