I have no problem with Apple doing this. It's not part of their business model to sell their software separately from their hardware. When you buy an Apple product, you're buying a closed system. The close hardware/software integration is part of what makes Macs so appealing and reliable to end users. If Apple had to support the breadth of legacy hardware that Microsoft has to and include a ton of 3rd party drivers, I'm sure Mac OS X would look a lot more rickety.

I believe that Apple has totally missed the boat when Vista was around. They had the perfect opportunity to release OSX into the open market to run on any PC when PC users were disheartened by the dog that was Vista. It seems now that Apple is fighting fires rather than going out there and saying "Yes, we have a better OS than Windows. Install it on your PC and find out why!". They may lose a few sales in the hardware stakes but they could then dominate the OS market instead - knocking off Microsoft - now wouldn't that be funny!

I am with him... but still I never really liked Atom... it's just too small.. :)

Also my first Atom experience was so damn bad that I have ever bought any netbook containing atom since. Atom is in my opinion a word processing and/or mobile device processor, never intended to run a full blown OS like MAC OSX or even Windows 7, though small flavors of LINUX work well on it..

Apple OS now = *nix based OS + Apple GUI = massively over priced on "selected hardware" only..

and they wonder why hacks appear to eliminate the stupid restrictions they have placed on the OS.

Ubuntu FTW :)

forget apple, forget the hackintosh, forget microsoft and windows. GO LINUX!!!

Now this is just bad business. The company image is very important when your competitor just release an very good product. Couldn't they have waited until after the holiday season to do this?

If true, this news suggests that the Apple tablet really won't be Atom based.

@Puiu, though it's bad PR, I think it doesn't matter much. People who care about this (who read such news at sites like this) are mostly techies. They're not the major Apple market. Blocking hacks is something most closed hardware companies do on a regular basis (Nintendo tries it with almost every firmware, Microsoft recently with unauthorised Xbox memory upgrades).

And this news matter because ... ????
Who would like to run OSX on an underpowered netbook?
OSX IS NOT designed, NOR optimized for this platform so all you will get is a sleek interface with limited functionality.
And even if you are a techwizz I don't think you will be able to make it run as smooth as Moblin or Ubuntu Netbook Remix, both of which ARE designed and oprimized for this platform.

If you think about it, making the move now is a much better idea. Imagine you got a nice shiny new netbook for the holidays, you're dying to Mac-ify it, and then Apple throws out an "oh, gee, sorry but all you Atom netbook guys can't use our stuff" thing. At least this way, there are no preconceived notions of what you might be able to do with that Atom system and Mac OS. I think their company image would be much more tarnished if they had waited and dropped a bomb later.

Yah, but just imagine how many new customers they could suck in with a low cost entry... I liken it to in college, software companies gave away seats of their programs (like CAD) to the university, so that we'd use them and get to like them and become dependent on them. Then we go out in the world, and when we get into a company, that's the package we request. Give a growing netbook marketplace the cost competitive chance to learn and become dependent on the Mac experience, but keep some things held back for the full fledged Macs, and you have the potential to greatly increase your following and grow you loyal customer base. I've personally never thought the Mac OS was superior in every respect, but it's got alot of good qualities and tends to be very easy to use, and I have many Applehead friends who would defend Apple to the death in a knife fight wielding only a toothpick, if necessary. Apple could potentially grow their fanatic following massively with the right push in the right place.

To me this just seems like an admission of guilt from Apple that they overcharge for mediocre hardware. Psystar or anyone else could build an equal spec machine running OSX for half the price. Apple's sky high profit margin is down to their hardware sales, not software.

Windows or MAC OS on anything but a beefy machine is pointless. Atom and Atom like processors are meant to run a lean OS, which when I last checked is not Windows/MAC OS. Use the right OS for the hardware. Now if people are insane enough to install something on an device running an Atom that needs more power (ie is likely to run very slow) that is their own problem. BUT Apple have the right to restrict the use of their proprietary software, and it will be up to them to deal with any backlash from customers, or potential customers. Me I can't see myself ever buying a MAC so I don't really care what they do. To me MACs are priced for people that prefer style over function.

True. Apple allows for for no wiggle room. You get an Apple, you get it their way. You get a pseudo-choice of systems. I'll stick with PCs, that way I can do whatever and get whatever I want.

I think it's funny how people get all mad at Microsoft for trying to protect its operating system, but look the other way when Apple does so. In this case though, I think Apple is hurting itself by limiting its market share because of artificial hardware limitations. If they were to allow people to build their own Mac systems, I think we would see a huge rise in Mac OS's market share. Makes you wonder what their motivation is for keeping such tight grips on their products.

How exactly do you disable support for something, and im sure hackintosh users will probably find a way around it.. I say just get Windows 7 and let Apple enjoy the loss of sales.

Ugh, this doesn't even make sense.

I mean, with netbooks and nettops selling better and better, why would you shut out this market?
I'd say that more people will buy Mac OS for their Atom Netbooks than people will buy more Macbooks instead of Netbooks because they want Mac OS so badly...

Heh , Apple can't any maturity in anything can they ? They are like that one little fat kid that dosen't like to share

Well...I am a Mac user although I have used PCs in the past. I have three Macs at home but wanted a light portable computer for traveling etc...a netbook seemed the obvious choice. So buying one (Dell Mini 10V) with XP on was OK but wasn't ideal, so I installed OSX few tweaks but nothing serious and it works a charm for what it is meant to do...internet, neoOffice and a few other basic apps....I hope Apple continue to allow those that use the "Hackintoshes" to carry on.

And for those complaining about the cost a five user license for Snow Leopard is less than €40 (about 40 bucks) so much much cheaper than Windows and whilst more expensive than Linux in its variants still not expensive.

Just my 2 cents worth

Could this mean they will release there own type of low end laptot? It would be smart if they started making an affordable alternative.

(after update)
They might reconsider supporting Atom with this much negative feedback their getting. I don't know why apple is so afraid of supporting more hardware.