[PugetSoundSoldier]

I suppose I should have said “current Windows software”. Are you aware of how long serial and parallel ports have been absent from the reference PC specification? (Also, are you sure that software won’t work with the USB to RS-232 adapters?) Plus, on the PowerMacs you could plug in any PCI RS-232 or parallel port board you wish.

There's a ton of current factory automation and engineering software that runs on Windows that directly accesses hardware. Yes, current stuff. And it doesn't work under virtualization.

Just because you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD do something

So we agree that a PC can run any OS that Macs can, that Mac hardware does not have some magical ability to run more OSes than a PC. Good to know.

The reason Apple’s products are successful is the R&D, and the profits pay for the R&D. It’s called “capitalism”, perhaps a little understood idea these days.

If you want to talk profits, talk about Microsoft. I believe they still lead all companies in terms of profit margin, making something a bit beyond $1.2 billion a month in net profit.

[Swordmaker]

There's a ton of current factory automation and engineering software that runs on Windows that directly accesses hardware. Yes, current stuff. And it doesn't work under virtualization.

You do know that you don't have to run Windows software on a Mac virtualized? The Mac can run it native... and it will hit the hardware just as natively as any other PC. So you are wrong.