Recently "MacDailyNews" (macdailynews.com) posted an interesting theory: it's time for Apple to consider licensing Mac OS X, an experiment it tried in the past, but which failed. However, it's an idea whose time still hasn't come.

Here's the scenario from "MacDailyNews": "Imagine if Apple then executed a controlled licensing program (Apple approval required) of OS X to interested parties. OS X is now just a fraction of Apple’s revenue stream, yet it is the only serious alternative to Windows. Apple no longer needs OS X exclusivity to survive. By licensing OS X correctly and at this crucial time, Apple cause extensive damage to Microsoft and Windows."

Apple makes most of its money from hardware, not software. iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, etc., are all goodies to entice you to buy OS X and iOS devices. And Macs have hardly reached the status of being a "fraction of Apple's revenue stream."

For example, the current apple of Apple's eye is the iPad. In the last fiscal quarter the Apple tablet accounted for US$9.1 billion of the company's revenue, and the Mac -- which has been around for a LOT longer than the tablet -- still accounted for $4.9 billion. Almost $5 billion is hardly a number to sneeze at.

What's more, the Mac has beat the overall computer industry average in growth for 25 straight fiscal quarters. And that trend should continue.

Sure, Apple could license OS X to try to gather allies for putting the smackdown on Windows and PCs. But why bother? The company looks to be doing a fine job of doing that all by itself.

-- Dennis Sellers