Asianometry The Mac Clone King's Brief Reign
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Oct 30, 2025 In 1994, Apple licensed its Mac OS, leading to a surprising partnership with the upstart Power Computing. The podcast explores Steve Kang's background and how his innovative approach skyrocketed Power’s revenues. Listeners learn how Apple's hesitance and internal conflicts contributed to its decline, while Power's cutting-edge strategies attracted enterprise customers. The dramatic rise was short-lived, culminating in Apple's 1997 decision to terminate licensing, leaving Power in shambles. A riveting journey through the brief but impactful era of Mac clones!
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Kang’s Early Clone Success
- Steve Kang rose from consulting to building PC clones after designing the Leading Edge Model D for Daewoo.
- He later founded Power Computing with Olivetti funding and a $4M personal investment to run a systems company.
Why Apple Avoided Licensing Early
- Apple rejected licensing in the 1980s fearing margin erosion and workforce cuts would be required to make it profitable.
- Bill Gates had pushed licensing early, exploiting low OS fees and profiting from applications instead.
Market Forces Crushed Apple’s Lead
- By the early 1990s Windows and PC clones had decimated Apple's market share and margins.
- Apple fell from high profitability to ~7% market share and gross margins near 25% by 1993.