“Over the weekend, the rumors of Apple switching from its PowerPC-based platform to some flavor of Intel chip kept growing. Perhaps these reports (or more likely the television crews camped out in Cupertino) caused apoplexy in the upper ranks as well. Or not,” David Morgenstern writes for eWeek.
Here are a few hard facts about the PowerPC vs. Intel case to consider:
• Apple pays less for its PowerPC processors than the cost of comparable Intel chips, and analysts say the cost is less than half as much for some models. Moving to Intel would hit Apple’s bottom line.
• The PowerPC G5 is a smaller, more efficient chip than the competition. The G5 has performance comparable to any current x86 chip, which is really all that’s necessary to persuade Mac fans to stay with the platform. Mac OS X trumps Windows any time, and all that’s needed is a machine that can hold its own against Wintel machines, not necessarily beat them.
Morgenstern writes, “According to Peter Glaskowsky, analyst for The Envisioneering Group, in Seaford, N.Y., the G5’s ‘superior system architecture allows its performance to grow faster, as we see with each new G5 release. The Pentium 4 isn’t showing that kind of headroom. IBM also has far more experience with dual-core design than any x86 vendor.’ Intel is more than a processor company. The rumors of a partnership could extend to other initiatives important to Apple, such as WiMax networking or PCI Express.”
Full article here.
Related MacDailyNews articles:
MacDailyNews to present live Steve Jobs’ WWDC Keynote coverage – June 06, 2005
Intel Inside Apple Macs? – June 04, 2005
Intel in Macs?! How’s Apple CEO Steve Jobs going to spin that switch? – June 04, 2005
Apple to switch to Intel chips starting in 2006 – CNET [updated] – June 03, 2005
Anticipation, rumors build ahead of Apple CEO Steve Jobs’ June 6 WWDC keynote – May 27, 2005
Intel CEO Otellini: If you want security now, buy a Macintosh instead of a Wintel PC – May 25, 2005
Analyst: Apple-Intel rumor ‘hogwash’ (today marks 11th month that Jobs’ promised 3GHz G5 is late) – May 23, 2005
iPod success opens door to Mac OS X on Intel – March 04, 2004
Oh brother, I hope his speculations are true. I know his judgements are.
This is why I believe the rumor to be either totally false or misplaced. yeah Apple might be working with Intel, but it’s probably on some other project like Wimax
Has anyone ever stopped to consider that Steve Jobs knows A LOT that we don’t know yet? Maybe IBM has nothing in the pipeline and it’s time for Apple to abandon ship, but we don’t know yet. I’m quite sure that if they do indeed switch to Intel on Monday that there will be a compelling explanation as to why. Geez…let’s give Jobs just a little bit of credit here…
Let’s stop all the hand-wringing folks!
If (and big “if”) the C|net article is correct, having Mac OS X running on Intel x86 “compatible” architecture would be a HUGE boost to Apple market share. Windows XP SP3 (a.k.a. longhorn would be D.O.A.).
Why not have your cake and eat it: some Macs on PPC and others on x86.
Cheers!
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maybe Apple is going to make a Wintel box.
I have to agree with this, unless IBM were about to announce that they were not going to continue supplying to Apple it would make no sense. A Wimax airport card would be the logical place for apple to play.
the only place that an Intel Strategy would make sense is on the server side where there would be less applications to be rewritten. And then there would be the same chip supplier for xsan and xserve.
I can’t see the point in going x86 on the desktop or laptop side even g4 is good enough to be competitive in the cpu space in laptops
iCon and those in the know are probably rolling over in laughter from all the comments about this issue from the “journalist” and “experts” that really don’t know shit about what’s really going on.
Well, no matter what happens I will be sticking with the OS X platform but what the news is Monday will determine what (and how soon) I buy. I have been waiting for a G5 laptop for two years now and can wait no longer. I was all ready to go back to desktop land and get a Powermac G5. Now I don’t know what to think but it seems like I might be sent back to the drawing board on deciding what will be the right unit for me to buy. I definitely need more information – I hope the news Monday makes the choice easier rather than muddying the waters.
Business 2.0 is a great mag. Check out the latest issue for an article about IBM’s Cell and the direction they are going.
http://www.business2.com/b2/
I still think Apple and Sony have something up their sleeve. Can’t wait to see what Jobs has to say tomorrow.
Another Apple/Intel article from CNET:
http://news.com.com/IntelApple+coupling+could+woo+Hollywood/2100-7341_3-5732238.html?tag=nefd.top
Steve told me that what Apple plans to do is bring back the DOS Compatibility Card, although today that would be the XP Compatibility Card. Just a P4 or similar riding along inside a Mac box so you can run Winblows apps without emulation. Now wouldn’t that bring over some switchers?
Hey, we’re doing rumors here, right?
If you want to learn more about how and why the PowerPC architecture works so well, read this.
It’s a bit on the technical side, but good nonetheless.
From the above article provided by sg
“Right now, however, sources have not said Apple and Intel are working on these products. Instead, they have said Apple will adopt Intel chips in its PCs.”
Thats because Steve likes to keep things under-wraps. Although this deal has only recently been publicly announced… I think Apple and Intel already have products ready to be introduced. 20 hours to go….
I am sure there is something going on between Apple and Intel. Remember that Intel will now be putting FireWire 400/800 on all its mobos. There will be tit for tat.
But Apple ain’t switchin’ to x86 architecture.
How about 23 hours, 42 minutes. The Keynote starts at 10am PDT (1pm EDT).
I mean 23 hours, 47 minutes.
OSX is the key, as well as quality hardware standards, and I don’t know of a reason why that can’t be done on Intel.
ON 086, no, but what is next?
The greatest thing that could come down the road is that Apple could finally be supplied with enough chips to take advantage of the superiority of OSX.
Can that be done now? History says a resounding NO!
I am going to explode before monday. I swear to god.
MDN magic word: days, as in the hours feel like days leading up to this keynote
Intel will simply make PPC chips for Apple. Same chips, more capable vendor. Moto and IBM just could not produce results.
It has been a very bizarre weekend. Things are getting turned upside down.
The only way I can see OS X working on Intel PCs is if Apple takes advantage of the Yellow / Red box system. Basically that means that the part of the OS that we see and interact with is independent of the basic OS. Therefore the base system deals with the specific requirements of the hardware and the OS X sits on top of that. Commands from OS X to the hardware are therefore negotiated by the basic system without the need for hardware specific code in OS X.
I don’t know if that makes sense – but I thought that was one of the advantages of UNIX – that the GUI is independent of the base system.
Otherwise, I think Apple’s main interest with Intel is in media distribution. Wimax sounds likely plus Apple’s ability to effiiciently manage digital content and limit piracy.
Steve ain´t sayin´ nuthin´ on Monday…
about this processor situation anyway.
Apple continue to use IBM processors. Mac on intel makes absolutly no sense whatsoever. Steve Jobs basically said that they were not going to use Intel processors here:
http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-05-23T195116Z_01_N23218517_RTRIDST_0_TECH-APPLE-INTEL-DC.XML.
sorry the correct link is here: http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=technologyNews&storyID=2005-05-23T195116Z_01_N23218517_RTRIDST_0_TECH-APPLE-INTEL-DC.XML
Apple is just flushing out a mole…
Create a rumor and follow the scent to the leak.
I doesn’t matter how awesome the PowerPC is. It doesn’t mean squat if IBM can’t deliver the goods to Apple.
If it were any other CEO I’d be afraid of the sky falling for Apple. But I’ve come to trust Steve J. over the years. Whatever his decision, jump, stay, or something in between, my vote is with Steve’s judgment.
Wingsy wrote:
“Steve told me that what Apple plans to do is bring back the DOS Compatibility Card”.
Baloney.
You can buy a respectable (heh, for a PC that is) standalone PC today for less than that compatibility card cost. Unless the new card is $99 and a substantial loss-leader, it’d be a hard sell.
Although going the other way might make sense. What if Apple introduces a new Intel-powered Mac line, with an available G4-powered legacy compatibility card?
Could be a huge smoke screen, for whats actually going to be released. Dare I say it G5 PB. I no I’ve said it, damn I promised I wasn’t going to say a thing.
Don’t worry antihero, I’ll say it too: PowerBook G5.
I’ll also say: Dual-Dual-core Macs running over 3 GHz <gasp!>
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Need to kill an hour?
Listen to Sinbad’s keynote podcast.
http://www.maccast.com/index.php?s=sinbad&submit=Search
It will make you feel better about the technology you currently own. It might save you a few $ as well.
“In the speech Sinbad discusses how we need to all master our Macs, in other words don’t get lost in the latest and greatest technology, but discover how your Mac can help you be an expert at what you want to do. It is a truly inspiring and of course funny speech.”
The PPC may be smaller, more efficient and cheaper … but it’s also slower and getting increasingly slower. That’s why moving to Intel (or even better, AMD) is a good idea.
why not gerbil-powerd powermacs?
Well, I just bought a Powerbook for myself and a Mac Mini for my Mom. If the rumors are true those are the last 2 Macs I will ever buy.
Intel chips consume more power generate more heat and perform as well in certain areas. I built a PC and used AMD, it performs better for the price.
Jobs comes out on stage to the usual cheers, says,”Now that I have the whole world’s attention” and rolls on the floor laughing his frigging ass off. Says, “We were only helping Intel with integrated Firewire for their new MoBo’s”. Laughs some more, wipes eyes, attempts to start Keynote, chuckling all the while.
Once the Keynote i’ll know if i should invest in a new iMac, i dont want my computer to be worthless. IF anything right now this is hurting apple… but once the keynote speech is in the hands of consumers we’ll know what to do w/ ourselves.
I look at it differently that what these articles infer…
I look at it the same way as when Apple went to IBM. Apple designed the chip, IBM fabricated it.
Same thing here:
IBM, you aren’t fabricating enough for us… Intel, you’re the worlds largest chip manufacturer, here’s what we need, can you make it?
Yes, we can. In fact, we can make it consistantly and improve the speed every 4-6 months…
competitively.
Apple’s money is made on their hardware. To move to the x86 chipset would literally be suicide. Any average joe could go and get OSX and slap it into their win box, killing their hardware sales. Jobs is smarter than that.
iPod isn’t and won’t sustain their existence. They have to make people continue to need their hardware.
“To move to the x86 chipset would literally be suicide. Any average joe could go and get OSX and slap it into their win box, killing their hardware sales. Jobs is smarter than that.”
Yes Jobs is smarter than that.
If Apple moved to Intel, it’d be via Macs that happened to be powered by Intel-made chips. There’d be big enough architectural differences to prevent an Intel OS X from ever running (or being hacked to run) on generic PC’s.
Thanks Bandit Bill! I down loaded my first Podcasts so I can listen later to them on my iPod shuffle.
amazing how hyped people get hoping something special is going to happen to apple….kind of like there is something wrong with apple is offering….
Would everyone get so excited if BMW said it would be using Ferrari engines???
I like this train of thought…From an anonymous source on Slashdot…
http://www.interesting-people.org/archives/interesting-people/200506/msg00059.html
Worst part is-
Rob Anderle an Thurrott were right all along…
“Worst part is-
Rob Anderle an Thurrott were right all along…”
(Don’t forget Dvorak)
Oh crap, you’re right. The first, second and third signs of the apocalypse.
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WOW, a BMW at same price and powered by Ferrari.
Where can I order one TODAY? 😀
This could be a case where perception is reality, (which in and of itself I hate to see, because reality usually has very little bearing on perception in the real world), but it works in this case.
Rightly or wrongly, when the public hears that Apple might use Intel chips, it creates the perception of “compatibility” which, in itself, makes Apple more “acceptable” as a potential purchase, whether singly or in the thousands.
That can be huge for sales. People who have never looked at Apple before will look for the first time. At that point, they will get a look at Tiger and its advantages as an OS, and Apple has got them, whichever chip is in the computer.
And don’t even make comments such as:” well, if they werent stupid they would know the difference between Windows and Intel” No one has ever told them the difference between Windows/Intel and Apple/Mac/OSX. You can’t blame someone for not knowing about something they have not been exposed to.
This might just give them the opportunity. Think about it.
Has anyone considered that this Apple/Intel rumor could be a smokescreen for another important (and maybe big) anouncement at WWDC? And that this rumors came deliberately from Apple to mask any other leaking?
macnut222 and KeepHopeAlive: (Rob Enderle and Thurrott both right)
This was a good excitement exercise for a great keynote tomorrow. Although Apple/Intel partnership could be true in one way or the other (but not x86), I’ll wait for the news when they come from the horse’s mouth. So for we got them from the other end!
I used to work for BMW of North America, and I will take the BMW engine in a heartbeat. Ferrari, much as I love them as a work of art, is a subsidiary of FIAT, who is the actual builder of the castings, etc.
A while ago, some article stated that Jobs returned from his cancer more determined than ever to beat MS at computers (not consumer electronics but computers!). Now this can be seen as being contrary to his previously expressed view that the desktop wars was over, but maybe that was misdirection, and he now senses weakness over at MS.
Tomorrow’s announcement, whatever it is, would seem to be the first salvo in this new war. Unless he’s lost all his marbles and thrown all caution to the wind on the theory that he only has a short time to live, Steve would likely have a compelling argument that this switch is beneficial to Apple and users worldwide.
The fact that the WSJ has published a second article with no qualifiers in it makes me believe that it true. The WSJ, a well-respected and conservative pub, would’ve had to have gotten this info from multiple sources.
Now the WSJ only says that Macs will use Intel chips; it doesn’t specify whether it will be PowerPC, Itanium, or X86. Each has significantly different implications.
I guess we’ll know tomorrow. If nothing else, the Internet will be clogged tomorrow between 1 and 2 PM Eastern Time.
I don’t understand how everyone can say that the Intel and AMD chips are more power hungry and give off more heat. Are you stupid? We “DO NOT” have G5 Powerbooks because of the heat and power needs. There are Intel and AMD notebooks. You must be stupid to not see that. Hell, AMD has had 64bit notebooks out for several months. You need to get out of this forum every once and a while. They have dual core today. With dual core notebooks coming by end of year.
Also, if you look inside my dual 2.5 G5, those 2 “shoe boxes” that are in there aren’t there for decoration. That’s the heat solution. Can you imagine that in your Powerbook? I’ve never seen any thing like that in a peecee. It’s one thing to say OSX is better, and the ppc may be better also, but not if IBM can’t or won’t deliver.
Oscar
Has anyone considered that…..
Dude you must be my long lost twin sibling. G5 PB. There I’ve said it again. I really must stop making promises I can’t keep.
Bandit Bill
Nice link dude
The more I read about the supposed switch to Intel, the more I think it is a smokescreen. It doesn’t make sense. It must be to hide something else Apple and Intel are doing…..or Apple is doing with someone else.
And how come ThinkSecret and MacOSRumors are dark about this story?
Check out this info. http://everythingapple.blogspot.com/2005/03/chud-tools-reveal-apples-970mp-quad.html
It conflicts with the switch rumors. It doesn’t make sense to work on 970MP development if you’re planning to move to Intel (for ‘performance issues’).
I agree with eric, this is a smokescreen – or just a bunch of totally clueless people (again).
If that won’t be true going {into} the future, or if IBM is being a problem, that Apple HAS to take action, however tough.
If there’s a PPC problem coming, then I’m glad Apple’s not just ignoring it. I’m glad they’re taking the difficult step.
They usually are good about talking people with them through these changes in the best way possible.
Hey Jerry T
I can dream about it can’t I. Would you call me stupid for dreaming about winning the Lottery? I’ll answer that, yes I probably am.
At least I’ve got more chance of a G5 PB bearing fruit. Oh god thats three times in one day, their coming to take me away ha,ha. Uncle Steves going to kill me.
I’m thinking IF, and that is IF, Apple does have a chip deal with Intel, it is to make a G5 compatible chip. I don’t see Apple changing horses mid-stream. Maybe Intel re-engineered it’s 64 bit chips for Apple, to make them compatible with the G5. Something, but not a complete jump to a different processor.
But I still think it’s a smoke screen. Didn’t we have something like this before? Some “announcement” Steve was going to make, and then it never happened?
Remember, Apple could still launch the Tablet Remote Conrol,
antihero-
I’m not saying we can’t dream. But with titles like this thread began with, people begin to think it’s true. That’s what amazes me. We “don’t” have G5 PowerBooks because of heat and energy needs, yet there are tons of Intel and AMD notebooks, even 64bit versions. If their chips are even hotter and need more energy than the G5, how are they doing it? Are they better architecture designers?
As far as dreaaming goes though, I’m dreaming of my 12 core cell Mac G10.
Yes, this could all be a smokescreen, maybe to scare Motorola and IBM, which seems like it might be a good thing.
Any person, or any company, if they have any common sense at all, always has a backup plan to use either as a smokescreen or as the real thing if circumstances dictate.
“If their chips are even hotter and need more energy than the G5, how are they doing it? Are they better architecture designers?”
Keep note of the cases that these 64-bit notebooks are using. Are they 1-inch thick like the PowerBook? Most likely not.
The real reason that we don’t have a PowerBook G5 is NOT because the chips are necessarily too hot to put into a notebook, but the fact that they are too hot to put into a 1-inch thin notebook.
Remember: This is Apple we’re talking about. Not some random x86 manufacturer that doesn’t care if the product is 2 inches thick and weighs 10 pounds.
for the last time: Intel is rolling out a new line of processors. It will have multiple cores, NOT x86-based, 3 GHz and up, will license the AltiVec/Velocity Engine from Apple, will not require any software rewrites. This is from my good friend who is one of the chief engineers at Intel.
Jerry T
I agree with you dude the heat and energy needs are a great hurdle for a (I’m not going to say it again) bearing fruit.
I havn’t got the technical knowlege to explain why ‘ they ‘ are able to do it.
What ever gets announced tomorrow I’m sure you will agree its going to have to be something big.
I for one can’t wait. Then again we might have to wait until Paris for a big announcement I’ll be there for that one.
“Apple’s break with IBM stemmed from Jobs’ wish that IBM make a larger variety of the PowerPC processors used in Macintosh systems.
IBM balked because of concerns over the profitability of a low-volume business, News.com reported.”
http://my.netscape.com/corewidgets/news/story.psp?cat=51180&id=2005060517200001003857
Good point macnut222
Why didn’t I think of that. Just shows you how stupid I really am.
Didn’t Apple manage to squeeze a G5 into something that was about 2” thick?
macnut222-
True most are not that thin. Though they do have some very thin pentium M notebooks.
But the overall point is…those giant water cooled heat sinks on my dual G5s. I’ve never seen anything like that on a pc, nor is it needed. The entire case of the G5 tower is designed to be a giant heat sink. Because they are that hot. So to say the Pentiums and Athlons are hotter is silly.
I don’t mind bashing Intel or AMD if the facts are true, and I certainly don’t mind bashing M$. But some of these stories are a little reaching.
A 2.8 GHz Pentium D (dual core) runs at 95W; 3 GHz and 3.2 GHz @ 130W.
http://processorfinder.intel.com/scripts/default.asp
Admittedly, the 2.13 GHz Pentium M runs at 27W.
“”Didn’t Apple manage to squeeze a G5 into something that was about 2” thick?”
Yes, but the biggest problem that Apple faces is squeezing the G5 into something LESS THAN thin. Remember that the ENTIRE PowerBook will be one-inch thin (when closed), leaving about .8 inches for the computer area.
This heat issue doesn’t begine to cover the powerful graphics cards, hard drives, memory, system controllers, etc that next-gen PowerBooks will utilize…and I hear those graphics chips (Mobility Radeon x800 and GeForce 6800 Go) run pretty hot.
*** “LESS THAN thin” should be LESS THAN one inch thin.
This man [http://www.cs.man.ac.uk/arch/people/a-rawsthorne/] is most likely responsible for allowing Steve Jobs to make what will be the most illogical yet most profound keynote he will give at any user conference he’s ever had the pleasure to give.
I was part of the forum rabble all weekend kicking and screaming at what seemed to be most absurd story coming from one of the sanest news organizations in the journalistic world today, and not that online rag Cnet either. I’m of course referring to the WSJ…or for those with acronym dyslexia, the Wall Street Journal.
It didn’t make sense until I read this “blog” or what I would rather call a really informed opinion.
http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/cultofmac/
Yes, I didn’t even see the Pixar/Apple connection. Oh, but now I do. Don’t underestimate the power of Hollywood people. Its about the only industry left in the U.S. that hasn’t had it’s bubble burst yet, and doesn’t give a care about your little desktop PC, or big endian vs. little endians.
And you people thought Sony was the only company that was suffering from the content/distribution conundrum?
There’s going to be a helluva lot of developers kicking and screaming tomorrow. There is no more powerful a force for the RDF than Hollywood people. This is no longer about RISC vs. CISC. Its about DRM and who’s gonna provide it.
MDN magic word is “anyone”… as in anyone who doubts the power of Hollywood is caught in their own RDF
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Totally agree with you dude.
Could it have been feasible that Apple could have designed a powerbook that was say 2” thick that could contain a G5. Arh I hear you say but that would not be the powerbook we know and love.
What we would end up with is a fat iBook and the powerbook dead in the water for now.
Thats just plan nuts. They are coming to take me away again ha,ha.
My prediction:
Apple is talking to Intel for PCI-Express AND WiMax (although WiMax is in it’s early stages a headstart would be wise)
New Freescale chips in updated Powerbook and slightly updated iBooks with better this and that, putting them closer to the current Powerbooks, but not on the tail of the new ones in features. Better displays on all laptops, possibly a thin’n’light laptop (clearing tablet rumors)
New 970 line chips, or the MP/GX makes a debut. PCI-Express for G5 towers across the line, X800 XT in the grarphics card line-up of options at Apple’s official store.
No official mention of the Intel in Mac rumors flying about by Steve, UNLESS it is a reassurance that Apple is not going to do something as drastic as suggested, therefore not ruling out the future possibility of Intel’s in Mac but staying the course for the current user-base.
Other than that, Asteroid breakout box of some sort otherwise I have a feeling there will be more but I have no idea. We will have to wait and see, this isn’t going to be a doomsday proclamation WWDC, rest assured.
Check this out: http://www.macsimumnews.com/index.php/archive/apple_may_launch_a_mobile_device_with_intel_inside/
I know it’s not about processors, but it could mean something.
I will summarize the most intriguing posts to me this weekend:
1. Eric24601 has stated at least 4 times that Intel will make a high-performing multicore PPC-type Altivec chip for Apple.
2. Programmer (at AppleInsider) and Seahawk, both state that the most logical alliance would be Intel making a PPC type chip that licenses Altivec.
3. Strategy notes that Mr. Jobs returned from his illness highly motivated, feeling very lucky to be alive. (Indeed, Mr. Rafkin sadly had the “other” more deadly type of pancreas cancer.)
4. Many note that if Apple is to make a big move, now is the time.
5. Lucky 4U and “someone else” (sorry, I forget who) both noted that Monday is anniversary of D-day.
6. Intel can’t be happy that Xbox uses PPC.
7. Sony and HP can’t be happy that Xbox is poised as a covert Media Center PC.
Skimming through the posts, I think only Neil has mentioned hardware abstraction. That the machine is hidden from applications/developers by the OS and the APIs. They see Carbon and Cocoa etc. They don’t see a G5 or two.
So apple does the donkey work of migrating he OS, but for the majority of apps, the song remains the same. Just move over the source code and hit the build button in xcode x86 version (which still uses the gcc compiler)
heard of Yonah dual core Pentium M processors, 65nm, or the dual/multiple-core Meron and then Conroe for the desktops.
Interesting times…
After a lot of thought this weekend while getting sunburned on a yard project, this is what I think will pan out if there is ANYTHING to this line of rumor/thought:
Apple an/or Intel will announce that they are joining Power.org. Otherwise, Intel will design and produce PPC chips and motherboards FOR Apple. They will also be the first platform that supports WIMAX technology. (A)pple, (I)BM & (M)otorola- now FreeScale- developed PPC. It is NOT the property of IBM and Apple has the right to produce, or contract for another to produce, PPC-type chips.
The only other possibility is if Transitive’s claims are really true.
One thing is for sure– EVERYBODY is going to be watching this one.
POSTED elsewhere – but relevant to this topic!
Is it possible that Apple can support two architectures?
I know I know – you’re already screaming “no you fool!”
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But just ‘hear’ me out…
Is it at all possible that the “Apple Tablet” device seen recently, and also the Mac Mini (or similar) could be designed around an Intel based architecture (with necessary copy-protection imbedded) for an Apple Media server type product for the “lounge room”????
What I am getting at, is that this device could be based on a revised version of OS X, it would be PURPOSE built for media, and could even include a recompiled version of iLife (maybe even iWork).
In this way there is NO NEED for software developers to re-do software, as the PowerMac and iMac line remain on the Power PC platform (I am still wondering what they will do about Altivec – Intel don’t have anything that comes close!).
As this “Apple media server” is OS X based, it could EASILY network with OS X Tiger.
So I know your asking why do it at all??
IBM don’t have the copyright protection system, and as it has been mentioned it is possible this Intel deal is being driven by the “iFilms” possibilities.
To me this does a number of things:
1)Allows Apple to get into the movie equivalent of iTunes Music Store.
2)Sticks a rocket up IBM (i.e. we are committed to the PowerPC architecture, which we still think is superior for computing, however we now have an insurance policy if you guys falter, or start pulling out yourselves)
3)Lets Apple introduce more Windows users to OS X (albeit a Media Server version), and can then “up-sell” them to a PowerPC Apple Mac with OS X tiger (which of course will be able to SEAMLESSLY connect to their Apple Media Server due to Bonjour and the whole Apple experience.
4)If they supply API’s etc to the “media server” version of OS X, 3rd party developers can start to develop OS X on x86 which are multimedia related (i.e. games – Intel gets its chips back in the lounge room!)
5)The whole thing would make the boys at Redmond s$@t bricks!!!
I really think that if you look at what Steve has been doing recently – this is a possible scenario. It lets Steve realise the media centre concept, without making his “real computers” (based on PowerPC) into small boxes to be hidden in a cupboard (you don’t need great industrial design to make a black box in a cupboard). It kicks Microsoft in the shins. It satisfies Hollywood enough about copy-protection to allow Apple to launch “iMovie Film Store”. It works for Intel – they aren’t locked out of the living room by IBM. It puts IBM on notice, keep dragging your heels, and we have a way out. AND most importantly, it opens up new markets (with a new architecture) WITHOUT pissing off the existing Mac fanatics!!!!
Of course its just my 2 cents!
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Luke
AIM alliance
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
“AIM was an alliance formed in 1991 between Apple Computer, IBM and Motorola to create a new computing standard based on the PowerPC architecture.
The stated goal of the alliance was to challenge the dominant Wintel computing platform with a new computer design and a next-generation operating system. It was thought that the CISC processors from Intel were an evolutionary dead-end in microprocessor design, and that since RISC was the future, the next few years were a period of great opportunity.
The CPU was the PowerPC, a single-chip version of IBM’s POWER1 CPU. Both IBM and Motorola would manufacture PowerPC chips for this new platform.”
From Power.org
“What’s all the noise about?
Power.org represents a worldwide community of developers, tool providers, manufacturers, and leading brands uniting to lead a new era of open hardware innovation by collaborating on industry standards and delivering ground breaking applications based on Power Architecture™ technology. Join Power.org and get in on the evolution.
The companies behind Power.org include: AMCC, Bull, Cadence Design Systems, Chartered Semiconductor Manufacturing, Culturecom, IBM, Jabil Circuit, Novell, Red Hat, Sony Corporation, Shanghai Belling, Synopsys, Thales, Tundra Semiconductor and Wistron.”
Here’s some good thought also
http://daringfireball.net/2005/06/see_you_intel
I feel like although PPC is better, Apple plans to offer an x86 Mac. Imagine a computer which gives you the option to run OS X or Windows. Which would you choose and why? I know a lot of Mac people who envy Windows gamers. Likewise no respectable designer would use anything else. Shades of grey exist too of course.
Mac Mini type of model I can believe. Cheap and very functional, certainly more than a Windows-only PC. If a user wants to buy a real Mac system, the current PPC lines could cater to their needs.
Apple needs Intel for this because they design motherboards. Recently Intel included FireWire on a motherboard to little press interest. I think Intel did this as a good-will gesture for Apple. Their motivation? If Microsoft does not need x86 for its consoles then Intel does not need Microsoft for its PCs. HP would be jumping up and down if they could do with the x86 Mac what they did with the iPod. SONY would want a bit of that pie too. Wouldn’t you?
Ooh yes, are you guys putting dreams in my head or what. A multi-boot OS XI/Longhorn system. One to surf and work, another to play.
Next step: quick OS switching.
*drools*
MW=husband, as in marriage from heaven
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Any PC-maker that thinks of going Ppc-chips would think of the suicidal effects. Magic Mac & Steve J must have some hard evidence to go Intel. Just a few more houres and we know…