Mac or Linux profitable?

[smith]

I've considered doing MAC programming to sale the software but is it profitable? Anyone here do any Linux or MAC programming and make good money from it?

I thought about it but I just can't seem to see that much profit in it plus I would have to buy a MAC or dedicate hardware to a Linux machine.

[Void]

I don't think there would be a whole lot of profit in the linux development community unless you made a one-of-a-kind app.

As for the MAC I bet you could make a ton of money right now. Apps are few and if you started making applications for it you could probably make stuff the mac has never seen fast and easy.

Just my thought

[Dan]

Linux ethos is free, and share. I do not really know of anybody making profit from linux development - hence why companies are perhaps wary of porting applications. On saying that, I'm sure free stuff can be viable - look at the web scripts the major ones make profit through a variety of methods, however I'm not sure its a viable business strategy.

MAC seems to me to be "underdeveloped" I agree with Void, that with a bit of code crunching, hacking or even porting you could make a hell of a lot of money fairly easily! Look for a niche that people haven't got, and really need, then think about a price. Look at microsoft office for MACs - exceptionally expensive!

[TkTech]

Dan:
There are plenty of commercial applications for linux. There is the "Robin Hood" game, which is quite popular. Crossover office has made profit in excess of $100 000 USD. There are a few enterprise firewalls and antiviruses that make extremly good profit.

[Void]

Robin hood game? Sounds cool.

I know it would probably be easier to make money in linux when developing a game but what about applications? For every one you make there will be a couple hundred free versions. Unless you are a large company with a large idea for linux I don't really see money in smaller apps like FTP clients.

I could see firewalls and antiviruses making good profit though. How many viruses are there for linux? Last time I looked (couple years ago) there were only 13.

[Dan]

I've no doubt games would make money that is an untapped niche in the Linux world, but in terms of nitty gritty applications I cannot see their being the potential for money.

Also, firewalls/AV software will always make money as it requires work from the company and is more than just coding.

If I was a game developer, I would certainly release games commercially for linux on a big scale as it is an untapped market - thing of the linux users crying out for good games.

[DevilsCharm]

There are very few Linux games, that's for sure. I'm surprised somebody hasn't started a big Linux development company, well, maybe there is one I'm just not aware of.