Originally Posted by
speedster1978
OS X is what it is due to Apple limiting hardware and as a result, insuring stability. If they ever were to open it up, letting anyone install OS X on any hardware, such as what Microsoft allows now, then it would lose the stability it has now, and while still having a nice user experience, would bring in the same issues that Microsoft deals with often.
Microsoft could release their own PCs, running on their own hardware, charging like Apple does, but they chose to release a product that works on any mainstream hardware out there, giving it the large flexibility it has now...
This is a lesson that Microsoft has learned the hard way, and they're actually making some changes to better balance between reliability and hardware flexibility. Windows Mobile 7 is a great example. They've implemented must stricter hardware requirements that phone OEM's must adhere to, and they've actually announced that they're going to support fewer manufacturers on WM7 than previous versions of WM. The iPhone is a great experience because Apple controls the hardware and software. Microsoft is trying to get closer to "controlling" the hardware in order to provide a more reliable and better performing experience, while still allowing enough hardware flexibility to give consumers the choice over the form factor that works best for them individually.