RUMOR: Apple’s Intel-based Macs coming in first quarter 2006

“Along with its transition to Intel processors, Apple Computer in the first half of next year will introduce new eye-catching industrial designs for both of its laptop offerings, AppleInsider has learned. Although the Mac maker has only gone on record in saying that the first Intel-based Macintosh systems are due by the middle of 2006, information passed on by extremely reliable sources indicates that the company is on track to begin introducing its first Intel machines much sooner,” Kasper Jade reports for AppleInsider.

“With the initiation of the Intel Power Mac project last month, all five of Apple’s Intel Macintosh projects are now said to be underway and moving at an exhaustive, yet fruitful pace. It should come as no surprise that Apple chief executive Steve Jobs is reportedly leading the charge, with his heart set on making 2006 the next 1984,” Jade reports.

Full article with more information including Intel-based iBooks as early as April 2006 and Intel-based PowerBooks with built-in iSight cameras even earlier here.

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Apple to use Intel microprocessors beginning in 2006, all Macs to be Intel-based by end of 2007 – June 06, 2005

40 Comments

  1. yowsa…… I was one of the ones that purchased a mac in 1984…. that would be nice to see again. As long as we then don’t see a repeat of 1989.

    MDN word is perhaps, as in perhaps we’ll get it right this time.

  2. “With the initiation of the Intel Power Mac project last month, all five of Apple’s Intel Macintosh projects are now said to be underway . . .”

    This would indicate to me that the PowerMac will, indeed, be the last of the Macs to go Intel.

  3. with his heart set on making 2006 the next 1984

    A rather significant statement that bears thinking about. Wait … isn’t that tautology? Anyway, to fulfill that ambition requires a quantum leap that I doubt an upgrade of hardware could deliver. This must include new products, apps, or Leopard. I wonder what’s cooking.

    MW: “reaction” — awe.

  4. There ain’t no time to dilly-dally. We will finally see advertising for Apple Computers again. There will have to be some serious marketing to get people to forget about Vista long enough to buy an Apple.

    BTW: They won’t be called Macintosh any longer.

    mdn word: time

  5. I think Steve Jobs is going to give the likes of Rob “Intel Mac = Osbourne Effect” Enderle the big bird by announcing the Intel Mac early. Everyone is expecting Apple to release the machines in June 2006, but what if he announces them at MacWorld in January?

    Suddenly, there is no Osbourne Effect because the hardware has arrived earlier than anyone anticipated. No doubt this was his intention all along, as Apple is probably the only company that can successfully perform such a feat in so short a time.

  6. in 2006 you will be able to buy a computer that runs: Mac OS X, Windows and Linux, booted in any and running the others in builtin virtual machine. Not only, if you happen to run Windows or a Windows application via the virtual machine, viruses will not harm you in that there is in place a tamper-resistant layer that fools the virus.

    OR, you could buy a PC that runs Windows infected every so many seconds if you are not very careful, maybe run Linux but with the usual hassle of dual booting and format translation and let’s you watch others running OS X from afar.

    They both cost the same. What is going to be your choice?

    OS war is on ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

  7. “……Suddenly, there is no Osbourne Effect because the hardware has arrived earlier than anyone anticipated. No doubt this was his intention all along, as Apple is probably the only company that can successfully perform such a feat in so short a time.”

    Ding!

    On the money – I’ll be watching the January event with much interest ” width=”19″ height=”19″ alt=”grin” style=”border:0;” />

  8. Too bad they couldn’t get an Intel MacMini with FrontRow out in time for Christmas.

    I’m with others in thinking the Pro Series Powermacs will be the last to jump from PowerPC to X86. The Powerbooks need a serious revision with some real horsepower but I suspect the mini and iBooks will get the first Intel Inside stickers.

    I too would also like to see a MacUltra light – smaller than a 12″ with a screen bigger than an iPod, powered by easily replaceable, rechargeable batteries. Perhaps a Newton size tablet (running full Mac OS-X) with an optional folding Bluetooth keyboard. Just dreaming.

  9. “”…Apple Computer in the first half of next year will introduce new eye-catching industrial designs…”
    Sure hope they don’t look anything like Lugz!”

    I doubt we will see any product called a PowerBoot.

  10. MacsKing: Nobody would love to see the Newton OS ported to a modern tablet/handheld device compatible with OS X more than I would. I’m still a daily user of the MP2100, and if you haven’t tried one, time to spend C-note or two on ebay before they’re all gone. Even works with Bluetooth!
    That said, the (new) PDA market is dead and there’s no good evidence of a substantial tablet computer market demand out there (with the usual caveat that Windows tablets suck big time, and its always possible Apple could apparate a market as it did with the iPod. A longshot though, since they already tried and failed with the Newt once already).
    Maybe Apple can pull the same trick its doing with video, however — a touchscreen flash iPod where the whole front is the screen, with a virtual control wheel for music/video and a stylus/tablet system like the Newton for PDA/computer use. It wouldn’t have to run Mac OS X, just an update of the Newton OS. (I would bet anything that this update is already ready to go, one of Apple’s just-in-case projects.)
    This new iteration of iPod could be introduced in a year, after the market for iTunes video downloads expands through more content and demand, and the logic of big screen video iPod becomes clear. Steve Jobs could then say, as he has with the current its-just-an-iPod-that-also-does-video-as-a-bonus strategy, that Apple was simply introducing a boffo Video iPod and, by the way, you also get a state of the art handheld computer, too.
    Just saying…

  11. I thought camera’s all needed a certain distance to focus an image. How can you fit a camera that is currently two inches long (that’s my low ball estimate, my isight is back at home) into a display that a quater inch thick? Am I missing something? if you respond please email me too, or i might never find it. this post has had a looooot of comments

  12. SoLetsSee,

    Why dual boot Linux on a Mac when BSD Unix is a click away using Terminal? It’s already configured to use all the hardware and network connections. Why bother with something like Yellow Dog when you can install and run most any unix/linux software in the OSX shell? I’ve compiled, installed, and run many unix applications in the native Mac BSD unix, even a Mush.

  13. Imagine if Apple started advertising. I can see it now… “New iBook with Intel Inside technology – da-da-da-daa -” That sound is possibly the most annoying thing about PC adverts. PLEASE don’t let Intel force Apple to use it!!

  14. Hmmm. I remember being in high school when the Apple IIe came out and learning to program simple things on Basic. When the mac came out, it blew me away and I always, always wanted one but couldn’t afford it. I think the memory of not being able to get one was my first memory of unmet desire and lust. Flash forward a decade: After four years of college and three years of law school using a PC and not really thinking about apple at all, the only thing that I can think about is getting a new intel powerbook, 17 inch. My therapist says it might not come with a mouse, but will come with a healthy dose of closure.

  15. personally if anything, i hope they put a sticker on it if they have to. that way i can peel it off and take a crap on it and forget that my mac even has an intel in the damn thing to start with.
    still dont like intel, but hey what can you do…

  16. Apple doesn’t have to use the stupid Intel music “da-da-da-daa” unless they accept advertising subsidies from Intel. Intel pays for Dell, Gateway, etc, to play that stupid music tone. Apple probably won’t need the money, so hopefully they won’t have it in their commercials.

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