How is this different than Microsoft giving away a version of their C++ compiler as part of the Xbox development kit which can only produce executables that can be sold via Microsoft to people having Xboxes? The comparison is favorable to Apple, as they allow free books, unlike the console vendors.
In both cases, the platform vendor is giving away nice dev tools in order to get more content to sale on his platform.
(read Microsoft as "Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo")
> How is this different than Microsoft giving away a version of their C++ compiler as part of the Xbox development kit which can only produce executables that can be sold via Microsoft to people having Xboxes?
You mean like this[1]? Applies to both Xbox and WinPhone. Apple also gives away Xcode, but you can't make iOS apps outside of their dev program.
In both cases, the platform vendor is giving away nice dev tools in order to get more content to sale on his platform.
(read Microsoft as "Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo")