First this article isn’t a “How to Save Apple” article since I don’t think they need saving. It’s simply some thoughts on what could happen if Apple made Mac OS X totally open source.

Apple runs Mac OS X based on a kernel that any developer can work on. However, the innovations they have made with the interface and Aqua are solely their own. I wonder what could happen if Apple were to release all of this out to the Open Source world. I think great things can happen and in the long term benefit Apple immensely.

Open Developers

Obviously a ton of developers would be all over this. It is no surprise that many geeks around the world consider OSX the superior operating system in existence today. Does Apple need more developers? Probably not, however what would be the harm in getting free development? Free patches? Maintaining the code fixes/updates might prove to be a headache, but the speed of development could also increase.

Users flock to the OS that has the most applications. Apple has done a great job of providing a number of applications for its platform however, the numbers still pale in comparison to Windows. I am not saying an Open Sourced OS X would draw more application developers to the platform, but there is a good chance it would.

Open Platforms

An open sourced OS X means that a port to x86 wouldn’t be that far to follow (ignoring speculation that their is already a x86 version running internally by Apple). Bad news since then no one would have a reason to switch to Macs and therefore less computers will be sold. Well you have to figure that people who aren’t thinking about switching probably never will anyways. However, if you get them to start using OS X then you are taking away from Microsoft. You already have Office and Photoshop for OS X (of course Mac Office development might stop immediately) so the hesistancy for many users to switch is erased.

However, there is something greater that Apple can achieve with the proliferation of their OS across platforms. Apple is taking a charge into the Digital Media realm and seem to want to expand their product offerings in that front. Well if you have your OS all over the place then the integration that Microsoft has so easily achieved becomes even easier for Apple. BeOS wanted to be the “Media OS”, but failed. Well now Apple has that chance. Just look how quickly Linux gets ported to new devices.

If someone wishes to make a tablet PC with OSX they will have the go ahead to do so. Add it to TiVo? Now you have the option to do so. A TiVo box that downloads music from the iTunes Store, sends it wirelessly to your stereo through the new Aiport Express and can be uploaded to your iPod or computer running OS X or maybe even your car.

Another great advantage is now you can use AMD. Apple enjoys having a 64-bit processor in their machines and IBM gives them manufacturing troubles. Switch. Heck maybe offer both G5 and AMD64/Opteron solutions. Apple makes x86 hardware and if it looks nice it will sell. Not widely at their current pricepoints, but then again you wouldn’t have to charge those prices if you are selling at greater volumes.

Apple Applications

Apple could still sell their software and generate software revenue.

MySQL Approach

They could take the MySQL approach and offer dual licensing.

The Biggest Advantage

Looking at this strategy in the short term it is hard to see how Apple could benefit from it or even consider it. However, I believe the biggest advantage would be the damage done to Microsoft. In every field of the computer industry, sooner or later, Microsoft becomes the top competitor. We all know the damage that Linux has done to both the marketshare (non-desktop) and mindshare of Microsoft. Apple can do the same.

I am sure to get blasted on many points in this article, but thought I would toss the idea out there to see what people think.