I my self are a switcher and, as for many people, being able to virtualize a Windows with almost native speed was the main reason to justify the expense of a Mac. If Apple takes that from us, a lot of people will be forced to switch back to PC laptops, incluiding me.

Of course, you’re right, Cash. That Apple would use its own chips is a stupid rumor that’s been making the rounds among totally clueless people. Don’t expect to see it anymore than those other rumors with no foundation at all.

Vision.

Doesn’t mean that we’ll likely see ARM-powered laptops and desktops in the near future, though.

Perhaps this is why the Mac Pro is so delayed. Thanks to Intel and their inability to deliver certain Xeon processors on time, I think Apple was forced to make a decision like this.

Although I can’t help but wonder why Apple doesn’t buy AMD and use their new Opteron processor in a new Mac Pro. Surely it can’t be that difficult to get OS X to run on AMD processors.

Currently Apple computers have the uniqueness, durability, and beauty of they of their iOS, but brains shared with literally every computer maker out there.

If Apple puts custom processors of their own in their computers (by which I mean both desk and laptops)–and assuming that they have class-leading performance like the A6 and A6X–they would only add to the value and uniqueness of Apple products.

And the comparisons to PC’s would begin to stop because they would be another league, design and processor-wise.

It goes without saying that you would have to have compatibility with all the latest software, which should (hopefully) go without saying.

lose |lo͞oz| verb
1. be deprived of or cease to have or retain (something):

loose |lo͞os| adjective
1 not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached:
2 (of a garment) not fitting tightly or closely:

As an Electrical Engineer, there are many many applications that ONLY run on a PC or Linux machine, there are NO mac versions. This includes every schematic and layout tool available that does not SUCK (don’t even mention Eagle). Also, all FPGA tools, all Verilog simulators, etc. Further, I can use a single MacPro and test web applications on Mac, Windows, *Nix. If Apple moves to ARM, then none of those will run with anything approaching native speed. I’m sure they will get it close.. maybe 80% of native, maybe 85%, but never ’100%’.

The only way this would make sense, is if Apple could convince a significant number of tool vendors to fully support the Mac platform, but until that happens.. I would be constrained to switch back..

Apple’s biggest enemy… will be their own vanity.

In the future, if they decided to change over, the majority of users will probably ask “can I use service XYZ” rather than “can I run program ABC”.

as 3 stacked piles of 4.
A Power Tower and Burning Flame of Glory.

Interesting to note: ARM is a RISC chip like PPC-not CISC like x86. PPC wasn’t a bad design, it just languished under Motorola (Freescale) and IBM.

I may run OS X 95% of the time, but native Windows support is really critical for me, and no I don’t want a stupid Windows box sitting around just for the rare occasion I need it. Windows is like 4-wheel drive to me: I hardly ever need it, but if when I do, I have it, and life is good.

Some day, I might not really need Windows. That time isn’t here. Yet.

I hate and despise Window too but IMO a big part of Apples recent meteoric success came from the ability to give people a windows safety net. Though I guess you could argue that craptastic windows boxes are so cheap these days that buying a windows machine for work would be no big deal.