> But isn't this much, much easier if you just piggyback on the Apple hardware ?
Sure, it's easier, but then I'm not sure what the point is or what makes it one of the biggest opportunities of our time.
I also understand why it never happened - there is already a unix-based OS which is designed with perfect compatibility with the Apple Hardware called OSX! I'm not sure what the advantage to a consumer would be for replacing OSX with linux - other than the fact that it gives consumers choice - but of course providing a distro that only operates on a specific Mac is then limiting hardware choice so it doesn't really solve that in some respects.
And if it's just for developers, then wouldn't developers want some choice of hardware, good support for tooling, the ability to test native apps without virtualisation e.t.c.
IMO I suspect the Venn-diagram of developers who:
* want a Mac but don't want OSX
* don't mind that they can't upgrade their hardware
* are willing to run some totally-new operating system
* Accept that it will initially lack the support of the runtimes they use, and some software, and won't be able to develop certain types of software because of this.
* Accept that if they wish to continue using the OS for their next laptop they will be fully locked-in to a single hardware model.
Sure, it's easier, but then I'm not sure what the point is or what makes it one of the biggest opportunities of our time.
I also understand why it never happened - there is already a unix-based OS which is designed with perfect compatibility with the Apple Hardware called OSX! I'm not sure what the advantage to a consumer would be for replacing OSX with linux - other than the fact that it gives consumers choice - but of course providing a distro that only operates on a specific Mac is then limiting hardware choice so it doesn't really solve that in some respects.
And if it's just for developers, then wouldn't developers want some choice of hardware, good support for tooling, the ability to test native apps without virtualisation e.t.c.
IMO I suspect the Venn-diagram of developers who:
* want a Mac but don't want OSX
* don't mind that they can't upgrade their hardware
* are willing to run some totally-new operating system
* Accept that it will initially lack the support of the runtimes they use, and some software, and won't be able to develop certain types of software because of this.
* Accept that if they wish to continue using the OS for their next laptop they will be fully locked-in to a single hardware model.
is pretty vanishingly small.