[shinkansen]

It seems like ever since the conception of iPhone people have worried that somehow OS X will merge with iOS and the desktop platform will be completely closed and therefore dead, leaving only Windows and Linux.

I just don't see it.

> But if we are to follow precedence set by other Apple products, the Mac will become more closed than ever, with the Web as our only option to access the outside world. Much like the iPhone and the iPad. As a Mac owner, the writing is on the wall, a closed computer is my future.

What's all the rage? It's an application distribution platform. You can still and will still be able to install applications of your choosing. The operating system is still and will still be largely open source (http://opensource.apple.com/). Compared to Microsoft and Windows, OS X is a paragon of openness.

Will Apple encourage people to use the App Store? No doubt. But that doesn't mean the door is closed to other distribution methods.

The fact remains that the operating system is far from closed, and there doesn't seem to be ANY indication that that will change in the near or even distant future; it would serve very little purpose as Apple does not have a commanding market share with OS X.

[BornInTheUSSR]

Right on, just because there is an app store doesn't stop any app makers or users from installing applications from other sources. However, finding and installing apps just became easier for users as well as providing a centralized distribution channel for the app makers.