The Real Reason Apple is Giving Away its Software  | Particle
Debris  When a company, like Apple, makes a bold move, like
giving away OS X and productivity apps, it's typically seen as a
torpedo intended to sink an enemy ship. So then people argue;
that bold move is no torpedo. And they're right. In fact,
single, bold actions are more like cannon fire that whittles
away at the superstructure of an enemy ship, slowly reducing its
ability to function.   We should all know by now that no single
action by Apple can take down a competing company. (Although
some articles would have you believe that.) I think what happens
is that well read observers take in the entirety of the industry
and form a subconscious model of what's going on. Then, when we
see a single move by Apple, like giving away Mavericks and
iWork, it's like a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces fall into place,
and there's an "aha!" moment. We see the dominoes falling in
that model in our heads.  But if you ask us to explain why this
single cannon shot will co