Silicon
Silicon Distribution
2007-07-11
What if Apple distributed Leopard on silicon?
A DVD, and particularly a DVD drive, is a huge thing compared to the size of everything else that goes into a computer or computerized device. If Apple wants to make its laptops much thinner and smaller it has to leave out the DVD drive -- but then how do customers load software, or even boot a new version of the OS?
I believe that all the computers that are supported by Leopard have USB 2.0, so that would be the preferred method. Shipping and storage are a large part of the costs associated with software distribution, and much of that could be saved if a USB key instead of a disk and box were used. So although the silicon solution may appear expensive in raw materials the hit may be much less than imagined once the whole picture is taken into account.
Silicon distribution also has some other advantages. USB sticks can be stocked empty and programmed locally -- in-store for instance. Unsold sticks can be reprogrammed. Customers can recycle the sticks as well or just use them for their own purposes. Take them back to the Apple store once they are out of date for a refund so they can be reused.
Third party software that's sold on a DVD is a problem. But that can be solved with another computer that does have a DVD and a network link.
A DVD, and particularly a DVD drive, is a huge thing compared to the size of everything else that goes into a computer or computerized device. If Apple wants to make its laptops much thinner and smaller it has to leave out the DVD drive -- but then how do customers load software, or even boot a new version of the OS?
I believe that all the computers that are supported by Leopard have USB 2.0, so that would be the preferred method. Shipping and storage are a large part of the costs associated with software distribution, and much of that could be saved if a USB key instead of a disk and box were used. So although the silicon solution may appear expensive in raw materials the hit may be much less than imagined once the whole picture is taken into account.
Silicon distribution also has some other advantages. USB sticks can be stocked empty and programmed locally -- in-store for instance. Unsold sticks can be reprogrammed. Customers can recycle the sticks as well or just use them for their own purposes. Take them back to the Apple store once they are out of date for a refund so they can be reused.
Third party software that's sold on a DVD is a problem. But that can be solved with another computer that does have a DVD and a network link.
|
The Bagelturf site welcomes Donations of any size