From the small bit I've seen so far on Safari coming to Windows, it would seem that most people don't think it's a worthwhile endeavor. A couple of comments I have seen, though, point to what I immediately thought; bringing Safari to Windows will better enable Web 2.0 developers to test their apps for use on the iPhone. This accomplishes a couple of things. First, it immediately makes the iPhone cross-platform from both a developer and consumer perspective. From the developer perspective, Safari on Windows means that they needn't purchase a Mac or an iPhone just to test usability and compatibility. That makes developing for the iPhone exceedingly inexpensive. In fact, the tax to develop on the iPhone becomes $0.
More subtly, the iPhone becomes cross-platform for the consumer. How? When the iPhone debuted, the browser was not named "Safari". It was just a browser, even though Steve Jobs made a point to mention that underneath it was Safari. When the iPhone commercials debuted, though, suddenly the browser became "Safari". Phone and Desktop share the same, equivalent browser. Beyond the logical technical aspects (after all, the iPhone OS is OS X), Apple here is definitely working some PR and Marketing mojo. When Joe and Jane User buy the iPhone and begin surfing the web, assuming internet connectivity works better than on competing phones and nearly as well as on the desktop, they'll be more open to using the same browser on their Windows PC. After all, if the browser works so well on the iPhone, won't it work even better on a computer? So, they'll check it out (most likely by having their kid download and install it for them), use it for a while. And, as long as it works with the sites they frequent and need most, they may just stick with it. Of course, if Safari on Windows is seen as more secure than IE, Apple may then begin to see not just a small rise in usage, but, some serious market share gains for Safari. This will, of course, take time. Most likely about a year after Safari comes to Windows as a full release.
This all leads in to the second thing bringing Safari to Windows accomplishes, it makes the Billboard of Real World, Everyday Reasons to Switch to a Mac even more obvious. Apple gains an incredible combination with the impending popularity of the iPhone, the huge popularity of iTunes and the iPod, mixed all together with three major user apps that are cross-platform (iTunes, soon Safari, and the old-timer, Quicktime). At first Apple gained a toehold in the Windows Universe with Quicktime. But, that was tenuous at best. Then came iTunes and the iPod, gaining Apple a full-fledged foothold. And, now with the iPhone and Safari, Apple accomplishes the third wave of infiltration. As more and more people (including developers) have everyday experience with Apple products, they will begin to see how much better Apple is at delivering a satisfying user experience. More and more, people will begin asking whether or not all of Apple's products are as well made and easy to use. Which will lead them to check out the Apple Stores and the Macintosh, ultimately bringing even more Switchers to the Macintosh platform.
The end game for Apple, regardless of what Steve Jobs or Apple PR has said, is to resurrect the Macintosh from its current single-digit market share. To make Apple not just an industry darling, but, to accomplish what Steve Jobs set out to do 30 years ago. Bring the Apple computer experience to the masses.
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